Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs in California

Mental Health Nurse Practitioner jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with steady demand across community mental health centers, integrated health systems, correctional facilities, and telehealth organizations at every level from new graduate to senior clinician. The largest concentrations of openings are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and UCLA Health have deep and lasting hiring needs. Child and adolescent psychiatry, substance use disorder treatment, and trauma-informed care are the specialties California employers recruit for most consistently. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles31+
Top employerLifeStance Health
Top citySan Diego, CA
Cities hiring26
Work type55% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 31+ Mental Health Nurse Practitioner jobs

LifeStance Health
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
We won't show you this job again
LifeStance Health
Added 5d ago
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
LifeStance Health
Goleta, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$200k - $250k/yr
On-Site
None
5,001-10,000

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LifeStance Health
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
We won't show you this job again
LifeStance Health
Added 6d ago
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
LifeStance Health
Poway, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$200k - $250k/yr
Hybrid
None
5,001-10,000

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LifeStance Health
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
We won't show you this job again
LifeStance Health
Added 6d ago
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
LifeStance Health
Glendale, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$200k - $250k/yr
Hybrid
None
5,001-10,000

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LifeStance Health
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
We won't show you this job again
LifeStance Health
Added 2w ago
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
LifeStance Health
La Mesa, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$200k - $250k/yr
Hybrid
None
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

LifeStance Health
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
We won't show you this job again
LifeStance Health
Added 2w ago
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
LifeStance Health
San Diego, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$200k - $250k/yr
Hybrid
None
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

See All 31 Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs in California

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Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Diego
4 jobs
Los Angeles
2 jobs
Mountain View
2 jobs
Alhambra
1 jobs
Beverly Hills
1 jobs
Compton
1 jobs
Culver City
1 jobs
Glendale
1 jobs
Goleta
1 jobs

Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • LifeStance Health
    LifeStance Health14
  • CHINATOWN SERVICE CENTER
    CHINATOWN SERVICE CENTER2
  • Spectrum Healthcare Resources
    Spectrum Healthcare Resources2
  • Stanford Medicine Children's Health
    Stanford Medicine Children's Health2
  • Vituity
    Vituity2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services25
  • Education2
  • Agriculture & Farming1
  • Insurance1

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in mental health nurse practitioner jobs across California.

  • Active California Nurse Practitioner license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing
  • Board certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from ANCC or AANP
  • Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice with psychiatric-mental health focus
  • Prescriptive authority furnishing number required for California controlled substance prescribing
  • DEA registration required for schedules involving controlled psychiatric medications
  • Experience with electronic health records systems such as Epic or Cerner in clinical settings

Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a mental health nurse practitioner in California?

You become a mental health nurse practitioner in California by completing a graduate-level nursing program with a psychiatric-mental health focus, then applying to the California Board of Registered Nursing for a Nurse Practitioner license and a Furnishing Number, which authorizes you to prescribe medications. You must also pass a national certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. A DEA registration is required separately for prescribing controlled substances in clinical practice.

How much do mental health nurse practitioners make in California?

Mental health nurse practitioners in California earn a median of about $168,520 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $120,340 for the lowest 10% to over $240,830 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire mental health nurse practitioners in California?

Employers hiring mental health nurse practitioners in California right now include LifeStance Health, CHINATOWN SERVICE CENTER, and Spectrum Healthcare Resources, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's public health infrastructure, including county behavioral health departments and Federally Qualified Health Centers, also generates consistent openings across the state.

Which California cities have the most mental health nurse practitioner jobs?

San Diego, Los Angeles, and Mountain View have the most mental health nurse practitioner openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco drive volume through large integrated health systems and county behavioral health programs, while San Diego's concentration of veterans' services, military-affiliated hospitals, and UC Health facilities makes it a strong secondary market for this specialty.

Are there remote mental health nurse practitioner jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most clinical nursing roles. About 45% of mental health nurse practitioner openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting the field's strong adoption of telehealth platforms since expanded licensing flexibilities took hold. Medication management follow-ups, therapy-adjacent consultation roles, and telepsychiatry positions are the segments most likely to be fully remote.

How can I get hired as a mental health nurse practitioner in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a new-graduate psychiatric NP residency or fellowship, and California has several: Kaiser Permanente and UCSF Health both run structured post-graduate NP training programs that include psychiatric-mental health tracks. Community mental health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers also hire new graduates because of ongoing demand in underserved areas. Coming from a registered nurse background in inpatient psychiatry or emergency behavioral health is the lateral move California hiring managers respond to most favorably, and obtaining your California Furnishing Number before applying removes a common barrier employers cite.

Where can I find and apply to mental health nurse practitioner jobs in California?

You can find and apply to mental health nurse practitioner jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across health systems, community clinics, telehealth providers, and correctional health programs. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialty focus, then apply directly to each employer from the listing.

See All 31 Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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