Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Jobs in California
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, with strong demand from community mental health centers, large integrated health systems, and county behavioral health departments serving populations from entry-level new graduates through senior clinical leads. The heaviest hiring concentrates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where established employers including Kaiser Permanente, UCSF Health, and Dignity Health maintain ongoing psychiatric NP needs. The most in-demand specialties are child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction medicine, and adult outpatient mental health. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 105+ Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner jobs
CHE Behavioral Health Services is hiring Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to join our clinician-led, APA-approved behavioral health team.
Since 1995, CHE has been a national leader in adult and geriatric mental health, serving 100,000+ patients across 800+ facilities in 11+ states.
Why PMHNPs Choose CHE
Create your own schedule (Mon–Fri, 7 AM–7 PM)
Compensation: $100,000-$180,000 annually!
Competitive pay (fee-for-service or salaried options)
No nights, weekends, or on-call
Consistent, reliable caseload, no cancellations
Work close to home in partnered facilities
Requirements
- MSN – Psychiatric/Mental Health; ANCC PMHNP certification
- Active DEA license
- Experience in psychotropic medication management
- 2 plus years of experience is required.
- Family Nurse Practitioners with 3–5 years of psych experience will be considered
What You’ll Do
- Conduct psychiatric evaluations and follow-up visits
- Develop, implement, and evaluate treatment plans
- Prescribe and manage psychotropic medications
- Collaborate with an integrated care team (psychiatrists, psychologists, LCSWs, nursing staff)
- Distinguish and diagnose psychological vs. physiological disorders
- Consult on complex or unusual clinical cases
Benefits (W2 Employees)
Medical, Dental, Vision (FT)
401(k) with 25% match on the first 6%
Paid time off & holidays (FT)
Free CEUs, training, and clinical supervision
EMR for efficient documentation
Excellent work-life balance
Apply Today
Join a stable, supportive organization that values clinicians and makes a real impact in the community.
Apply now to connect with our recruitment team and explore local opportunities.
CHE Behavioral Health Services is hiring Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to join our clinician-led, APA-approved behavioral health team.
Since 1995, CHE has been a national leader in adult and geriatric mental health, serving 100,000+ patients across 800+ facilities in 11+ states.
Why PMHNPs Choose CHE
Create your own schedule (Mon–Fri, 7 AM–7 PM)
Compensation: $100,000-$180,000 annually!
Competitive pay (fee-for-service or salaried options)
No nights, weekends, or on-call
Consistent, reliable caseload, no cancellations
Work close to home in partnered facilities
Requirements
- MSN – Psychiatric/Mental Health; ANCC PMHNP certification
- Active DEA license
- Experience in psychotropic medication management
- 2 plus years of experience is required.
- Family Nurse Practitioners with 3–5 years of psych experience will be considered
What You’ll Do
- Conduct psychiatric evaluations and follow-up visits
- Develop, implement, and evaluate treatment plans
- Prescribe and manage psychotropic medications
- Collaborate with an integrated care team (psychiatrists, psychologists, LCSWs, nursing staff)
- Distinguish and diagnose psychological vs. physiological disorders
- Consult on complex or unusual clinical cases
Benefits (W2 Employees)
Medical, Dental, Vision (FT)
401(k) with 25% match on the first 6%
Paid time off & holidays (FT)
Free CEUs, training, and clinical supervision
EMR for efficient documentation
Excellent work-life balance
Apply Today
Join a stable, supportive organization that values clinicians and makes a real impact in the community.
Apply now to connect with our recruitment team and explore local opportunities.
See All 105+ Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsPsychiatric Nurse Practitioner Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- LifeStance Health14
- Mood Health7
- CHE Behavioral Health Services6
- Mindpath Health5
- Mindful Health Solutions5
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in psychiatric nurse practitioner jobs across California.
- Active California Registered Nursing license and NP furnishing number issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing
- Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice with a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner specialization
- Board certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through ANCC or AANP
- DEA registration and California controlled substance furnishing certificate for prescribing psychiatric medications
- Minimum one to three years of clinical experience in a psychiatric or behavioral health setting
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems such as Epic, Cerner, or a comparable platform
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a psychiatric nurse practitioner in California?
You must first hold an active California Registered Nursing license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing, then complete a graduate-level psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program at the master's or doctoral level. After graduating, you pass the ANCC or AANP psychiatric-mental health NP board certification exam. You then apply to the California Board of Registered Nursing for an NP license, a furnishing number, and a California controlled substance furnishing certificate before you can prescribe.
How much do psychiatric nurse practitioners make in California?
Psychiatric 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 psychiatric nurse practitioners in California?
Employers hiring psychiatric nurse practitioners in California right now include LifeStance Health, Mood Health, and CHE Behavioral Health Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's large integrated systems and county behavioral health departments tend to post the most consistent openings given their broad outpatient, inpatient, and community mental health service lines.
Which California cities have the most psychiatric nurse practitioner jobs?
Los Angeles, Sacramento, and California have the most psychiatric nurse practitioner openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco anchor the list because of their dense concentration of academic medical centers, county mental health systems, and large integrated networks, while San Diego's strong VA presence and growing community health infrastructure support steady demand there as well.
Are there remote psychiatric nurse practitioner jobs in California?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely analytical fields because psychiatric NP work often requires in-person assessment and controlled-substance prescribing under California law. About 72% of psychiatric nurse practitioner openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and most of those involve telehealth therapy management or medication management follow-up visits rather than initial evaluations.
How can I get hired as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-graduate NP residency or fellowship programs, several of which are run by Kaiser Permanente and UCSF Health specifically for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners. County behavioral health departments across Los Angeles and Sacramento also hire new graduates into supervised outpatient roles. Coming from a registered nurse background in a psychiatric unit or emergency department is the lateral move that most commonly opens the door, and holding your California furnishing number and DEA registration before applying gives you a clear competitive edge.
Where can I find and apply to psychiatric nurse practitioner jobs in California?
You can find and apply to psychiatric nurse practitioner jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across health systems, community mental health centers, and telehealth providers. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialty focus and apply directly from the listings below.
See All 105+ Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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