How to become a Advanced Mental Health Practitioner
An experienced cross-professional clinician (nurse, OT, therapist) practising at advanced level in mental health — autonomous assessment, treatment and often prescribing.
Entry routes
- From High Intensity CBT Therapist: MSc Advanced Mental Health Practice (~3 yrs)
- From Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP): MSc Advanced Mental Health Practice (~3 yrs)
What you'll need
Certificates
- Care Certificate (completed)
Qualifications
Experience
- 2+ years post-registration experience
Clinical skills
- Evidence of advanced clinical skills
Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
A typical path
£25,272 now → £49,387 in ~8 yrs
- £25,272
Healthcare Assistant
Year 0 · Band 2 · entry
- £25,760
Mental Health Support Worker
Year 0.5 · Band 3 · entry
- £28,392
Assistant Psychologist
Year 1.5 · Band 4 · entry
- £31,157
Assistant Psychologist
Year 4.5 · Band 4 · top
- £49,387
High Intensity CBT Therapist
Year 4.5 · Band 7 · entry
- £51,932
High Intensity CBT Therapist
Year 6.5 · Band 7 · intermediate
- £49,387
Advanced Mental Health Practitioner
Year 7.5 · Band 7 · entry
- £51,932
Advanced Mental Health Practitioner
Year 9.5 · Band 7 · intermediate
Common questions
How long does it take to become a Advanced Mental Health Practitioner?
4–6 years from registration — see the step-by-step timeline above for a typical path.
See what you'd earn as a Advanced Mental Health Practitioner
Build your personalised forecast and skills plan — free to start.
Create my career map →Related
Indicative — England 2026/27 Agenda for Change basic pay, excludes High Cost Area Supplements, unsocial-hours and overtime. Typical timings are national averages, not guarantees. Not financial advice. See data sources.