Start your Maryland psychiatric nurse practitioner practice in 60 days.
We set up your practice and manage your back office.
- More time. We handle credentialing, billing, scheduling, and compliance.
- More autonomy. Your own LLC, your name on the door, your schedule.
- More income. You own the practice, and Kinstead pays you for every completed visit, even if an insurer denies the claim.
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Psychiatric nurse practitioners already doing this in Maryland
Psychiatric NPs already run their own practices across Maryland with Kinstead, including Arrowhead Mental Health in Frederick, Empowered Mental Health & Wellness in Finksburg, and Brave Psychiatry and Wellness in Baltimore.
See some practices we support
“I created Brave Psychiatry and Wellness so every person has a place where they feel truly seen, heard, and supported.”
What could a psychiatry practice earn in Maryland?
A ballpark for a practice you own, before tax, benefits, and rent. A four-day week comes to about $205,000 a year.
3-day week
~$155,000
a year · about 30 visits a week
4-day week
~$205,000
a year · about 40 visits a week
5-day week
~$260,000
a year · about 50 visits a week
These estimates are net of Kinstead’s fees, before tax, benefits, and rent.
Estimates, not a guarantee, for a panel mixing Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial patients. Commercial plans usually pay more; Medicaid pays less. How we calculate this
From signed to seeing patients in 60 days.
We’ve built a repeatable system to get your practice credentialed, compliant, and ready for patients faster than you could do it alone.
Build your brand
We help you create a practice identity that’s distinctly yours — your name, your specialty, your positioning. A real clinic with your vision at the center.
Practice nameBrand identityEntity formationBusiness structureGet in-network
We handle all credentialing and payer enrollment on your behalf — CAQH, state licensing, insurance contracts. The painful part, done for you.
CAQHState licensingPayer contractsCDS registrationSee patients
Your EHR, scheduling, and billing are ready before your first appointment. You focus entirely on clinical care. We handle the rest.
EHR setupSchedulingBilling, including psychotherapy add-onsRevenue cycle
Can a nurse practitioner practice independently in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland has given nurse practitioners, PMHNPs included, full practice authority since 2015, so no collaborating physician is required. Only newly certified NPs name an 18-month mentor.
Read the full Maryland step-by-step guide- Practice authority
- Full, since 2015
- Before you go solo
- Nothing if you're already certified; new NPs name an 18-month mentor
- Business entity
- An LLC (about $300 to form)
- Controlled substances
- Maryland CDS registration, plus DEA
- Time to first patient
- 60 days with Kinstead
Questions nurse practitioners ask about starting a psychiatry practice in Maryland
What does Kinstead actually do?
We set up your practice — entity, credentialing, payer contracts, and EHR — and then run the business side: billing, scheduling, and compliance. We also support your marketing and growth, but we don't acquire patients for you. You own the practice and make every clinical decision.
How do I get paid if an insurer denies a claim?
You're still paid for the visit. Kinstead pays you for every completed visit, whatever the insurer ultimately pays or however long it takes. The denial risk sits with us, not with you.
Can I keep my current job while my practice is set up?
Yes, and most NPs do. We prepare and submit the credentialing and payer applications, and you review and sign what needs your signature. Most people stay in their current role until their payer contracts are active, then move into their own practice.
How long does it take to start seeing patients?
About 60 days from signing to your first patient. We run entity setup, credentialing, and payer enrollment in parallel, and start credentialing, the slowest step, on day one.
What does it cost to work with Kinstead?
Before you sign, we tell you exactly what you will be paid, and the estimates on this page are already net of Kinstead's fees. There are no buyout fees, ever. We walk through the details on an intro call.
Do I own my practice and my patients?
Yes. It's your LLC and your brand, under your name and your clinical judgment. Kinstead provides the operational layer and does not own or control your practice or your patient relationships. There is no non-compete: you can work for others or keep your job while your practice gets off the ground.
How much can an independent PMHNP earn in Maryland?
A psychiatry practice on a four-day week is in the ballpark of $205,000 a year; a three-day week roughly $155,000, a five-day week roughly $260,000. These are estimates of practice earnings before tax, benefits, and rent, assuming about $135 reimbursed per visit over 48 working weeks, not a guarantee. What's guaranteed is the pay for each visit.
Can I prescribe controlled substances in my own practice?
Yes. You need a Maryland Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) registration and a federal DEA registration. We line both up early so they don't hold up your first patient.
Related reading
- Primary care practices in Maryland
- PMHNP private practice income, explained
- How to start a nurse practitioner practice in Maryland
- Read NP founder stories
From the blog
- Nurse Practitioner Telehealth Requirements in MA, MD & CT
- How Much Does It Cost to Start a Nurse Practitioner Practice
- The Nurse Practitioner Credentialing Timeline, Explained
- Nurse Practitioner Full Practice Authority: MA, MD & CT
- Choosing an Entity Type for Nurse Practitioner Practices
- Leaving Your W-2 Job: Build Runway First
Your psychiatry practice, in your name, in 60 days.