USF Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs

University of South Florida (USF) Health College of Nursing offers two Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP) tracks:

  • Master of Science in Nursing – PNP (BSN entry)
  • BS to Doctor of Nursing Practice – PNP (BSN entry)

Both tracks are delivered in a hybrid format — primarily online with some in-person requirements — and are available at USF’s Tampa campus with fall-only admission.

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. Tuition (FL Resident)Est. Duration
MSN PNP (BSN entry)$24,591~2.5 years (7 semesters)
BS-DNP PNP$33,220~3.5–4 years (11 semesters)

All clinical placements are completed in Florida and may be arranged anywhere in the state, with USF making every effort to place students near their residence. A new graduate pathway is available for both tracks for BSN-prepared nurses with fewer than 12 months of RN experience, allowing them to start with a lighter course load while continuing to build clinical experience.

Program Tracks Overview

Master of Science in Nursing – PNP

The MSN PNP program has an estimated tuition of approximately $24,591 (FL resident) or $52,539 (non-resident) based on 57 total credits, and would take approximately 2.5 years (7 semesters) to complete on a full-time, lock-step basis. A Master’s Comprehensive Examination is required at the end of the program.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN totals 57 credit hours organized across three tiers: a 12-credit core (the “3 Ps”), 20 credits of foundational advanced practice coursework, and an 18-credit PNP concentration sequence including three paired clinical courses.

All foundational courses must be completed before clinical coursework begins. Concentration courses and clinical hours will be updated in Fall 2026 to meet revised NONPF/AACN accreditation requirements.

Core Courses (12 cr.):

  • NGR 6002C – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (4 cr.)
  • NGR 6172 – Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics (4 cr.)
  • NGR 6143 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners (4 cr.)

Foundational Courses (20 cr.):

  • NGR 6703 – Advanced Nursing Role & Leadership (2 cr.)
  • NGR 6803 – Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr.)
  • NGR 6638 – Health Promotion Across Diverse Populations (3 cr.)
  • NGR 7772 – Health Systems, Economics & Financial Planning (3 cr.)
  • NGR 6875 – Digital Health & Informatics for HC Transformation (3 cr.)
  • NGR 6733 – Quality Improvement and Evaluation Strategies for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
  • NGR 6064C – Diagnostic Reasoning and Procedures for the APRN (3 cr.)

PNP Concentration Courses (18 cr.):

NGR 6301 – Primary Care of Children and Adolescents I
Focuses on primary care assessment, diagnosis, and management of common acute and behavioral concerns in children and adolescents, with emphasis on wellness, prevention, growth, and development.

NGR 6301L – Primary Care of Children and Adolescents I Clinical
Provides supervised clinical experience in the primary care of children and adolescents, emphasizing assessment, diagnosis, and management of common acute and behavioral concerns, along with wellness and prevention.

NGR 6302 – Primary Care of Children and Adolescents II
Builds on primary care concepts with emphasis on chronic disease management in children and adolescents and the impact of illness on patient and family outcomes.

NGR 6302L – Primary Care of Children and Adolescents II Clinical
Provides supervised clinical experience focused on chronic disease management in children and adolescents and the related effects on patient and family outcomes.

NGR 6339 – Primary Care of Children and Adolescents: Special Topics
Explores specialized theoretical and clinical topics relevant to pediatric primary care nurse practitioners.

NGR 6339L – Primary Care of Children and Adolescents: Special Topics Clinical
Provides supervised clinical experience in specialized topics relevant to pediatric primary care practice.

Final Semester Courses:

  • NGR XXXX – PNP PC Transition Seminar (2 cr.)
  • NGR XXXX – PNP PC Clinical Practice Immersion (4 cr. / 240 direct hrs)

See the official curriculum page for more details.

MSN Clinicals

Students must complete a minimum of 750 post-baccalaureate supervised direct clinical hours by graduation (effective Fall 2025, per NONPF 2022 / AACN 2021 standards). The concentration sequence and final immersion account for all 750 hours. All clinical placements are completed in Florida and may be located anywhere in the state. USF makes every effort to assign students to sites near their residence, though flexibility is required.

  • NGR 6301L – PNP PC Clinical Management I (150 direct hrs)
  • NGR 6302L – PNP PC Clinical Management II (180 direct hrs)
  • NGR 6339L – PNP PC Clinical Management III (180 direct hrs)
  • NGR XXXX – PNP PC Clinical Practice Immersion (240 direct hrs)
  • Total: 750 supervised direct clinical hours

MSN Admissions Requirements

  • BSN from an accredited institution; minimum 3.0 nursing GPA
  • Current, unencumbered Florida RN license by October 30 (U.S. RN license required before admission)
  • Three letters of recommendation (nursing faculty/clinical instructor, nursing supervisor, APRN/PA/MD/DO)
  • Current resume or CV
  • GRE not required (recommended but optional)
  • NursingCAS application + USF Graduate Admissions application (both required)
  • Level 1 and Level 2 background checks + drug screen required after admission offer
  • Proof of current health insurance required
  • F-1 visa holders not eligible due to online delivery restrictions
  • ⚠️ New graduate pathway available for students with fewer than 12 months RN experience (PNP concentration is eligible)
  • Fall entry only | Priority deadline: February 15 | Final deadline: July 1

Doctor of Nursing Practice – PNP (BS to DNP)

The BS-DNP PNP program has an estimated tuition of approximately $33,220 (FL resident) or $70,974 (non-resident) based on 77 total credits, and would take approximately 3.5 to 4 years (11 semesters) to complete on a full-time, lock-step basis.

A DNP Qualifying Exam is required after Semester 6. The program requires a minimum of 1,000 total post-baccalaureate supervised practice hours (750 direct + 500 indirect/practicum).

DNP Curriculum

The BS-DNP totals 77 credit hours, integrating the full PNP specialty concentration sequence with doctoral-level coursework in biostatistics and epidemiology, population health, healthcare policy and finance, health informatics, interprofessional leadership, quality improvement and implementation science, and a four-phase DNP Project.

A DNP Qualifying Exam is required. Students complete a scholarly report/manuscript, poster presentation, portfolio, and comprehensive NP certification exam preparation. Concentration courses will be updated in Fall 2026 per revised accreditation requirements.

Shared DNP Core (13 cr.):

  • NGR 7766 – Interprofessional Practice and Health Systems Leadership (3 cr.)
  • NGR 7846 – Biostatistics and Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing Practice (4 cr.)
  • NGR 6875 – Digital Health & Informatics for HC Transformation (3 cr.)
  • NGR 7772 – Health Systems, Economics & Financial Planning (3 cr.)

Foundational Courses (21 cr.):

  • NGR 6143 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (4 cr.)
  • NGR 6002C – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (4 cr.)
  • NGR 6172 – Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics (4 cr.)
  • NGR 6638 – Health Promotion Across Diverse Populations (3 cr.)
  • NGR 6803 – Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr.)
  • NGR 6064C – Diagnostic Reasoning and Procedures for the APRN (3 cr.)

Required DNP Courses (6 cr.):

  • NGR 7768 – Doctor of Nursing Practice Advanced Role (2 cr.)
  • NGR 7769 – Quality Improvement and Implementation Science (4 cr.)

PNP Concentration Courses (18 cr.) — same sequence as MSN:

  • NGR 6301 – PC Management of Pediatric Populations I (3 cr.)
  • NGR 6301L – PNP PC Clinical Management I (3 cr. / 150 direct + 30 indirect hrs)
  • NGR XXXX – Advanced Pediatric Assessment (1 cr.)
  • NGR 6302 – PC Management of Pediatric Populations II (3 cr.)
  • NGR 6302L – PNP PC Clinical Management II (3 cr. / 180 direct hrs)
  • NGR 6339 – PNP PC Special Topics (3 cr.)
  • NGR 6339L – PNP PC Clinical Management III (3 cr. / 180 direct hrs)

DNP Project (12 cr.):

  • NGR 7955C – DNP Project Phase I (3 cr. / 125 min. practicum hrs)
  • NGR 7956C – DNP Project Phase II (3 cr. / 125 min. practicum hrs)
  • NGR 7957C – DNP Project Phase III (3 cr. / 125 min. practicum hrs)
  • NGR 7958C – DNP Project Phase IV (3 cr. / 125 min. practicum hrs)

Final Semester Courses:

  • NGR XXXX – PNP PC Transition Seminar (2 cr.)
  • NGR XXXX – PNP PC Clinical Practice Immersion (4 cr. / 240 direct hrs)

See the official curriculum page for more details.

DNP Clinicals

The BS-DNP PNP track requires a minimum of 750 direct clinical hours and 500 indirect practicum hours for a total of 1,000+ post-baccalaureate supervised practice hours (meeting CCNE DNP standards). All direct clinical hours and DNP Project practicum hours must be completed in Florida. Placement may be anywhere in the state; students should expect to be flexible on site location.

  • NGR 6301L – PNP PC Clinical Management I (150 direct hrs)
  • NGR 6302L – PNP PC Clinical Management II (180 direct hrs)
  • NGR 6339L – PNP PC Clinical Management III (180 direct hrs)
  • NGR XXXX – PNP PC Clinical Practice Immersion (240 direct hrs)
  • NGR 7955C–7958C – DNP Project Phases I–IV (500 indirect/practicum hrs, min. 125 hrs per phase)
  • Total: 750 direct + 500 indirect = 1,000+ hours

DNP Admissions Requirements

  • BSN from an accredited institution; minimum 3.0 nursing GPA
  • Undergraduate statistics course (3 credits, grade of B or better) required before program start
  • Current, unencumbered Florida RN license by October 30
  • Three letters of recommendation (nursing faculty/clinical instructor, nursing supervisor, APRN/PA/MD/DO)
  • Current resume or CV
  • GRE not required
  • NursingCAS application + USF Graduate Admissions application (both required)
  • Level 1 and Level 2 background checks + drug screen required after admission offer
  • F-1 visa holders not eligible
  • ⚠️ New graduate pathway available for students with fewer than 12 months RN experience (PNP concentration is eligible)
  • Fall entry only | Priority deadline: February 15 | Final deadline: July 1

Tuition

Graduate tuition at USF is $431.43 per credit hour for Florida residents and $921.74 per credit hour for non-residents (includes all state, local, and other fees).

No programmatic tuition surcharge applies to the standard MSN or BSN-DNP nursing programs (the programmatic rate applies only to the DNP Nurse Anesthesiology program).

A flat per-term fee of $37.00 (Activities, Athletics, and Student Union combined) applies to all students regardless of credit load.

More tuition details are available here.

Accreditation

The USF Health College of Nursing’s BSN, MSN, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Graduates of both the MSN and BS-DNP PNP tracks are eligible to sit for the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination offered by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB), and may apply for Florida APRN licensure upon passing.

Other PNP Programs in Florida