Florida International University (FIU) Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences offers four Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP) tracks:
- Master of Science in Nursing – PNP (BSN entry, predominantly online)
- Post-BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice – PNP (online, MSN awarded midway)
- Post-Graduate Certificate – PNP (MSN-prepared nurses, online)
- Dual MSN PNP + Nurse Educator Certificate (online)
All PNP tracks are delivered predominantly online, with clinical placements that can be arranged outside of FIU’s traditional service area (Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties).
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (FL Resident) | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN PNP | $28,282 (resident) / $50,966 (non-resident) | 2 years (6 semesters) |
| Post-BSN DNP PNP | $48,394 (resident) / $87,208 (non-resident) | 3.5 years (10 semesters, full-time) |
| Post-Graduate Certificate PNP | $14,580 (resident) / $32,054 (non-resident) | 1–2 years |
| Dual MSN PNP + Nurse Educator | ~$37,000 est. (resident) | 3 years (9 semesters) |
A key distinction from many programs: for the online PNP tracks, students are responsible for identifying their own clinical sites, then working with FIU’s clinical department to establish contracts before rotations begin. All tracks are highly competitive and limited enrollment, with a Fall-only admission deadline of March 1 for MSN and certificate programs.
Master of Science in Nursing – PNP
The MSN PNP program has an estimated resident tuition of $28,282 (non-resident: $50,966) based on 45 credits, and would take approximately 2 years (6 semesters) to complete on a full-time basis.
The program includes 630 clinical hours and a research project requirement.
MSN Curriculum
The program totals 45 credits organized across a 9-credit graduate nursing core, a 13-credit advanced practice nursing core, a 1-credit clinical education seminar, and a 4-credit PNP role development component including the clinical role synthesis practicum. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA with a grade of 85% or better in all required courses. A research project (3 credits) is required for graduation.
Graduate Nursing Core (9 cr.):
NGR5110 – Theories in Nursing
Examines and applies nursing and interdisciplinary theories to guide advanced practice, research, education, and leadership in nursing.
NGR5131 – Culture and Advanced Nursing Practice
Explores cultural theories and behaviors influencing health, emphasizing multicultural care approaches and culturally responsive nursing across the lifespan.
NGR5810 – Research Methods in Nursing
Introduces research designs and methodologies in nursing, highlighting the integration of theory, practice, and data systems in evidence-based inquiry.
Advanced Practice Nursing Core (13 cr.):
NGR6002C – Advanced Health Assessment
Develops advanced health assessment proficiency through comprehensive data collection, interpretation, and critical thinking across diverse populations.
NGR5141 – Pathophysiologic Basis of Advanced Nursing Practice
Analyzes complex pathophysiologic processes to enhance diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision-making in advanced practice nursing.
NGR6172 – Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Nursing Practice
Provides advanced knowledge of pharmacologic principles and therapeutic decision-making to ensure safe, effective, and cost-conscious medication management.
NGR5064C – Diagnostic and Therapeutics in Advanced Nursing Practice
Integrates diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic interventions for managing health conditions across the lifespan in advanced practice settings.
Clinical Education Seminar (1 cr.):
NGR6743 – Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Education Seminar
Prepares students for clinical immersion by bridging classroom learning with real-world application, emphasizing readiness for advanced practice roles in varied care environments.
PNP Specialty Courses (per semester plan, Semesters 4–6):
NGR6301C – Advanced Child Health Nursing I
Builds foundational theoretical and evidence-based knowledge for pediatric nurse practitioners focused on promoting health, preventing disease, and managing acute conditions in children within primary care settings.
NGR6301L – Advanced Child Health Nursing Practice I
Applies evidence-based principles and clinical skills in pediatric primary care to support health promotion, disease prevention, and acute illness management.
NGR6302 – Advanced Child Health Nursing II
Expands evidence-based expertise and clinical competencies for pediatric nurse practitioners caring for children and families coping with chronic or multisystem conditions.
NGR6302L – Advanced Child Health Nursing Practice II
Focuses on hands-on application of advanced clinical judgment and evidence-based care in managing pediatric clients with complex, long-term illnesses.
NGR6337 – Clinical Decision Making in Advanced Child Health Nursing
Examines advanced decision-making strategies in pediatric nursing through integration and evaluation of prior clinical experience and coursework.
See the official curriculum page for more details.
MSN Clinicals
Students complete 630 supervised clinical hours embedded within the PNP specialty practicum courses. FIU’s clinical department assists with one-on-one clinical placements; however, for the online PNP track, students are primarily responsible for identifying their own clinical site and working with FIU’s clinical department to establish a formal contract before any rotation begins.
Clinical sites may be located outside Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties for online students.
- NGR 6301L – Advanced Child Health Nursing Practice I
- NGR 6302L – Advanced Child Health Nursing Practice II
- NGR 6337L – Role Synthesis in Advanced Child Health Nursing Practice
- Total: 630 supervised clinical hours
MSN Admissions Requirements
- BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program (non-accredited considered individually)
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA and 3.0 in BSN upper division coursework (last 60 credits)
- Current State of Florida RN license (out-of-state students must obtain FL license before admission)
- NursingCAS application + FIU Supplemental Application ($30 fee)
- Written personal statement essay
- Three professional reference letters
- Current curriculum vitae
- Panel interview (by invitation only, following application review)
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended sent to NursingCAS
- TOEFL (550 paper / 213 computer) or IELTS (6.5) for non-native English speakers
- Background checks, drug screening, fingerprinting, and immunization tracking through FIU Express required before clinicals
- CPR certification (AHA) required before entering clinical courses
- Only one NursingCAS application per admission cycle accepted
- Fall term only | Deadline: March 1
Post-BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice – PNP
The Post-BSN DNP PNP program has an estimated resident tuition of $48,394 (non-resident: $87,208) based on 77 DNP credits, and can be completed in approximately 3.5 years (10 semesters) full-time.
An 11-semester and 14-semester part-time plan are also available. The program awards the MSN degree after Semester 6 — allowing students to sit for APRN national certification — before continuing into the final four doctoral semesters. Total clinical hours: 1,170.
Post-BSN DNP Curriculum
The program totals 77 credits across 10 semesters. Semesters 1–6 constitute the MSN component (59 credits); Semesters 7–10 consist of doctoral coursework and the DNP Project sequence. Doctoral core courses add scientific and theoretical foundations, patient safety and quality improvement, healthcare finance and economics, health informatics, analytical methods for evidence-based practice, health policy practicum, organizational dynamics, translational research, and three DNP Project courses.
Semesters 1–6 (MSN Component — 59 cr.):
Semester 1 – Fall 1 (11 cr.):
- NGR 7121 – Scientific and Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
- NGR 6172 – Pharmacological Concepts (3 cr.)
- NGR 5810 – Research Methods in Nursing (3 cr.)
- NGR 6703 – Role Development of the Advanced Practice Nurse (2 cr.)
Semester 2 – Spring 1 (9 cr. / 60 clinical hrs):
- NGR 5141 – Pathophysiologic Concepts (3 cr.)
- NGR 7769 – Patient Safety and Quality Improvement in Healthcare (3 cr.)
- NGR 7892L – Health Policy Practicum (3 cr. / 60 hrs)
Semester 3 – Summer 1 (11 cr.):
- NGR 6002C – Advanced Health Assessment (4 cr.)
- NGR 7854 – Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Clinical Practice (3 cr.)
- NGR 5064C – Diagnostics & Therapeutics (3 cr.)
- NGR 6743 – Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Education Seminar (1 cr.)
Semester 4 – Fall 2 (9 cr. / clinical hrs embedded):
- NGR 6301C – Advanced Child Health Nursing I (3–4 cr.)
- NGR 6301L – Advanced Child Health Nursing Practicum I (3–4 cr.)
- NGR 7853 – Translational Research (3 cr.)
Semester 5 – Spring 2 (9 cr. / clinical hrs embedded):
- NGR 6302C – Advanced Child Health Nursing II (3–4 cr.)
- NGR 6302L – Advanced Child Health Nursing Practicum II (3–4 cr.)
- NGR 5131 – Culture in Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
Semester 6 – Summer 2 (10 cr.) — MSN Degree Awarded; APRN Certification Eligibility:
- NGR 6337L – Role Synthesis in Child Health (4 cr.)
- NGR 6337 – Clinical Decision-Making Child Health (3 cr.)
- NGR 7871 – Healthcare Informatics (3 cr.)
Semesters 7–10 (DNP Component):
Semester 7 – Fall 3 (6 cr. / 60 hrs):
- NGR 7733 – Organizational Dynamics of Health Systems (3 cr.)
- NGR 7891 – Healthcare Finance and Economics in Advanced Clinical Practice (3 cr.)
Semester 8 – Spring 3 (4 cr. / 170 hrs):
- NGR 7940C – DNP Project I (4 cr.)
Semester 9 – Summer 3 (4 cr. / 165 hrs):
- NGR 7941C – DNP Project II (4 cr.)
Semester 10 – Fall 4 (4 cr. / 165 hrs):
- NGR 7942C – DNP Project III (4 cr.)
See the official curriculum page for more details.
Post-BSN DNP Clinicals
Students complete 1,170 total DNP clinical hours distributed across the health policy practicum, PNP specialty practicum courses, and the three-course DNP Project sequence. As with the MSN track, online PNP students are primarily responsible for identifying their own clinical sites; FIU’s clinical department assists with contract establishment.
- NGR 7892L – Health Policy Practicum (60 hrs)
- NGR 6301L – Advanced Child Health Practicum I (embedded)
- NGR 6302L – Advanced Child Health Practicum II (embedded)
- NGR 6337L – Role Synthesis in Child Health (embedded)
- NGR 7940C – DNP Project I (170 hrs)
- NGR 7941C – DNP Project II (165 hrs)
- NGR 7942C – DNP Project III (165 hrs)
- Total: 1,170 clinical hours
Post-BSN DNP Admissions Requirements
- BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program; minimum 3.0 cumulative and upper-division nursing GPA
- Current State of Florida RN license
- NursingCAS application + FIU Supplemental Application
- Essay (500 words) on desired focus and areas of interest for Post-BSN DNP practice
- Three professional recommendation letters describing ability to succeed in MSN-DNP program
- Curriculum vitae
- Successful personal interview with the Graduate Admissions Committee
- TOEFL or IELTS for non-native English speakers
- Background checks, fingerprinting, drug screening, and immunization tracking required before clinicals
- ⚠️ To advance to the DNP Project component after MSN conferral, students must maintain good academic standing, hold current unrestricted APRN licensure, and provide proof of national board certification in the PNP specialty
- Fall term: March 1 | Spring term: August 1
Post-Graduate Certificate – PNP (Primary Care)
The Post-Graduate Certificate PNP program has an estimated resident tuition of $14,580 (non-resident: $32,054) based on 19 certificate credits, and can typically be completed in 1 to 2 years. This is the most affordable and fastest pathway for MSN-prepared nurses adding the PNP specialty. Note that 13 prerequisite credits (advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and culture in advanced nursing practice) are required before enrollment in specialty courses but do not count toward the 19 certificate credits — students without these courses will need additional time and cost.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate totals 19 credits — 15 credits in PNP specialty courses and 4 credits in role development. Prerequisite courses (13 cr.) covering the “3 Ps” plus culture must be completed within the last 3 years; older coursework may require repetition based on evaluation by the admissions committee.
Prerequisites (13 cr. — not counted toward certificate, required before specialty courses):
- NGR 6002C – Advanced Health Assessment (4 cr.)
- NGR 5131 – Culture and Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
- NGR 5141 – Pathophysiologic Basis of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
- NGR 6172 – Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr.)
PNP Specialty Courses (15 cr.):
- NGR 6301C – Advanced Child Health Nursing I (3 cr.)
- NGR 6301L – Advanced Child Health Nursing Practice I (3 cr.)
- NGR 6302 – Advanced Child Health Nursing II (3 cr.)
- NGR 6302L – Advanced Child Health Nursing Practice II (3 cr.)
- NGR 6337 – Clinical Decision Making in Advanced Child Health Nursing (3 cr.)
Role Development (4 cr.):
- NGR 6337L – Role Synthesis in Advanced Child Health Nursing Practice (4 cr.)
See the official curriculum page for more details.
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical hours are embedded within the PNP specialty practicum courses. As with the MSN and DNP tracks, online PNP certificate students are responsible for identifying their own clinical sites; FIU’s clinical department assists with establishing formal contracts before rotations begin. Sites may be outside the traditional Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties.
Certificate Admissions Requirements
- MSN from a CCNE-, NLNAC-, or ACEN-accredited program; minimum 3.0 graduate GPA
- Current Florida RN and/or APRN license
- Graduate coursework in nursing theory (3 cr.), nursing research (3 cr.), advanced pathophysiology (3 cr.), advanced health assessment (3 cr.), and advanced pharmacology (3 cr.) — coursework older than 3 years may require repetition
- NursingCAS application + FIU Supplemental Application ($30 fee)
- Professional CV, personal statement, and two letters of recommendation uploaded to NursingCAS
- Pre-admission panel interview with members of the Graduate Nursing Admissions Committee
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended sent to NursingCAS
- Non-degree-seeking students only
- Fall term only | Deadline: March 1
Dual MSN PNP + Nurse Educator Certificate
The Dual MSN PNP + Nurse Educator Certificate program totals 60 credits and can be completed in approximately 3 years (9 semesters). Estimated resident tuition is approximately ~$37,000 (based on the $28,282 MSN rate plus Nurse Educator Certificate costs). This track is ideal for nurses who want to practice clinically as a PNP while also qualifying to teach in nursing education or healthcare settings. Graduates are eligible to sit for both the PNCB PNP national certification exam and the NLN National Nurse Educator Certification.
Dual MSN Curriculum
The dual program integrates the full MSN NP sequence with the Nurse Educator Certificate coursework across 9 semesters. Nurse Educator coursework (semesters 3–5) covers curriculum development, evaluation and testing in nursing education, clinical and classroom teaching strategies, and instructional technology. The PNP specialty sequence begins in Semester 7, with the clinical role synthesis practicum completing in Semester 9.
Key Nurse Educator Courses (added to NP sequence):
- NGR 6713 – Curriculum Development in Nursing (3 cr.)
- NGR 6718 – Evaluating & Testing in Nursing Education (3 cr.)
- NGR 6714C – Clinical Teaching Strategies for Nursing (3 cr. / 105 hrs)
- NGR 6715 – Instructional Technology in Nursing and Health Sciences (3 cr.)
- NGR 6708C – Classroom Teaching Strategies (3 cr. / 105 hrs)
- NGR 6743 – Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Education Seminar (1 cr.)
See the official curriculum page for more details.
Dual MSN Clinicals
Students complete the standard 630 PNP clinical hours plus an additional 210 clinical hours of teaching strategies (105 hrs in clinical teaching, 105 hrs in classroom teaching). All PNP clinical placement rules apply — students are responsible for identifying their own sites for the online PNP component.
Dual MSN Admissions Requirements
Admissions requirements are identical to the standard MSN NP track. See MSN admissions requirements above. Fall term only; deadline: March 1.
Tuition
FIU’s published 2025–2026 estimated program tuition costs (tuition only, excluding housing/meals) are as follows for the PNP tracks:
- MSN PNP — $28,282 resident / $50,966 non-resident
- Post-BSN DNP PNP — $48,394 resident / $87,208 non-resident
- Post-Graduate Certificate (Adult/Child) — $14,580 resident / $32,054 non-resident.
Estimated total costs including university fees and textbooks/supplies run approximately $2,700–$9,700 higher per program.
Tuition and fees are subject to annual change.
More tuition details are available here.
Accreditation
The Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Florida International University is fully accredited. All MSN, DNP, and certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduates of all PNP tracks are eligible to apply for national certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) and to apply for Florida APRN licensure upon passing. Dual MSN graduates are additionally qualified to sit for the NLN National Nurse Educator Certification.
Other PNP Programs in Florida
- Maryville University - 100% Online
- University of Florida - Gainesville
- University of South Florida - Tampa
- Walden University - 100% Online