The University of Washington School of Nursing in Seattle offers four Pediatric Nurse Practitioner pathways, split evenly between primary care and acute care:
Primary Care (CPNP-PC)
Acute Care (CPNP-AC)
Both DNP tracks are delivered online with up to one on-campus intensive per quarter in Seattle. Both certificates are full-time and in person, with weekly campus classes. All clinical placements are arranged by UW and located in Washington state. UW does not offer a PNP MSN.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (Resident / Non-Resident) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNP – PC | $105K (all students) | 10 quarters FT; 4 yrs PT | 96 |
| DNP – AC | $105K (all students) | 10 quarters FT; 4 yrs PT | 96 |
| Cert – PC | $48K–$60K / $69K–$86K | 12–15 months | Individualized |
| Cert – AC | $48K–$60K / $69K–$86K | 12–15 months | Individualized |
DNP estimates multiply the 2026–2027 fee-based DNP rate ($1,097/credit, same for residents and non-residents) by the 96-credit plan for the Autumn 2027 cohort. Certificate estimates multiply the 2026–2027 state graduate certificate rate ($12,082/quarter resident, $17,238/quarter non-resident) by four to five full-time quarters.
- Why choose it: UW arranges every clinical placement and offers both pediatric populations, each with 750 clinical hours, through a mostly online DNP.
- Trade-off: Clinicals are Washington-only, the DNP requires up to one Seattle intensive per quarter, and there is no MSN option.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | DNP (BSN or MSN entry); post-graduate certificate for current APRNs |
| Population Focus | Primary Care (CPNP-PC) and Acute Care (CPNP-AC); no dual PC/AC track |
| Format | DNP: Mostly Online. Certificates: Campus (weekly in-person classes) |
| Campus Attendance | DNP: up to one 2–4 day intensive per quarter |
| Clinical Hours | DNP: 750 per track. Certificates: set by individual gap analysis |
| Clinical Placement | Arranged by UW; all sites in Washington state |
| Distinctive Coursework | PC: child and adolescent mental health. AC: pediatric acute care procedures |
| RN License | Active Washington RN or Nurse Licensure Compact license |
| RN Experience | None required. AC: one year acute/critical/emergency RN experience strongly recommended |
| Start Terms | DNP: Autumn only. Certificates: Winter, Spring, or Autumn, space-available |
| Tuition | DNP $1,097/credit for all students; certificates on state quarterly tuition |
| Accreditation | CCNE (DNP and post-graduate APRN certificates) |
Clinical Education
- UW’s School of Nursing arranges all clinical placements. Students do not find their own preceptors.
- All placements are in Washington state, in urban and rural settings.
- Full-time DNP students start clinicals in spring quarter of Year 2; part-time students start in Year 3.
- DNP clinicals run through four practicum courses (29 credits), ending in a clinical immersion.
School-arranged placement removes the biggest stressor in most NP programs. The catch is geography: the coursework is mostly online, but the clinical work is not portable. A nurse living outside Washington would need to relocate or commute into the state for about a year of practicum (four quarters on the full-time plan).
General Admissions (DNP)
Both DNP tracks share one application process with a single Autumn start.
- BSN or MSN from a CCNE, NLN, or ACEN accredited program, completed before the program starts
- Minimum 3.0 GPA, cumulative or for the last 60 semester / 90 quarter graded credits
- Graded statistics course (3+ credits) within five years of start; for Autumn 2027, January 2022 to September 2027
- Active, unrestricted Washington RN license or Nurse Licensure Compact license; any ARNP license must be active in Washington
- Transcripts, resume, essays, and three letters of recommendation; GRE not required
- International applicants: active U.S. RN license at application, English proficiency, credential evaluation
- Priority deadline January 15, 2027 (full-time, all tracks); space-available deadline May 1, 2027 (select tracks, announced in March)
- One application per specialty track per admissions year
Part-time study is offered only for select tracks based on space, and only through the May 1 deadline. Applicants who need part-time pacing should not assume it will be open for their track in a given year.
DNP – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
The estimated tuition for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care (PNP-PC) DNP is approximately $105,312 (96 credits at $1,097/credit). The full-time plan takes 10 quarters including summers, which UW calls a three-year plan; the part-time plan takes four years. It prepares graduates for the PNCB CPNP-PC exam and is open to nurses with a BSN or MSN.
DNP PC Curriculum
Year 1 (36 credits) pairs the shared DNP core (evidence translation, health systems, policy, health equity, leadership) with the advanced practice foundation. Year 2 (40 credits) is the pediatric specialty sequence, with clinicals starting in spring. Year 3 (20 credits) is practicum and the DNP Project.
The specialty sequence is unusually broad for a primary care track. A full course on child and adolescent mental health, a pediatric pulmonary course, and a case studies course sit alongside acute and chronic primary care management. Selected specialty courses:
- NCLIN 502 – Pediatric Diagnostic Health Assessment (2 cr.)
- NURS 576 – Pediatric Wellness (3 cr.)
- NURS 501 – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Assessment, Diagnosis, and Evidence Based Interventions (2 cr.)
- NURS 515 – Diagnosis and Management of Common Adolescent Health Conditions (2 cr.)
- NURS 518 – Child Management I, Acute Conditions in Primary Care (3 cr.)
- NURS 500 – Child Management II, Chronic Conditions in Primary Care (3 cr.)
- NSG 566 – Pediatric Pharmacology (2 cr.)
- NURS 517 – Pediatric Pulmonary Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology (2 cr.)
- NSG 560 – Pediatric Case Studies (1 cr.)
- NSG 569 – Pediatric Cardiac Anatomy, Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Management (2 cr., optional, not counted in the 96)
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP PC Clinical Requirements
- 750 clinical hours
- Practica: NCLIN 516 (6 cr.), NCLIN 517 (7 cr.), NCLIN 518 (8 cr.), NCLIN 801 immersion (8 cr.)
- Settings: primary care pediatric practices, public health clinics, school-based clinics, pediatric subspecialty services, underserved and rural practices, U.S. Armed Forces
At 750 hours, the track sits at the top of the typical 600 to 750 hour range for a single pediatric population, 250 hours above the certification floor. Per-course hours are not published.
DNP PC Admissions
The primary care track has no requirements beyond the general DNP admissions above. No pediatric RN experience is required.
DNP – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care
The estimated tuition for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care (PNP-AC) DNP is approximately $105,312 (96 credits at $1,097/credit). It follows the same 10-quarter full-time or four-year part-time schedule as the primary care track. Graduates may sit for the PNCB CPNP-AC exam, and UW says it is the only school in the WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) offering this track. UW strongly recommends, but does not require, at least one year of recent RN experience in acute, critical, emergency, or similar care.
DNP AC Curriculum
Year 1 is identical to the primary care track. The tracks split in Year 2, where acute care students take a two-course acute and critical illness sequence, a procedures course, and acute care pharmacology instead of primary care management. Selected specialty courses:
- NCLIN 502 – Pediatric Diagnostic Health Assessment (2 cr.)
- NURS 536 – Management of Pediatric Patients with Acute/Critical Illness and Injury I (3 cr.)
- NSG 537 – Management of Pediatric Patients with Acute/Critical Illness and Injury II (3 cr.)
- NCLIN 507 – Pediatric Acute Care Procedures (2 cr.)
- NURS 535 – Pediatric Pharmacotherapeutics for Acute/Critical Illness (3 cr.)
- NURS 508 – Pediatric Chronic Management in Acute Care (3 cr.)
- NURS 515 – Diagnosis and Management of Common Adolescent Health Conditions (2 cr.)
- NURS 517 – Pediatric Pulmonary Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology (2 cr.)
- NSG 569 – Cardiac Elective (2 cr., optional, not counted in the 96)
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP AC Clinical Requirements
- 750 clinical hours
- Same four practicum courses and credits as the primary care track
- Settings: hospital medicine, emergency and urgent care, intensive and critical care, inpatient and outpatient subspecialty services, palliative and complex chronic care
The 750-hour total matches the primary care track and sits at the high end of the single-population range. The listed settings include PICU and emergency care, which acute care students at many schools must arrange on their own.
DNP AC Admissions
The only added criterion is experience, and it is a recommendation, not a gate.
- Strongly recommended: one year of recent direct patient care as an RN in acute, critical, emergency, or similar care
- Pediatric-specific experience is not stated as a requirement
Post-Graduate Certificate – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
The estimated tuition for the PNP-PC Post-Graduate Certificate is approximately $48,328 to $60,410 for Washington residents and $68,952 to $86,190 for non-residents (four to five quarters at $12,082 or $17,238 per quarter). The program takes 12 to 15 months, full-time and in person. It is limited to current APRNs (NPs, CNSs, and nurse anesthetists), and graduates may apply for PNCB pediatric nurse practitioner (CPNP-PC) or pediatric clinical nurse specialist certification.
Certificate PC Curriculum
There is no fixed plan of study. The specialty director completes a gap analysis of prior graduate coursework before admission, and that analysis sets each student’s courses and clinical hours. Many core courses require weekly in-person classes in Seattle. Credit totals and clinical hours are not published.
Certificate PC Clinical Requirements
- Clinical hours: set by gap analysis; not published
- Fieldwork planned with a faculty adviser, in urban and rural settings
Certificate PC Admissions
The certificate is closed to RNs without APRN preparation; UW directs them to the DNP instead.
- Current APRN: nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse anesthetist
- Gap analysis with the specialty director before admission
- Space-available admission
- Deadlines: October 15 (Winter 2027), January 15 (Spring 2027), May 1 (Autumn 2027)
Post-Graduate Certificate – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care
The estimated tuition for the PNP-AC Post-Graduate Certificate is approximately $48,328 to $60,410 for Washington residents and $68,952 to $86,190 for non-residents (four to five quarters at state certificate rates). The program takes 12 to 15 months, full-time and in person. It is limited to current APRNs, and graduates are eligible for the PNCB pediatric acute care (CPNP-AC) exam.
Certificate AC Curriculum and Clinicals
The structure mirrors the primary care certificate: a pre-admission gap analysis sets the course plan, many core courses meet weekly in person, and fieldwork is planned with a faculty adviser. Credits and clinical hours are not published. For a CPNP-PC already in practice, the gap analysis may credit much of the pediatric foundation, so this is the shortest route at UW to a second pediatric credential.
Certificate AC Admissions
- Current APRN: nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse anesthetist
- RN experience requirement: not stated
- Space-available admission; same three deadlines as the primary care certificate
Tuition
Estimated tuition runs from about $48,000 for a resident certificate to about $105,000 for either DNP, with non-resident certificates reaching about $86,000.
| Program | Est. In-State | Est. Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| DNP – PC | $105,312 | $105,312 |
| DNP – AC | $105,312 | $105,312 |
| Cert – PC | $48,328–$60,410 | $68,952–$86,190 |
| Cert – AC | $48,328–$60,410 | $68,952–$86,190 |
Figures are calculated from UW’s 2026–2027 rates, not published by the university. UW states that tuition-based rates already include the operating, building, technology, activities, facilities, and U-PASS fees.
Key Cost Takeaways
- Residency no longer matters for the DNP. Starting with the Autumn 2026 cohort, the PNP DNP tracks moved from state tuition to a fee-based rate charged equally to all students.
- The Autumn 2027 rate is not yet published. These estimates use the 2026–2027 rate of $1,097/credit, up from $1,062 the year before. Expect the next cohort’s rate to be set separately.
- Certificates still use state tuition. A non-resident pays about $5,150 more per quarter than a resident, which adds up to roughly $21,000 to $26,000 over the program.
- Certificate cost depends on the gap analysis. Fewer required courses can mean fewer quarters. Quarters with a light load may be billed differently than the full-time quarterly rate used here.
- Budget for travel. DNP students attend up to one two- to four-day Seattle intensive per quarter, which can mean up to 10 trips on the full-time plan.
- Clinical compliance costs are extra. Background checks, immunization tracking, CPR, and the student health fee are billed separately.
The flat DNP rate helps out-of-state applicants most: under the old state model, a non-resident DNP cost roughly $150,000. For Washington residents, the switch to fee-based pricing removed the in-state discount. Current UW Nursing costs and funding.
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best For
- Washington nurses who want a DNP without finding their own preceptors
- Acute care candidates in the Northwest, where UW is the only regional PNP-AC option
- Primary care candidates interested in pediatric mental health
- Working nurses who can travel to Seattle a few days each quarter but not every week
- Practicing APRNs in the Seattle area adding a pediatric population
Biggest Strengths
Placement is handled for you. UW arranges every clinical site, including PICU, emergency, and subspecialty rotations for acute care students. At many PNP programs, securing an acute pediatric preceptor is the step that delays graduation.
Both populations, with full clinical volume. Each DNP track requires 750 clinical hours, at the top of the typical range. Few schools in the region offer pediatric acute care at all.
Mostly online didactics. The DNP moved to online coursework with periodic intensives, so students no longer need to attend campus weekly. A four-year part-time plan exists for select tracks.
Potential Drawbacks
- All clinicals are in Washington state; out-of-state nurses must relocate or commute for practicum
- No MSN option; the shortest route for a BSN nurse is a 96-credit DNP
- About $105,000 in tuition, with no in-state discount on the DNP
- Single Autumn start for the DNP; part-time availability varies by year
- Certificates require weekly in-person classes and publish no credit or hour totals
- No dual PC/AC track
Bottom Line
UW is the strongest fit for a Washington nurse who wants a pediatric DNP and does not want to hunt for preceptors. Placement is arranged, both populations carry 750 hours, and acute care students get PICU and emergency rotations without negotiating for them. The biggest limitation is geography: clinicals stay in Washington, and the DNP still needs up to one Seattle trip per quarter. Cost is the second issue. At about $105,000 for everyone, UW is priced above many online PNP programs, and nurses who only want to practice as a PNP may find an MSN cheaper and shorter. For acute care candidates in the Northwest, though, UW has little direct competition.
Accreditation
The University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The School of Nursing’s DNP and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); UW does not publish an accreditation expiration date on its accreditation page. UW states that DNP graduates may be eligible for the PNCB CPNP-PC or CPNP-AC exam according to track. Because all clinicals are in Washington, the Washington license requirement matters more here than state authorization lists.