The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing offers two Pediatric Nurse Practitioner pathways, both as concentrations in its Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Doctor of Nursing Practice (APRN DNP):
- BSN to DNP – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- BSN to DNP – Acute Care, CPNP-AC
Both tracks are taught in Austin on a hybrid basis, with weekday classes and clinical courses rather than an online option. Applicants need a BSN and a Texas RN license (or a multistate Nurse Licensure Compact license) if admitted. UT Austin no longer offers an MSN-level PNP track, and the catalog states that its post-master’s APRN certificate programs, which included primary and acute care PNP tracks, transitioned to the DNP effective fall 2026.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (Resident) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNP – PC | $40,364 | 3 yrs (full-time) | 72 |
| DNP – AC | $40,621 | 3 yrs (full-time) | 73 |
Tuition estimates apply UT Austin’s 2026-2027 graduate flat-rate tuition for the School of Nursing, which is charged per semester by credit load, to each term of the school’s full-time schedule, using the summer 2026 rate for the two summer terms.
- Why choose it: Separate primary and acute care DNP tracks with about 840 clinical hours each, at about $40,500 in resident tuition.
- Trade-off: No online option, weekday classes in Austin for three years, and roughly four to six students admitted per track each year.
Quick Facts
| Population Focus | DNP PC: Primary Care (CPNP-PC) | DNP AC: Acute Care (CPNP-AC) |
| Degree Level | BSN to DNP only; no MSN or post-master’s PNP certificate |
| Format | Hybrid; classroom and clinical courses in Austin, some courses web-based |
| Campus Attendance | Weekday classes, typically 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Clinical Hours | AC: 840 clinical, 1,080 program hours | PC: about 840 (est.), 1,020 program hours |
| RN Experience | AC: 2 years full-time required | PC: 1 year with children recommended |
| RN License | Texas or Nurse Licensure Compact license, if admitted |
| Cohort Size | 4 to 6 students per track each year |
| Start Term | Fall only; applications September 1 to November 1 |
| Tuition (Resident) | About $40,400 to $40,600 total (est.) |
| Accreditation | CCNE |
Clinical Education
Both tracks share the same clinical skeleton: a 60-hour lab in advanced pediatric health assessment, a four-course Advanced Leadership Practicum sequence (30 hours each, 120 total) that houses the DNP scholarly project, a sequence of population-specific clinical courses, and a final Advanced Practice Nursing Advanced Practicum taken alongside the last leadership practicum. The graduate catalog states that the school has access to private practice, community, and state facilities for clinical placement, including the major health care facilities in Austin and surrounding communities.
Because clinical courses run in the same semesters as weekday classes in Austin, students in practice need placements within commuting distance of campus. Compliance items, including immunizations, a drug screen, BLS certification, health insurance, professional liability insurance, and an employment background check, must be complete before the program starts.
General Admissions
Both PNP tracks use the APRN DNP application. Requirements shared by both tracks:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing or CCNE
- GPA of at least 3.0 in upper-division undergraduate and any graduate coursework; applicants below 3.0 may be admitted with conditions
- Current Texas RN license or a Nurse Licensure Compact state license, if admitted
- Upper-division statistics course (3 credits) completed before the first semester
- Statement of purpose (two pages maximum), CV or resume, and three recommendations submitted through the school’s online form (letters are not accepted)
- Official transcripts dated within one year from every institution attended
- TOEFL or IELTS within two years for international applicants; no GRE
- An interview may be required
- Application window September 1 to November 1 for a fall start; decisions by early March
A published conflict worth knowing about. The APRN DNP FAQ (revised October 2025) says applicants may enter with an associate degree or diploma in nursing plus a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The 2026-2027 graduate catalog and both PNP program pages require a BSN. This page follows the catalog.
The committee reviews files holistically on a value-point system, and incomplete files are not reviewed. With four to six seats per track and a single November 1 deadline, a missed deadline or a weak year means waiting a full cycle.
DNP Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PC PNP)
The Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track is a 72-credit BSN-to-DNP that takes three years full-time, with estimated resident tuition of about $40,364. It prepares nurses for pediatric primary care, newborns through young adults, and leads to PNCB CPNP-PC eligibility. One year of full-time RN experience with children or adolescents within the last five years is recommended but not required, which makes this the more accessible of the two tracks for newer nurses.
PC PNP Curriculum
The 72 credits split into 25 credits of DNP core coursework, a 25-credit primary care concentration, and 22 credits of APRN-DNP core that includes the four leadership practicums. The first year covers the advanced practice foundations and DNP research courses; the pediatric primary care sequence starts in the fall of year two and runs through three levels, each with a paired clinical course. The concentration includes a full course in child and adolescent psychiatric mental health for primary care, which supports the Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS) eligibility the school cites.
Primary Care Concentration (25 credits)
- NRP 393E Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care I (3) and NRP 393K clinical (3)
- NRP 393G Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care II (3) and NRP 493H clinical (4)
- NRP 294J Pediatric Primary Health Care III (2) and NRP 494K clinical (4)
- NRP 394V Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health for Primary Care (3)
- NRP 398N Advanced Practice Nursing Advanced Practicum (3)
APRN and DNP Core (47 credits)
- NRP 396C Advanced Pathophysiology (3), NRP 393C Advanced Pediatric Health Assessment (3), NRP 393D Advanced Pediatric Pharmacology (3)
- NRP 498R Foundations in Theory and Advanced Practice Nursing Roles (4)
- NRP 298G, 298H, 298J Advanced Leadership Practicum I to III (2 each) and NRP 398K Advanced Leadership Practicum IV (3)
- Seven 3-credit DNP core courses (leadership, epidemiology, quality improvement, health policy, informatics, research design, evidence synthesis) and NRP 498M Health Economics and Finance (4)
The full-time schedule (effective for students starting fall 2026) runs 10, 9, and 6 credits in year one; 11, 9, and 6 in year two; and 11 and 10 in year three. See the PC PNP program of work and full-time schedule.
PC PNP Clinical Requirements
- 1,020 total program hours, per the program of work
- About 840 precepted clinical hours (est.), based on the 60 clinical hours per credit shown on the school’s acute care plan applied to 14 clinical credits
- Clinical courses: Primary Care I (fall, year two), Primary Care II (spring, year two), Primary Care III (fall, year three), and the Advanced Practicum (final spring)
- Remaining program hours: the 60-hour assessment lab and 120 hours across the four leadership practicums
An estimated 840 clinical hours sits well above the 600 to 750 hours typical of a single-population primary care PNP program, and far above the 500-hour certification floor. Clinical work is spread over four consecutive long semesters rather than compressed into one year.
PC PNP Admissions
- General admissions requirements above
- One year of full-time RN experience with children or adolescents within the last five years recommended, not required
- Four to six students admitted per year
The graduate catalog also lists an alternate-entry version of this track for non-nurses (110 credits), but the School of Nursing stopped accepting alternate-entry DNP applications effective fall 2026, so it is not covered here.
DNP Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (AC PNP)
The Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track is a 73-credit BSN-to-DNP that takes three years full-time, with estimated resident tuition of about $40,621. It prepares nurses to care for patients from birth to age 21 with acute, complex, chronic, and critical conditions, and leads to PNCB CPNP-AC eligibility. Unlike the primary care track, it requires two years of full-time RN experience by the first day of enrollment.
AC PNP Curriculum
The DNP core (25 credits) and APRN-DNP core (22 credits) are identical to the primary care track. The 26-credit concentration adds a spring year-one course in pediatric diagnostic reasoning and advanced invasive skills with a 60-hour lab, then two levels of pediatric acute care management with paired clinicals. The acute care plan also includes Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care I and its 180-hour clinical in the fall of year two, so every acute care student completes a primary care rotation before moving to acute care.
Acute Care Concentration (26 credits)
- NRP 393N Pediatric Diagnostic Reasoning and Advanced Invasive Skills (3; 60 lab hours)
- NRP 393E Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care I (3) and NRP 393K clinical (3; 180 hours)
- NRP 394Q Pediatric Acute Care Management I (3) and NRP 494R clinical (4; 240 hours)
- NRP 394S Pediatric Acute Care Management II (3) and NRP 494T clinical (4; 240 hours)
- NRP 398N Advanced Practice Nursing Advanced Practicum (3; 180 hours)
The full-time schedule runs 10, 12, and 6 credits in year one; 11, 9, and 6 in year two; and 9 and 10 in year three. The 12-credit first spring, which adds the invasive skills course, is the heaviest term. See the AC PNP program of work and full-time schedule.
AC PNP Clinical Requirements
- 840 clinical hours and 1,080 total program hours, per the program of work
- 180 hours in pediatric primary care (fall, year two)
- 240 hours in Acute Care Management I (spring, year two) and 240 hours in Acute Care Management II (fall, year three)
- 180 hours in the Advanced Practicum (final spring)
- 120 lab hours (health assessment and invasive skills) and 120 leadership practicum hours
The 840 clinical hours are above the usual 600 to 750 for a single population, although 180 of them are in primary care. The acute-care-specific portion is 480 hours across the two management clinicals, plus the 180-hour final practicum. The program page describes skills labs, simulation, and lectures from clinicians in the field alongside the clinical rotations.
AC PNP Admissions
- General admissions requirements above
- Two years of full-time RN experience required by the first day of enrollment
- Four to six students admitted per year
The experience requirement is measured at enrollment in the fall, not at the November 1 deadline, so a nurse finishing a second year during the admissions cycle can still apply. The requirement is stated as full-time RN experience, without a pediatric or acute care setting attached.
Tuition
UT Austin does not charge graduate tuition per credit. Graduate students pay a flat semester rate set by college and credit-load band. For the School of Nursing in 2026-2027, the Texas One Stop rates for fall and spring are:
| Credits per Semester | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | $3,820 | $6,866 |
| 9 | $5,233 | $9,670 |
| 10 | $5,697 | $10,438 |
| 11 | $6,005 | $11,109 |
| 12 | $6,262 | $11,683 |
The most recent published summer rate (summer 2026) for 6 nursing graduate credits is $3,247 resident and $5,836 non-resident. The school’s FAQ notes that most full-time graduate students take about nine credits a semester. At that load the resident rate works out to about $581 per credit (est.) and the non-resident rate to about $1,074 per credit (est.). Because each band costs less per credit as the load rises, the effective rate across either full PNP plan is closer to $560 resident and $1,025 non-resident per credit (est.).
Estimated Total Tuition
| Pathway | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| DNP – PC (72 credits) | $40,364 | $74,106 |
| DNP – AC (73 credits) | $40,621 | $74,680 |
These totals are this page’s calculations rather than UT Austin figures. Each fall and spring term is priced at the 2026-2027 band that matches the school’s full-time schedule, and each 6-credit summer term at the summer 2026 rate. Pricing the summers at the 6-credit long-semester rate instead would add about $1,146 resident or $2,060 non-resident.
Key Cost Takeaways
- The two tracks cost almost the same. The acute care track’s extra credit lands in a 12-credit term, which moves the resident total by only about $257.
- Non-residents pay roughly $33,700 to $34,100 more over the program. The school’s FAQ says a non-resident may qualify for Texas residency after a year of graduate study, depending on the state’s residency rules.
- Part-time study (8 credits or fewer) is possible with program director approval but stretches the program, and every semester adds another flat-rate bill.
- School of Nursing scholarships run about $300 to $3,000 per semester; limited teaching and research assistant positions carry some tuition assistance.
- Professional liability insurance is purchased each year through the School of Nursing, and students must document health insurance, BLS certification, a drug screen, and background checks before starting.
See the official Texas One Stop tuition and cost of attendance calculator.
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best suited for: BSN-prepared Texas nurses who live within reach of Austin, can attend weekday classes for three years, and want a DNP with a primary or acute care pediatric focus.
Separate Primary Care and Acute Care Tracks
Applicants choose one population at admission, each with its own plan of study and PNCB exam. The acute care track requires two years of RN experience and includes a primary care rotation; the primary care track has no experience requirement and adds child and adolescent mental health coursework tied to PMHS eligibility. Neither track prepares for both CPNP credentials.
Clinical Hours Above the Usual Range
Around 840 clinical hours per track, spread over four semesters, gives more supervised practice than most single-population PNP programs. For a nurse moving into pediatrics from another specialty, that extra time matters more than it does for an experienced pediatric nurse.
Resident Cost for a Doctoral Degree
An estimated $40,400 to $40,600 in resident tuition covers the full DNP, including the doctoral project coursework. For Texas residents that is a modest price for a doctoral NP program; the non-resident total is roughly 1.8 times higher.
Drawbacks to Weigh
- No online option; weekday classes in Austin between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Three years minimum, with no shorter MSN route to certification
- One intake a year and four to six seats per track
- No post-master’s PNP certificate for nurses who already hold an MSN
The Verdict
UT Austin makes the most sense for Texas-resident BSN nurses in or near Austin who want a doctorate and can organize work around a weekday class schedule. Nurses with two or more years at the bedside have a clear path into acute care pediatrics; those newer to practice fit the primary care track. Nurses who need to keep full-time hours, live far from Austin, want a faster MSN route, or already hold an MSN should compare other Texas programs.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), per the School of Nursing accreditation page and the 2026-2027 graduate catalog. The curriculum includes the coursework the Texas Board of Nursing requires for APRN licensure.
Primary care graduates are eligible for the PNCB Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (CPNP-PC) exam and the PNCB Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS) exam. Acute care graduates are eligible for the PNCB CPNP-AC exam.
Check Out More Pediatric NP Programs in Texas
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - Lubbock
- Texas Woman's University - Denton
- The University of Texas at San Antonio - San Antonio
- University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington
Compare all Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs in TX (find the best fit)