The School of Nursing at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), based at the UT San Antonio Health Science Center campus, offers two pediatric nurse practitioner pathways, both in pediatric primary care:
- BSN to DNP – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- Post-Graduate Certificate – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
Both pathways are hybrid, with campus attendance one to three days a week in San Antonio depending on full-time or part-time enrollment. Students must hold an RN license in Texas or a compact state throughout the program, and the school arranges clinical placements through agencies within about 60 miles of the university. The school offers no acute care pediatric track.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (Resident) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSN–DNP – PC | $31.5K | 3–4 yrs | 76 |
| Cert – PC | $12.5K | 4 terms (16 mo) | 30 (min. 28) |
Tuition estimates multiply the 2026-2027 Bursar resident rate of $415.27 per credit ($398.27 in tuition plus the $17-per-credit computer and technology fee, which caps at $170 a semester) by the credits in the catalog plan of study. Flat per-semester fees are listed separately in the Tuition section.
- Why choose it: Guaranteed, school-arranged preceptors and 810 pediatric primary care hours in both pathways.
- Trade-off: Primary care only, campus attendance one to three days a week, and flat fees add about $25,000 to the BSN-to-DNP.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Population Focus | BSN to DNP: Primary Care (CPNP-PC) | Certificate: Primary Care (CPNP-PC) |
| Format | Hybrid for both pathways |
| Campus Attendance | One to three days per week in San Antonio, depending on enrollment status |
| Clinical Hours | 810 precepted PNP-PC hours in both pathways; BSN to DNP adds 270 DNP project hours (1,080 total) |
| Clinical Placement | Arranged by the school; guaranteed on the BSN to DNP page |
| Clinical Locations | 400+ contracted agencies within about 60 miles of the university |
| RN License Required | Texas or compact multistate RN license; certificate also requires APRN licensure (catalog) |
| RN Experience Required | BSN to DNP: one year (2,000 hours) of clinical RN experience |
| Start Terms | BSN to DNP: fall | Certificate: spring |
| Tuition | $415.27 per credit resident, $1,141.15 non-resident (2026-2027, including technology fee) |
| Accreditation | DNP program accredited by CCNE |
Clinical Education
Clinical education works the same way in both pathways. According to the School of Nursing clinical experiences page, preceptors are arranged by the Office for Academic Affairs, and graduate students are placed with a single preceptor or a team of preceptors rather than finding their own. The school reports more than 400 active clinical agency contracts within a 60-mile radius of the university, including hospitals, community and rural clinics, private practices, and school district sites.
- Placement responsibility: the school arranges sites and preceptors
- Guarantee: the BSN to DNP overview page states that clinical placement is guaranteed and rotations are arranged by the school
- Geography: clinical agencies are concentrated within about 60 miles of San Antonio
- Clinical ratio: students entering in fall 2025 or later earn 90 clinical hours per clinical credit (1:6), up from 60 hours (1:4) for earlier cohorts
For most applicants, arranged placement matters more than any other feature here. Programs that require students to recruit their own pediatric preceptors often delay clinical courses, and pediatric primary care preceptors are harder to find than family practice ones. The cost of that support is geographic: a student living outside the San Antonio area should expect to commute for both campus days and clinical shifts.
BSN to DNP – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
The BSN to DNP with the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care (PNP-PC) specialization costs about $31,500 in resident tuition (76 credits at $415.27 per credit) or about $86,700 for non-residents (76 credits at $1,141.15). It prepares nurses for pediatric primary care and the CPNP-PC credential, and it takes three years on the full-time plan or about four years on the part-time plan. Applicants need a BSN, a Texas or compact RN license, and at least one year of clinical RN experience.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The 2026-2027 catalog text says the degree takes 9 semesters full-time and 15 semesters part-time, but the catalog’s own PNP-PC plans of study lay out 76 credits across 8 terms (three-year plan) and 11 terms (four-year plan). Both plans reconcile to 76 credits, so this page uses the plan tables. The catalog also describes the three-year plan as a 32-month program, which matches the 8-term layout.
BSN to DNP Curriculum
The first year is DNP core: leadership, informatics, epidemiology, evidence appraisal, and quality improvement, alongside advanced pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics. The DNP project runs through the second year, in parallel with advanced health assessment and the start of the pediatric sequence, so project hours finish before the heaviest clinical terms. The third year is almost entirely pediatric clinical work.
The pediatric sequence was renumbered for the current catalog. It now pairs three PNP-PC Diagnosis and Health Management courses with three clinical courses and three clinical seminars, and adds a 3-credit applied pediatric pharmacology course and a 1-credit lab in diagnostic tests and procedures.
Foundation Courses
- NURS 6430 Advanced Pathophysiology (4 cr)
- NURS 6302 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr)
- NURS 6321 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning: Didactic (3 cr)
- NURS 6121 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning: Clinical Application (1 cr, 90 lab hours)
Pediatric Specialty Sequence
- NURS 6402, 6403, 6404 PNP-PC Diagnosis & Health Management I, II, III (4 cr each)
- NURS 6332 Special Population Pharmacology: Applied Pediatric Pharmacology PNP-PC (3 cr)
- NURS 6150 PNP-PC Diagnostic Tests and Clinical Procedures (1 cr)
- NURS 6204, 6325, 6433 PNP-PC Clinical I, II, III (2, 3, and 4 cr)
- NURS 6131, 6133, 6139 PNP-PC Clinical Seminar I, II, III (1 cr each)
- NURS 6227 Advanced Practice Nurse Role and Transition to Practice (2 cr)
DNP Project Sequence
- NURS 7328 DNP Project Problem Identification and Evidence Synthesis (3 cr, 90 hours)
- NURS 7211 DNP Project Plan and Implementation (2 cr, 90 hours)
- NURS 7212 DNP Project Evaluation (2 cr, 90 hours)
- NURS 7213 DNP Project Dissemination (2 cr)
View the PNP-PC plans of study in the 2026-2027 catalog
BSN to DNP Clinical Requirements
- 1,080 total clinical and practicum hours: 810 advanced practice clinical hours and 270 DNP project hours, stated as a minimum
- NURS 6204 PNP-PC Clinical I: 180 direct patient care hours (second-year summer on the three-year plan)
- NURS 6325 PNP-PC Clinical II: 270 hours (third-year fall)
- NURS 6433 PNP-PC Clinical III: 360 hours (third-year spring)
- An additional 90 lab hours in the health assessment clinical application course, not counted toward the 810
- Clinical courses are precepted with faculty oversight in pediatric primary care settings
At 810 precepted hours, the pediatric clinical load sits above the 600 to 750 range typical of single-population PNP programs and well above the 500-hour certification floor. The hours are concentrated in the last three terms, which on the three-year plan means roughly 15 clinical hours a week in the summer term rising to more than 20 in the final spring, on top of campus days.
BSN to DNP Admissions
- BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework
- RN license in Texas or a compact state with multistate privileges
- At least one year (2,000 hours) of clinical RN experience, documented on the resume
- Three professional references
- Embedded online interview within NursingCAS, plus an admission essay (catalog)
- NursingCAS application and fee, plus a $45 School of Nursing application fee
- Current AHA BLS, immunizations, proof of health insurance, and a clear background check
- Fall entry only; the admissions page lists an April 1 deadline
The one-year RN experience rule applies to all nurse practitioner tracks and must be complete by the first day of the program, not by the application date. With a single fall intake, missing the deadline delays entry by a full year. The BSN to DNP admissions page states the deadline as April 1 in its application section, while the page’s dates banner shows March 1; applicants should plan to the earlier date.
Post-Graduate Certificate – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
The Post-Graduate Certificate in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care costs about $12,500 in resident tuition (30 credits at $415.27 per credit) or about $34,200 for non-residents (30 credits at $1,141.15). It prepares MSN-prepared nurses for pediatric primary care and the CPNP-PC credential across four terms, starting in spring. The catalog describes the certificate as a route for nurses who already hold APRN certification in another population.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The catalog states a minimum of 28 credits and a length of five semesters for nurse practitioner certificates, but its PNP-PC plan of study lists 30 credits across four terms (spring, summer, fall, spring). The catalog also says actual credits are set case by case after admission. This page uses the 30-credit plan for its estimate; at the 28-credit minimum, resident tuition would be about $11,600. Separately, the program page lists RN licensure as the requirement, while the catalog requires APRN licensure for nurse practitioner certificates. This page follows the catalog.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is the pediatric specialty sequence from the BSN to DNP without the doctoral core. Applicants bring graduate health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, so the plan starts directly with pediatric diagnosis and management and moves into clinical work by the first summer.
- NURS 6402, 6403, 6404 PNP-PC Diagnosis & Health Management I, II, III (4 cr each)
- NURS 6332 Special Population Pharmacology: Applied Pediatric Pharmacology PNP-PC (3 cr)
- NURS 6150 PNP-PC Diagnostic Tests and Clinical Procedures (1 cr)
- NURS 6204, 6325, 6433 PNP-PC Clinical I, II, III (2, 3, and 4 cr)
- NURS 6131 PNP-PC Clinical Seminar I (1 cr)
- NURS 6123 and NURS 6126 FNP Clinical Seminar I and II (1 cr each)
- NURS 6227 Advanced Practice Nurse Role and Transition to Practice (2 cr)
The published certificate plan lists two FNP clinical seminars in the second year where the BSN to DNP plan uses PNP-PC Clinical Seminars II and III. The catalog gives no explanation for the difference.
View the post-graduate certificate plans in the 2026-2027 catalog
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- 810 precepted pediatric primary care hours: 180 (Clinical I, first summer), 270 (Clinical II, second fall), and 360 (Clinical III, second spring)
- Placements arranged by the school, under the same model as the BSN to DNP
- Clinical sites within about 60 miles of the university
The certificate carries the same 810 pediatric hours as the doctoral track, above the 600 to 750 hours typical of a single-population program. For a working APRN, the final spring term with 360 clinical hours is the hardest to combine with a full-time job.
Certificate Admissions
- MSN from a nationally accredited school of nursing
- APRN licensure (catalog), with RN licensure in Texas or a compact state
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in previous graduate study
- Graduate health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, each with a grade of B or better
- Three professional references, a professional goal statement, and a resume or CV
- Interview and admission essay
- NursingCAS application and fee, plus the School of Nursing application fee
- Current AHA BLS, immunizations, proof of health insurance, and a clear background check
- Spring entry only; the program page lists an August 1 deadline
Because the catalog frames the certificate for nurses already certified as APRNs, it does not work as a route for MSN graduates without nurse practitioner preparation, such as nurse educators or leaders.
Tuition
UT San Antonio charges graduate nursing tuition per credit under the 2026-2027 Bursar tuition and fee schedules. The same rates apply to the BSN to DNP and the Post-Graduate Certificate.
- Texas residents: $50 statutory + $100 differential + $46 designated + $202.27 deregulated designated tuition = $398.27 per credit, plus a $17-per-credit computer and technology fee = $415.27 per credit
- Non-residents: $478 statutory + $46 designated + $600.15 deregulated designated tuition = $1,124.15 per credit, plus the $17 technology fee = $1,141.15 per credit
- The technology fee caps at $170 a semester, which reduces the three-year BSN to DNP total by $34
Estimated Total Tuition
| Pathway | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP (76 cr, three-year plan) | $31,527 | $86,693 |
| BSN to DNP (76 cr, four-year plan) | $31,561 | $86,727 |
| Post-Graduate Certificate (30 cr) | $12,458 | $34,235 |
Totals are calculated from the 2026-2027 per-credit rates and the catalog plans of study. They are not university-published figures.
Fees Beyond Tuition
- Flat fall and spring fees: $3,173.50 per semester for the BSN to DNP ($3,073.50 for the certificate), led by a $1,354 graduate academic advising fee and a $1,073 technical clinical skills fee, plus library, student services, medical services, fitness center, liability insurance, $140 student portfolio, and a $100 BSN-to-DNP program fee
- Flat summer fees: $2,980 for the BSN to DNP ($2,880 for the certificate)
- Student health insurance charge: $1,412 in fall and $2,295 in spring (spring covers summer); graduating students pay $1,371 for spring
- One-time LINC fee: $135 in the first term
Key Cost Takeaways
- Flat fees add about $25,100 (est.) to the three-year BSN to DNP and about $34,500 (est.) to the four-year plan, based on 8 and 11 terms at the 2026-2027 fee amounts. That puts the three-year resident total near $56,700 (est.) before health insurance.
- Because most fees are charged per semester regardless of credits, the four-year plan costs about $9,300 more (est.) than the three-year plan despite identical tuition.
- Flat fees add about $12,200 (est.) to the four-term certificate, bringing the resident total near $24,700 (est.).
- Non-resident tuition is about 2.75 times the resident rate, so the program is priced for Texas residents.
See the School of Nursing cost of attendance
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best suited for: Texas RNs and APRNs in the San Antonio region who want pediatric primary care preparation without having to find their own preceptors.
School-Arranged Pediatric Placements
The school arranges preceptors through its Office for Academic Affairs, and the BSN to DNP page guarantees placement. For pediatric primary care, where preceptors are scarce, that removes a common source of delay.
810 Pediatric Clinical Hours in Both Pathways
Both the doctoral track and the certificate schedule 810 precepted pediatric primary care hours, above the typical single-population range. Graduates reach the certification exam with more supervised pediatric practice than the 500-hour floor requires.
Resident Tuition With Heavy Flat Fees
At $415.27 per credit, resident tuition for the full 76-credit BSN to DNP is about $31,500. Flat semester fees add roughly $25,000 on the three-year plan (est.), so the full-time schedule is the cheaper way through the program as well as the faster one.
Drawbacks to Weigh
- No acute care pediatric track, and no dual primary/acute option
- Campus attendance of one to three days a week in San Antonio
- Clinical sites concentrated within about 60 miles of the university
- BSN to DNP admits in fall only; the certificate admits in spring only
- The certificate is framed for nurses who already hold APRN licensure
The Verdict
Nurses who live within commuting distance of San Antonio, qualify for Texas residency, and want pediatric primary care practice have the strongest reason to choose UT San Antonio, especially if securing their own preceptors would be difficult. Nurses aiming for inpatient, PICU, or emergency pediatric roles, and those who cannot attend campus weekly, should compare programs with acute care or fully online options.
Accreditation
The BSN to DNP admissions page states that the DNP program at UT San Antonio School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Both pathways prepare for the pediatric primary care population, which corresponds to the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner–Primary Care (CPNP-PC) exam. The catalog states that certificate completers are eligible to sit for national credentialing boards. Students must keep an RN license in good standing in Texas or a compact state throughout the program.
Continue Reviewing Texas PNP Programs
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - Lubbock
- Texas Woman's University - Denton
- The University of Texas at Austin - Austin
- University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington