Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions (formerly MGH Institute of Health Professions) School of Nursing offers three Pediatric Nurse Practitioner pathways:
- Direct Entry MSN – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- BSN to MSN – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- Post-MSN Certificate – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
All three are delivered in a hybrid format from the Charlestown Navy Yard campus in Boston, start in the fall, and share the same pediatric specialty sequence and three-course practicum. The university does not offer an acute care pediatric track or a part-time option for the pediatric specialty.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Entry MS – PC | $162K | 3 yrs (8 terms) | 96 |
| BSN to MS – PC | $80K | 2 yrs (5 terms) | 48 |
| Cert – PC | $36K–$48K | 2 yrs (5 terms) | 27–36 |
Tuition estimates multiply the university’s 2026-2027 per-credit rates ($1,692 Direct Entry, $1,661 post-BSN master’s, $1,333 Certificate of Advanced Study) by the catalog credit totals; per-credit and program fees are shown separately in the Tuition section.
What sets this program apart is the placement model. The School of Nursing arranges every clinical placement for every student, drawing on more than 800 sites across Mass General Brigham and affiliated partners, so no one in the pediatric track has to find a preceptor. The Direct Entry pathway adds a route most PNP programs do not have: a non-nurse with a bachelor’s degree in another field can finish as an RN and a pediatric primary care NP in about three years.
Placement support comes with a location requirement. Courses meet on campus in Boston one to two days a week, clinical sites can sit outside the public transit system, and students are told to expect to need a car. This is a program for people who live in or will move to the Boston area, not for distance learners.
Every pediatric clinical placement is arranged by the school, and the price of that support is weekly campus attendance in Boston.
Quick Facts
| Population Focus | All pathways: Pediatric Primary Care (PNCB CPNP-PC) |
| Format | Hybrid: on-campus, hybrid, and online courses |
| Campus Attendance | Classes generally 1–2 days per week in Boston |
| Clinical Hours | About 675 (est.) across 15 practicum credits |
| Clinical Placement | Arranged by the School of Nursing for all students |
| RN License | Required at entry for BSN to MS and Certificate; Direct Entry students must pass the NCLEX-RN before the first pediatric theory course |
| Start Term | Fall |
| Tuition (2026-2027) | $1,692 / $1,661 / $1,333 per credit, plus $125 per credit in fees |
| Accreditation | CCNE (master’s and post-graduate APRN certificate); NECHE |
Clinical Education
All three pathways use the same practicum sequence: NP 871A (3 credits), NP 871B (6 credits), and NP 871C (6 credits), for 15 practicum credits. The first course places students one day a week in affiliated pediatric health care settings with weekly seminars; the second shifts emphasis to common acute child and adolescent concerns in the primary care setting; the third completes the pediatric track requirement.
- Placement: the School of Nursing’s Clinical Education Department and the track coordinator secure placements for every student, at no added placement charge beyond the annual clinical fee
- Network: more than 800 sites, including Mass General Brigham hospitals and affiliated partners; the Direct Entry page names Boston Children’s Hospital among the Boston-area facilities students may use
- Preceptors: master’s-prepared advanced practice nurses, physicians, or other advanced practice clinicians
- Travel: students pay all clinical travel, parking, and meal costs; sites may be outside the Boston area, and the program manual says to expect to need a car
- Hours: about 675 (est.). The program manual sets a 1:3 clinical credit-to-contact-hour ratio; 15 practicum credits at 3 hours per credit per week over a 15-week term gives roughly 675 hours
At about 675 hours, the pediatric track sits in the middle of the usual 600-750 range for a single-population program, well above the 500-hour certification floor. The Certificate of Advanced Study page states a 500-hour minimum of supervised practicum, which is consistent with that estimate.
School-arranged placement matters most for applicants who would otherwise have to cold-call pediatric practices for preceptors, which is the main bottleneck in many online PNP programs. The catch is geographic: placements are drawn from a Massachusetts-centered network, so the arrangement only works for students living within reach of it.
General Admissions
These requirements apply to all three pathways:
- Application through NursingCAS; only verified applications are considered
- Personal statement of about three double-spaced pages on why you want to be an NP and why you chose the pediatric track
- Two recommendation letters, at least one academic and one professional
- Official transcripts from every college attended; NACES course-by-course evaluation for non-U.S. degrees
- Statistics course with a grade of C+ or better (inferential statistics for Direct Entry)
- No GRE
- TOEFL iBT 89 or IELTS 6.5 for applicants without a degree taught in English
- $500 non-refundable deposit to hold a seat, credited to first-term charges
Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing – Pediatric NP
The Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing costs about $162,432 in tuition (96 credits at $1,692) and takes three years across eight terms of full-time study. It prepares students for pediatric primary care and the PNCB CPNP-PC exam. It is for people who are not yet nurses: applicants need a bachelor’s degree in any field, and the program leads through RN licensure to the master’s.
Direct Entry Curriculum
The first three terms (48 credits) are generalist prelicensure coursework shared by every Direct Entry specialty and lead to NCLEX-RN eligibility. The last five terms (48 credits) follow the same pediatric sequence as the BSN to MS pathway, with Professional Issues moved to the first graduate summer. Students must pass the NCLEX-RN before starting NP 721, the first pediatric theory course, in the spring of year two. Graduates can work part-time or per diem as RNs during the graduate phase.
Prelicensure Phase (Year 1, 48 credits)
- NS 500G Foundations of Nursing Practice (4)
- NS 520G, 530G Adult and Population Health II and III (5 each)
- NS 522G Nursing Care of Children and Families (3)
- NS 540G Nursing Care of Complex Adult Health Conditions (5)
- NS 550G Transition to Nursing Practice (4)
Pediatric Graduate Phase (Years 2–3, 48 credits)
- NP 721 Primary Care Child I Theory (3)
- NP 821 Primary Care Child II Theory (3)
- NP 822 Adolescent Health Theory (3)
- NP 823 Primary Care of the Child with Special Health Care Needs (3)
- NP 871A, 871B, 871C Healthcare of the Child Practicum (3, 6, 6)
- NS 891N Scholarly Project (1)
Direct Entry Pediatric curriculum plan (2026-2027 catalog)
Direct Entry Clinical Requirements
- Prelicensure clinical courses in year one, then the 15-credit pediatric practicum in years two and three
- NP 871A in the summer of year two; NP 871B in the fall and NP 871C in the spring of year three
- An active, unrestricted RN license is required for the advanced practice phase
Direct Entry Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited U.S. institution (or evaluated equivalent)
- Prerequisites with C+ or better, completed within seven years: chemistry, anatomy and physiology, human growth and development, microbiology, nutrition, statistics
- At least three prerequisites complete when you apply; no more than four outstanding
- Fall 2027 entry: priority deadline January 15, 2027; final deadline March 1, 2027
- Deferrals not permitted except for military deployment
The NCLEX timing rule is the one that can derail a plan. A student who has not passed the NCLEX-RN before NP 721 must take a leave of absence of up to one year or withdraw, and a student who cannot obtain licensure within a year of eligibility is dismissed.
Master of Science – Advanced Practice Nursing (Post-BSN), Pediatric NP
The post-BSN Master of Science costs about $79,728 in tuition (48 credits at $1,661) and takes two years across five terms. It prepares BSN-prepared RNs for pediatric primary care and the PNCB CPNP-PC exam. The pediatric specialty is full-time only; the university’s part-time post-BSN option covers other specialties.
BSN to MS Curriculum
The first fall covers the advanced practice core (pathophysiology, health assessment, health policy). Pediatric theory starts in the first spring alongside pharmacology, and the practicum begins that summer. The second year pairs the two six-credit practicum courses with adolescent health, children with special health care needs, and a one-credit scholarly project.
- NP 715N Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
- NP 762N Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan (3)
- NP 739 Advanced Pharmacology (3)
- NP 721, 821 Primary Care Child I and II Theory (3 each)
- NP 822 Adolescent Health Theory (3)
- NP 823 Primary Care of the Child with Special Health Care Needs (3)
- NH 602 Health Care Policy and Politics (3); NH 720 Nursing Research and Quality Improvement Science (3)
- NP 839 Professional Issues (2); NS 891N Scholarly Project (1); one elective (3)
Post-BSN Pediatric curriculum plan (2026-2027 catalog)
BSN to MS Clinical Requirements
- NP 871A (3 credits) in the first summer
- NP 871B (6 credits) in the second fall and NP 871C (6 credits) in the second spring
- Classes are generally limited to one or two days a week so clinical days can be scheduled around them
BSN to MS Admissions
- BSN from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university
- Current RN license
- Current resume or CV
- Fall 2027 entry: final deadline March 1, 2027, with rolling review until the class is filled
Specialty availability can vary by application cycle, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so applying well before the March deadline is the safer approach for the pediatric track.
Certificate of Advanced Study – Post-MSN Pediatric NP
The Certificate of Advanced Study costs about $47,988 in tuition at the catalog’s 36 credits ($1,333 per credit), or about $35,991 (est.) for a student whose prior graduate coursework covers all of the gap-analysis courses (27 credits). It takes about two years across five terms and prepares RNs who hold a master’s in nursing but are not yet nurse practitioners for pediatric primary care and the PNCB CPNP-PC exam.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The 2026-2027 catalog plan states 36 total credits, but the courses it lists add to 33, and three of its term subtotals do not match the courses shown under them. The plan’s gap-analysis note names NP 738 (pharmacology) as a possible requirement, which is not listed in any term and would account for the missing 3 credits. This page uses the catalog’s 36-credit total as the upper figure.
Certificate Curriculum
A gap analysis at entry decides whether advanced pathophysiology (NP 715N), advanced health assessment (NP 762N), and pharmacology (NP 738) are required. After that, the certificate follows the full pediatric specialty sequence and practicum. It does not include the master’s research, policy, professional issues, or scholarly project courses.
- NP 715N Advanced Pathophysiology (3), if required
- NP 762N Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (3), if required
- NP 721, 821 Primary Care Child I and II Theory (3 each)
- NP 822 Adolescent Health Theory (3)
- NP 823 Primary Care of the Child with Special Health Care Needs (3)
- NP 871A, 871B, 871C Healthcare of the Child Practicum (3, 6, 6)
Post-MSN Pediatric curriculum plan (2026-2027 catalog)
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- Minimum of 500 supervised practicum hours, per the Certificate of Advanced Study page
- NP 871A in the first spring, NP 871B in the first summer, NP 871C in the second fall
- Same 15 practicum credits and school-arranged placement as the master’s pathways
The certificate starts the practicum a term earlier than the BSN to MS plan, in the first spring, so certificate students are in clinical settings for three consecutive terms.
Certificate Admissions
- Licensed RN with a Master of Science in Nursing or higher
- RNs with a master’s in a related field take additional courses; pre-application advisement is required for them
- Current resume or CV
- Fall 2027 entry: final deadline March 1, 2027
The catalog publishes a pediatric plan only for MSN-prepared nurses who are not yet NPs. The university’s Certificate of Advanced Study page also describes a post-NP option across its specialties, but no post-NP pediatric curriculum plan appears in the current catalog. Students must enroll at least half-time (5 credits in fall and spring, 3 in summer) to borrow federal loans, which matters in terms where the gap analysis removes courses.
Tuition
Mass General Brigham University sets a separate 2026-2027 per-credit rate for each entry route: $1,692 for Direct Entry nursing, $1,661 for the post-BSN master’s (the “all other graduate programs” rate), and $1,333 for the Certificate of Advanced Study. Every student also pays a $75 general student fee and a $50 technology fee per credit, which adds $125 to each credit.
| Pathway | Tuition | Tuition + Fees (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Entry MS – PC (96 cr) | $162,432 | $182,965 |
| BSN to MS – PC (48 cr) | $79,728 | $91,182 |
| Certificate – PC (36 cr) | $47,988 | $57,942 |
Calculated from the 2026-2027 tuition and fee schedule; the university does not list program totals. Fee totals include per-credit fees, the annual clinical fee, the matriculation fee, the pediatric review fee, the per-term health service fee, and the NCLEX prep fee for Direct Entry.
Fees Beyond Tuition
- General student fee $75 and technology fee $50, per credit
- Clinical fee $1,900, charged every fall term of enrollment (twice for BSN to MS and the certificate, three times for Direct Entry)
- Health service fee $139 per term for on-campus and clinical programs
- Matriculation fee $720, one time
- Pediatric advanced practice review course and diagnostic readiness test $239, charged in the second-year fall
- UWorld NCLEX prep course $762, Direct Entry only, first term
- Clinical travel, parking, and meals, paid by the student
Key Cost Takeaways
- Fees add about $11,500 to the BSN to MS and about $20,500 to Direct Entry, so tuition alone understates the bill by 11-14%.
- The certificate’s rate is $328 per credit lower than the master’s rate, and its gap analysis can remove up to 9 credits.
- The university offers tuition benefits to Mass General Brigham employees, affiliates, and their families, to employees and preceptors at more than 600 clinical affiliation sites, and to its alumni. The estimates above do not apply any discount.
Official tuition and fees page
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best suited for: Boston-area applicants who want pediatric primary care preparation with every clinical placement arranged for them, including career changers without a nursing degree.
No Preceptor Search
The school secures all placements through a network of more than 800 sites that includes Mass General Brigham hospitals. For a pediatric student, that removes the most common reason for delayed progression in NP programs, where students cannot find a pediatric preceptor in time for a practicum term.
A Route in Without a Nursing Degree
The Direct Entry pathway takes a bachelor’s graduate from another field to RN licensure in the first year and to a pediatric primary care master’s by the end of year three. It is also the most expensive route here, at about $183,000 with fees (est.), and it carries a hard NCLEX deadline before pediatric coursework starts.
Weekly Campus Attendance
Courses combine on-campus, hybrid, and online delivery, with classes generally one or two days a week in Charlestown. Working RNs can keep a job around that schedule, but applicants outside commuting range of Boston would need to relocate.
Drawbacks
- Primary care only; no acute care or dual PC/AC preparation
- No part-time plan for the pediatric specialty
- The 2027 cycle lists fall entry only, with a March 1, 2027 final deadline for all three pathways
- A car is likely needed for clinical travel
The Verdict
Nurses who live near Boston and want to become pediatric primary care NPs without hunting for preceptors have the strongest reason to apply, and the Direct Entry route gives non-nurses a structured three-year path to the same credential. Nurses who want acute care pediatrics, a part-time schedule, or a program they can complete from outside Massachusetts should compare other options.
Accreditation
The master’s programs and the post-graduate APRN certificate program are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), and the Direct Entry program is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
The university states that pediatric graduates are eligible for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (CPNP-PC) exam, and that its NP programs meet pre-licensure and pre-certification educational requirements in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Catalog accreditation information
Additional PNP Programs Based in Massachusetts
- Boston College - Chestnut Hill
- Northeastern University - Boston
- Regis College - Weston