Villanova University Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs

Villanova Arranges All MSN Clinical Placements — No Self-Sourcing Required

Villanova University Fitzpatrick College of Nursing offers two Pediatric Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • MSN – PNP-PC (47 credits, BSN entry, 610 clinical hours, hybrid, placements arranged in PA/NJ/DE)
  • Post-Graduate Certificate – PNP-PC (25–35 credits, MSN/DNP entry, 610 clinical hours, min. 1.5 years, up to 5 years)

Core courses are offered fully online. Support courses are offered in-person or online. Clinical courses are completed in-person.

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. TuitionEst. Duration
MSN – PNP-PC$50,760 Part-time or full-time; not clearly stated
Post-Graduate Certificate – PNP-PC$27,000–$37,800Min. 1.5 years; up to 5 years

Part-time and full-time study options are available. A maximum of 6 graduate credits may be transferred.

Three admission windows per year for NP tracks: March 1 (Summer), August 1 (Fall), and October 1 (Spring).

MSN – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

The MSN PNP-PC at Villanova University is estimated at approximately ~$50,760 in tuition (47 credits × $1,080/credit) plus a $1,500 NP lab fee (4 semesters × $375) and $150/semester general university fee.

The program is available part-time or full-time and includes 610 supervised clinical hours across three sequential clinical practicum courses. All clinical placements for MSN students are arranged by Villanova Nursing in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Graduates are prepared for the CPNP-PC exam through PNCB.

Villanova graduates are described as highly respected and employed in primary care settings across the country. Graduates also have the option to continue in Villanova’s Post-Master’s DNP program.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN PNP-PC totals 47 credits organized across three components:

  • Core courses (12 cr., online): Clinical ethics, nursing research, development of nursing science, and leadership strategies in nursing.
  • Support courses (16 cr., in-person or online): Advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, advanced physical assessment, health promotion of the growing child, and one elective.
  • Clinical courses (19 cr., in-person): Three paired sequences of clinical management and practicum courses covering pediatric primary care across three clinical terms (spring, summer, fall), totaling 610 clinical hours.

Core Courses (12 cr. — online):

  • NUR 8964 – Clinical Ethics: Theory and Practice – Exploration of moral dilemmas within the health care professions; ethical theories and principles; professional responsibility and accountability; patients’ rights; social justice in health care. responsibility.
  • NUR 8904 – Nursing Research: The Practice Connection – Critical appraisal of nursing studies and modes of inquiry for nursing practice, education and administration.
  • NUR 8902 – Development of Nursing Science – Analysis of the evolution and continuing development of nursing science.
  • NUR 8906 – Leadership Strategies in Nursing – Phenomenon of leadership, the differences between leadership and management, and strategies for providing leadership in nursing.

Support Courses (16 cr. — in-person or online):

  • NUR 8903 Advanced Pharmacology – Principles of Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics.
  • NUR 8901 – Advanced Pathophysiology – Physiological processes and pathological changes that contribute to alterations in health.
  • NUR 8910 – Advanced Physical Assessment – Knowledge and skills necessary for the delivery of primary care to clients. Specific sessions for advanced pediatric, geriatric and adult physical assessment.
  • NUR 8863 – Health Promotion of the Growing Child – Common behaviors and situations during each developmental stage from birth to adolesence.
  • Elective

Clinical Courses (19 cr. — in-person):

  • Spring:
    • NUR 8811 – Clinical Management in Pediatric Primary Care I (3 cr.)
    • NUR 8812 – Practicum in Pediatric Primary Care I (4 cr. / 245 clinical hrs)
  • Summer:
    • NUR 8809 – Clinical Management in Pediatric Primary Care II (3 cr.)
    • NUR 8810 – Practicum in Pediatric Primary Care II (2 cr. / 120 clinical hrs)
  • Fall:
    • NUR 8813 – Clinical Management in Pediatric Primary Care III (3 cr.)
    • NUR 8814 – Practicum in Pediatric Primary Care III (4 cr. / 245 clinical hrs)
  • Total: 610 clinical hours

View more curriculum details in the Villanova catalog.

MSN Clinicals

Villanova Nursing arranges all MSN clinical placements in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Students work with physicians and nurse practitioner preceptors across a wide variety of clinical agencies and practice settings.

  • NUR 8812 – Practicum in Pediatric Primary Care I (245 clinical hrs — spring)
  • NUR 8810 – Practicum in Pediatric Primary Care II (120 clinical hrs — summer)
  • NUR 8814 – Practicum in Pediatric Primary Care III (245 clinical hrs — fall)
  • Total: 610 supervised clinical hours
  • All placements arranged by Villanova Nursing — students do not self-source
  • Placements available in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware only
  • Clinical simulation preparation at the 12,000 sq ft SLRC — 10 clinical simulation labs including a dedicated pediatric health lab, standardized patient rooms, operating room, and VR experiences

MSN Admissions

Three admission windows per year. $50 application fee (waived for Open House attendees). No GRE required. Minimum 3.2 GPA — higher than the 3.0 standard at most programs.

  • BSN from ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program
  • Minimum 3.2 GPA
  • Current US RN license
  • Statistics course with both descriptive and inferential statistics (satisfactory completion)
  • Three letters of recommendation: one academic recommender + one colleague + one supervisor (or two supervisors + one academic; or three academic); a doctorally prepared nurse as one reference is strongly recommended
  • Personal goal statement: career goals congruent with program purposes, plus an essay on conceptualization of the NP role in clinical practice
  • Transcripts from all schools attended
  • Copy of current RN license
  • $50 application fee (waived for Open House event attendees)
  • Criminal background check through Complio required upon acceptance
  • International students: 1 year of US RN clinical practice required
  • TOEFL iBT minimum 83 (speaking 25+) or IELTS 6.5 overall (speaking 7+) for non-native English speakers
  • Maximum 6 graduate credits transferable (only courses taken prior to acceptance are eligible)
  • No GRE required
  • Placements limited to PA, NJ, and DE — students relocating or living outside this region should confirm site availability before applying
  • Summer admission: March 1 | Fall admission: August 1 | Spring admission: October 1

Post-Graduate Certificate – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

The Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-PC at Villanova University is available to nurses holding a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing. It is estimated at approximately ~$27,000–$37,800 in tuition (25–35 credits × $1,080/credit) plus NP lab fees and general university fees.

The range reflects transfer credit eligibility — up to 6 graduate credits may transfer, reducing the minimum. The catalog baseline is 34 credits (13 support + 21 clinical).

The certificate includes 610 clinical hours across its clinical course sequence.

Minimum completion time is 1.5 years; students have up to 5 years to complete all requirements from first enrollment.

Certificate Curriculum

The Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-PC totals 34 credits in the catalog (25–35 credits depending on transfer credits).

Support Courses (13 cr.):

  • NUR 8901 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr.)
  • NUR 8903 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr.)
  • NUR 8910 – Advanced Physical Assessment (4 cr.)
  • NUR 8863 – Health Promotion of the Growing Child (3 cr.)

Clinical Courses (21 cr.):

  • NUR 8809 – Clinical Management in Pediatric Primary Care I (3 cr.)
  • NUR 8810 – Practicum in Pediatric Primary Care I (4 cr.)
  • NUR 8811 – Clinical Management in Pediatric Primary Care II (3 cr.)
  • NUR 8812 – Practicum in Pediatric Primary Care II (2 cr.)
  • NUR 8813 – Clinical Management in Pediatric Primary Care III (3 cr.)
  • NUR 8814 – Practicum in Pediatric Primary Care III (4 cr.)
  • NUR 8815 – Practicum: Clinical Management in Peds IV (1 cr.)
  • NUR 8816 – Practicum: Clinical Management in Peds IV (1 cr.)

The certificate clinical sequence includes two additional practicum credits (NUR 8815 and NUR 8816) not present in the MSN track.

Total catalog credits: 34. Program page states 25–35 credits — the range reflects transfer credit application. Contact the program for an individualized credit assessment: nursing.recruitment@villanova.edu.

View more curriculum details in the Villanova catalog.

Certificate Clinicals

  • 610 clinical hours across the clinical course sequence (same total as MSN)
  • Clinical courses completed on-site
  • Clinical placement model for certificate students not explicitly stated — contact nursing.recruitment@villanova.edu to confirm whether Villanova arranges placements or students self-source
  • Simulation support available at the SLRC

Certificate Admissions

  • Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing
  • All other requirements same as MSN (3.2 GPA, RN license, 3 letters of recommendation, personal statement, transcripts, statistics course)
  • Maximum 6 graduate credits transferable; requests must be submitted in writing to the Program Director after admission
  • Only courses taken prior to acceptance may be transferred
  • $50 application fee (waived for Open House attendees)
  • Criminal background check through Complio required upon acceptance
  • No GRE required
  • Summer admission: March 1 | Fall admission: August 1 | Spring admission: October 1
  • Contact: nursing.recruitment@villanova.edu

Tuition

Villanova University Fitzpatrick College of Nursing charges graduate nursing students on a per-credit basis. Rates below apply to MSN and APRN Certificate programs for 2025-2026.

  • MSN / APRN Certificate tuition rate: $1,080/credit
  • General University Fee: $150/semester
  • Nurse Practitioner Lab Fee: $375/semester × 4 semesters = $1,500 total
  • Application fee: $50 (non-refundable; waived for Open House attendees)

Estimated total tuition by program:

  • MSN PNP-PC (47 cr.): ~$50,760 in tuition + $1,500 NP lab fee + $150/semester general fee
  • Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-PC (25–35 cr.): ~$27,000–$37,800 in tuition + NP lab fee + $150/semester general fee

The NP Lab Fee of $375 is charged over 4 semesters ($1,500 total) — this fee applies to semesters with clinical coursework. The general fee of $150/semester is charged each term enrolled.

The exact total depends on pace and number of semesters. Tuition estimates above reflect tuition only and do not include books, living expenses, or compliance (Complio background check) costs.

Tuition rates are subject to change — verify current rates with the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing Graduate Program Office.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The MSN and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Villanova University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Villanova University is accredited by the Middle States Association Commission on Higher Education. The program is ranked among the top graduate nursing programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

The Fitzpatrick College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of Continuing Education in Nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Commission on Accreditation. The Simulation and Learning Resource Center (SLRC) holds full accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare — including the optional Teaching/Education designation — and is among the first simulation centers worldwide to receive endorsement from the International Nursing Association of Clinical and Simulation Learning (INACSL).

Compare Villanova with Other PNP Programs in Pennsylvania