St. Catherine University’s School of Nursing in St. Paul offers two Pediatric Nurse Practitioner pathways:
- BSN-to-DNP – Pediatric Primary Care (PNP-PC)
- Post-Graduate Certificate – Pediatric Primary Care, for practicing APRNs adding a second population
Both pathways prepare primary care PNPs only; St. Kate’s has no acute care option. Core NP classes meet in person one day a week, so the program realistically serves nurses within commuting distance of the Twin Cities. Residents of 22 states are barred from the certificate.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNP – PC | $81.6K | 3 yrs FT; 4 yrs PT | 68 |
| Cert – PC | $25.2K | 2 yrs (6 semesters) | 21 |
Tuition estimates multiply St. Kate’s 2026–2027 DNP nurse practitioner rate ($1,200/credit, same for all students) by the catalog credit total. The $300-per-term technology fee is not included.
- Why choose it: A dedicated coordinator arranges every clinical placement, and both pathways require 810 clinical hours, above the 600–750 typical for a single-population PNP program.
- Trade-off: Weekly in-person classes plus one to three campus intensives per semester make this a local program. It offers primary care only, and the BSN entry point is a 68-credit DNP with no MSN alternative.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | BSN-to-DNP, post-graduate certificate |
| Population Focus | Primary Care only (both pathways) |
| Format | Hybrid: classes meet one day a week, plus 1–3 intensives per semester |
| Clinical Hours | 810 in person (9 clinical credits) for both pathways |
| Clinical Placement | Arranged by a dedicated placement coordinator |
| RN License | Current, unencumbered RN license; certificate also requires an APRN license |
| RN Experience | DNP: two years preferred, not required. Certificate: one year required |
| Start Term | Fall |
| State Restrictions | Certificate closed to residents of 22 states and Canada; DNP restrictions possible |
| Tuition | $1,200/credit, all students (2026–27) |
| Accreditation | ACEN; NP programs approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing |
Clinical Education
Both pathways share the same four pediatric clinical courses and the same placement model.
- Placement: St. Kate’s states that a dedicated clinical placement coordinator provides placements for all NP students. Students do not recruit their own preceptors.
- Hours: 810 in-person hours across 9 clinical credits (90 hours per credit).
- Sequence: NURS 6435 (1 cr), NURS 7415 (3 cr), NURS 7815 (3 cr), NURS 8035 (2 cr), taken over four consecutive terms.
- Placement geography: Not published. Expect sites within reach of the St. Paul campus, given the weekly class schedule.
At 810 hours, St. Kate’s sits well above the 500-hour certification floor and above the 600–750 hours most primary care PNP programs require. That is roughly 300 more supervised hours than a floor-level program, which matters for new NPs entering pediatric practice without prior APRN experience.
Coordinator-arranged placement is the bigger practical advantage. Finding pediatric primary care preceptors is one of the hardest parts of NP school, and many programs leave it to the student. The trade-off is control: you take the sites the program assigns.
General Admissions
Both pathways use the same application package. The admission video is the item most applicants do not expect.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; no nursing course grade below B- (an explanatory statement of up to 400 words is accepted if you fall short)
- Current, unencumbered RN license
- Admission essay, two double-spaced pages maximum
- Admission video, 5–7 minutes, posted to YouTube, answering five set prompts
- One recommendation from a clinical professional (personal references not accepted)
- Current résumé and transcripts (unofficial accepted for review; official required before registration)
- Virtual interview only if the committee requests clarification
- No GRE and no application fee
- English proficiency for non-native speakers without a U.S. degree: TOEFL 550 paper / 80 iBT, IELTS 6.5, or Duolingo 105
- Technical standards (essential abilities) apply to both pathways
DNP: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care
The estimated tuition for the DNP: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care is approximately $81,600 (68 credits at $1,200/credit). The program takes three years on the full-time plan or four years on the part-time plan, with a seven-year maximum. It is the only PNP entry point for BSN-prepared nurses and prepares graduates for primary care practice.
DNP Curriculum
The 68 credits split into three blocks: DNP core (27 credits), APRN foundations (12), and the pediatric primary care sequence (21), plus a four-course quality-improvement project (8). The three-year plan front-loads the core and APRN foundations in year one. Pediatric coursework and clinicals start in the fall of year two and run alongside the DNP project through the final summer.
The pediatric sequence progresses from health promotion to common and acute conditions, then chronic conditions, then complex conditions. The DNP project is a structured quality-improvement sequence rather than a research dissertation.
- NURS 6260 – Clinical Reasoning, Diagnostics, and Procedures (3 cr)
- NURS 6125 – Health Promotion in Primary Care: Pediatric (3 cr)
- NURS 6410 – Primary Care I: Common and Acute Conditions in Pediatrics (3 cr)
- NURS 7410 – Primary Care II: Chronic Health Challenges in Pediatrics (3 cr)
- NURS 7810 – Primary Care III: Chronic and Complex Conditions in Pediatrics (3 cr)
- NURS 8536 – Healthcare Economics and Finance (3 cr)
- NURS 8543 – Health Care: Power, Policy and Politics (3 cr)
- NURS 8515–8518 – DNP Practicum I–IV: leading, planning, implementing, and sustaining a QI project (2 cr each)
More curriculum details, including the three- and four-year plans, are available in the 2026–2027 graduate catalog.
DNP Clinical Requirements
- 810 in-person pediatric primary care hours (see Clinical Education)
- Clinical courses run four consecutive terms: summer of year two through summer of year three (three-year plan)
- Separate DNP project practicum credits (8); project hours are not published
Clinicals are compressed into the final 13 months of the three-year plan, with 8 credits per term in the fall and spring of year three. Plan for reduced work hours during that stretch.
DNP Admissions
The DNP has no hard RN experience minimum, and the priority deadline now falls in January.
- Bachelor’s or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution; nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE
- RN experience: two years of recent clinical practice preferred, not required, ideally including a year in pediatrics
- Start term: Fall only
- Priority deadline: January 15, 2027 for Fall 2027 (application opened September 14, 2026; Fall 2026 is closed)
- Out-of-state applicants may face restrictions; St. Kate’s asks them to confirm eligibility with admissions
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate
The estimated tuition for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate is approximately $25,200 (21 credits at $1,200/credit). The program takes six semesters (about two years), with a part-time option. It is for nurse practitioners who already hold an MSN or DNP and an APRN certification in another population, such as an FNP adding pediatric primary care.
Not open in 22 states. St. Kate’s states that students who will live in any of 22 listed states (including California, New York, and Texas) or in Canada while enrolled cannot be admitted to a certificate option. Check the list on the certificate application page before applying.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is the DNP’s 21-credit pediatric sequence with nothing added: four didactic courses (12 credits) and four clinical courses (9 credits). Year one carries 10 credits; year two carries 11. Advanced pathophysiology, health assessment, and pharmacology are prerequisites, not part of the 21 credits.
- NURS 6125 – Health Promotion in Primary Care: Pediatric (3 cr)
- NURS 6410 – Primary Care I: Common and Acute Conditions in Pediatrics (3 cr)
- NURS 7410 – Primary Care II: Chronic Health Challenges in Pediatrics (3 cr)
- NURS 7810 – Primary Care III: Chronic and Complex Conditions in Pediatrics (3 cr)
- NURS 6435, 7415, 7815, 8035 – Primary Care Clinical I–IV (9 cr total)
More curriculum details are available in the 2026–2027 graduate catalog.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- 810 hours (9 clinical credits), the same total as the DNP
- Gap analysis: precepted hours from your prior APRN program may count toward the requirement; completed with the PNP option coordinator after admission
St. Kate’s starts the certificate from the full 810 hours and reduces it case by case. An FNP with substantial pediatric hours may shorten the plan; how much credit applies is not published.
Certificate Admissions
Beyond the general requirements, the certificate adds an APRN license, a prerequisite trio, and a hard experience minimum.
- MS or DNP from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited APRN program, plus a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree
- Current, unencumbered APRN license; the certificate page describes applicants as holding certification in another APRN population
- At least one year of clinical experience as an RN or APRN
- Graduate-level advanced pathophysiology, health assessment, and pharmacology, each with a B or higher, completed before classes start (St. Kate’s offers them if needed)
- Undergraduate and graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Start term: Fall per the program page; the application page adds space-available Summer and Fall admission
- Deadline: not published; St. Kate’s asks applicants to contact admissions
Tuition
Estimated tuition runs from about $25,200 for the certificate to $81,600 for the DNP. As a private university, St. Kate’s charges every student the same rate.
| Program | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|
| DNP – PC | $81,600 |
| Cert – PC | $25,200 |
Calculated from the published rate and catalog credits, not published by the university as totals.
Both figures use the $1,200 per-credit DNP nurse practitioner rate, which is unchanged from 2025–26 to 2026–27. Rates are reset each June 1.
Key Cost Takeaways
- Technology fee: $300 per term, summer included. That adds about $2,700 to the three-year DNP, $3,600 to the four-year plan, and $1,800 to the certificate.
- Part-time costs more: the four-year DNP plan adds three terms of fees for the same tuition.
- Partner discount: employees of St. Kate’s corporate or community partners may receive a 10% tuition reduction, worth roughly $8,160 on the DNP.
- DNP scholarships: every DNP applicant is reviewed automatically; amounts are not published.
- Gap analysis savings: each clinical credit waived on the certificate saves $1,200.
- Travel: weekly campus classes mean ongoing commuting costs for anyone outside the Twin Cities.
The DNP’s total is driven by its 68 credits, not its rate, and buys a doctorate plus 810 clinical hours. The certificate is moderately priced for a full 810-hour plan. See the student accounts tuition tables and cost of attendance.
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best suited for: Twin Cities-area nurses who want a primary care PNP doctorate with placements handled for them, and who can commit one day a week to campus.
Placements Handled by the School
A dedicated coordinator places every NP student. This removes the preceptor search that delays many PNP students at online programs. It is the strongest reason to choose St. Kate’s over a national online program.
More Clinical Time Than Most
810 hours exceeds the typical 600–750 range for primary care PNP programs. The certificate carries the same 810, adjustable through gap analysis, so second-specialty students get full pediatric clinical preparation rather than a minimum.
In-Person Weekly Classes
Core NP courses meet in person one day a week, with intensives one to three times a semester. That suits nurses who learn better face-to-face and can block a fixed weekday. It rules out anyone who needs asynchronous study or lives beyond commuting range.
Potential Drawbacks
- Primary care only; no acute care or dual PC/AC option.
- BSN nurses must commit to a 68-credit DNP; there is no PNP MSN.
- Certificate closed to residents of 22 states and Canada.
- Fall-only DNP entry; missing the cycle costs a year.
- Clinical site locations and DNP project hours are not published.
The Verdict
St. Kate’s makes the most sense for Minnesota nurses who want a doctorate, value in-person instruction, and do not want to find their own pediatric preceptors. The 810-hour requirement and coordinator placement are real advantages for a primary care PNP. Practicing FNPs in the region also get a full-length pediatric certificate with credit for prior hours.
Compare other options if you want acute care, need a fully online schedule, prefer a shorter MSN, or live in one of the excluded states for the certificate.
Accreditation
St. Kate’s Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and its nurse practitioner programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. The certificate program page also cites ACEN accreditation. The next ACEN review date is not published on the university’s nursing accreditation page.
The university says the DNP prepares graduates for certification as a pediatric nurse practitioner but does not name the certifying board. Because both pathways are primary care, the matching credential is the PNCB’s CPNP-PC.
Other PNP Programs in Minnesota
- Rasmussen University - Bloomington
- University of Minnesota - Minneapolis
- Walden University - Minneapolis