“Duke holds the #1 U.S. News ranking in both pediatric primary care and acute care NP programs — and it’s one of the only schools in the country that prepares PNP-PC graduates for dual pediatric behavioral and mental health specialty certification as a standard part of the curriculum.
Duke University School of Nursing offers 4 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MSN PNP-PC (Primary Care) — 44 credits, 616 clinical hours, fall or spring entry
- MSN PNP-AC (Acute Care) — 43 credits, 616 clinical hours, fall or spring entry
- Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-PC — individualized credits, minimum 500 clinical hours (for non-NPs)
- Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-AC — individualized credits, minimum 500 clinical hours (for non-NPs)
Both MSN programs are distance-based with interactive online coursework, three on-campus Nurse Practitioner Intensive (NPI) experiences, and clinical placements facilitated by a dedicated placement team.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN PNP-PC | ~$103,200 | 2–2.5 years |
| MSN PNP-AC | ~$100,800 | 2–2.5 years |
| Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-PC | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
| Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-AC | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
Spring entry (6 semesters) runs shorter than fall entry (7 semesters) — an unusual flexibility for a program at this ranking level. The post-graduate certificates are available to MSN- or DNP-prepared nurses and require an individual gap analysis before credits and timeline are finalized.
MSN PNP — Primary Care
The estimated cost for the MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care at Duke University is approximately $103,200 (44 credits at $2,345/credit, 2026–2027 rate).
The program takes about 2 years for spring entry (6 semesters) or 2.5 years for fall entry (7 semesters).
MSN Curriculum
The 44-credit MSN PNP-PC combines a 12-credit MSN core, an 11-credit clinical foundation (the “Four Ps”), and 21 credits of pediatric primary care specialty coursework.
A standout feature of the curriculum is N630A — a dedicated 4-credit course in Pediatric Developmental, Behavioral, and Mental Health Assessment and Management — which is a standard requirement, not an elective, and supports dual behavioral/mental health specialty certification eligibility.
MSN core courses (12 cr.):
- N580: Nurse as Scholar I: Science Development, Study Design & Statistics (3 cr.)
- N581: Nurse as Scholar II: Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr.)
- N582: Population Health in a Global Society (3 cr.)
- N583: Professional Transitions: Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
MSN Four Ps — clinical foundation (11 cr.):
- N589: Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan: A Conceptual Approach (4 cr.)
- N595: Physical Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing (4 cr.) — includes one-time $125 clinical lab fee
- N596: Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr.)
PNP-PC specialty courses (21 cr.):
- N630A: Pediatric Developmental, Behavioral, & Mental Health Assessment & Management (4 cr.) — supports dual certification eligibility
- N642: Advanced Practice Nursing in Primary Care Pediatric Patients I (3 cr.)
- N647: APN in Pediatric Primary Care Patients I: Clinical (3 cr. — 168 hours)
- N644: Advanced Practice Nursing in Primary Care Pediatric Patients II (3 cr.)
- N649: APN in Pediatric Primary Care Patients II: Clinical (3 cr. — 168 hours)
- N691: APN in Primary Care Pediatric Patients Synthesis including Advanced Practice Skills workshop (5 cr. — 280 hours)
Nurse Practitioner Intensive courses (0 cr. — required):
- N617: NPI I — Collaboration, Care Management and Identity Formation
- N618: NPI II — Care Management, Information Management, Collaboration and Contextual Relevance
- N619: NPI III — Collaboration, Leadership, and Scholarship
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN PNP-PC requires 616 supervised clinical hours distributed across three clinical courses, with clinical placements facilitated by Duke’s placement team through a network of more than 2,000 facilities worldwide — students are placed near where they live.
- N647: 168 clinical hours (Primary Care Pediatric Patients I: Clinical)
- N649: 168 clinical hours (Primary Care Pediatric Patients II: Clinical)
- N691: 280 clinical hours (Synthesis; includes Advanced Practice Skills workshop)
- Total: 616 supervised clinical hours
- Population focus: newborns through age 25 in primary care, community, school-based, and ambulatory settings
- Settings include: pediatric primary care clinics, school-based health centers, community practices, health departments, hospital ambulatory units, and urgent care
- Clinical placement support: dedicated placement team; students are not responsible for sourcing preceptors independently
- On-campus intensives: three NPI sessions (N617, N618, N619) — no credit but required; includes simulation lab with nationally certified facilities
- 1 credit = 56 clinical hours (Duke’s conversion rate)
MSN Admissions
Duke uses a holistic, rolling admissions process — applications are reviewed as completed and decisions made on an ongoing basis until programs reach capacity, so applying early is strongly recommended.
- BSN from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program; or ADN plus a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited institution
- Preferred GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (holistic review considers factors beyond GPA)
- Current RN licensure in the state where you plan to practice
- Minimum 1 year of nursing experience before matriculation (specific experience requirements may apply by specialty — confirm PNP-PC requirements directly with admissions)
- Statistics prerequisite: General or Introductory Statistics with C or better (3-credit course; AP Statistics score of 3+ also accepted)
- Three professional letters of recommendation submitted electronically (at least one from a provider — MD, DO, PA, or NP — in your area of application)
- Three personal statement essays (2,000-character limit each; all prompts required)
- Resume or CV
- Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (official required at enrollment)
- GRE: not required
- Application fee required (amount not specified in source)
- Rolling admissions: priority consideration for fall entry if completed by December 1; priority for spring entry if completed by May 1
- Fall entry: 7 semesters; Spring entry: 6 semesters
- International applicants: review state authorization and licensure requirements before applying
MSN PNP — Acute Care
The estimated cost for the MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care at Duke University is approximately $100,800 (43 credits at $2,345/credit, 2026–2027 rate).
The program takes about 2 years for spring entry (6 semesters) or 2.5 years for fall entry (7 semesters).
MSN Curriculum
The 43-credit MSN PNP-AC shares the same 12-credit MSN core and 11-credit Four Ps foundation as the PNP-PC, but the 20-credit specialty sequence targets acute, chronic, and critical pediatric conditions across inpatient and emergency settings.
Notably, the PNP-AC program includes three additional clinical practicum intensive courses (N617C, N618C, N619C — up to 50 clinical hours each) that are specific to the neonatal and PNP-AC programs and not required in other MSN majors.
MSN core and Four Ps courses are identical to the PNP-PC track above. PNP-AC specialty courses (20 cr.):
- N628: Advanced Practice Nursing: Pediatric Primary Care Essentials (3 cr.)
- N629: Pediatric Primary Care Essentials: Clinical (1 cr. — 56 hours)
- N660: Advanced Practice Nursing in Acute Care Pediatric Patients I (3 cr.)
- N661: APN in Acute Care Pediatric Patients I: Clinical (1 cr. — 56 hours)
- N662: Advanced Practice Nursing in Acute Care Pediatric Patients II (3 cr.)
- N663: APN in Acute Care Pediatric Patients II: Clinical (2 cr. — 112 hours)
- N692: APN in Pediatric Acute Care Patients Synthesis including Advanced Practice Skills workshop (7 cr. — 392 hours)
NPI courses for PNP-AC (0 cr. — required, includes clinical practicums):
- N617 + N617C: NPI I and Clinical Practicum I (up to 50 clinical hours)
- N618 + N618C: NPI II and Clinical Practicum II (up to 50 clinical hours)
- N619 + N619C: NPI III and Clinical Practicum III (up to 50 clinical hours)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN PNP-AC requires 616 supervised clinical hours across the specialty course sequence, plus up to 150 additional hours through the three NPI clinical practicum courses. All clinical placements are facilitated through Duke’s global faculty network and clinical placement team.
- N629: 56 clinical hours
- N661: 56 clinical hours
- N663: 112 clinical hours
- N692: 392 clinical hours (Synthesis; includes Advanced Practice Skills workshop)
- Total (specialty sequence): 616 supervised clinical hours
- NPI clinical practicums: up to 50 additional hours per intensive (N617C, N618C, N619C)
- Population focus: newborns through young adults with acute, chronic, and critical conditions
- Settings: pediatric ICUs, emergency departments, specialty inpatient services, surgical services, stepdown units, pre/post-operative care
- Prerequisite: 1 year of acute care pediatric nursing experience required before application
- Clinical placement facilitated by faculty network and placement team
MSN Admissions
Admissions requirements are the same as the PNP-PC MSN, with one additional specialty-specific requirement for PNP-AC applicants.
- All requirements identical to PNP-PC MSN above
- PNP-AC specific: at least 1 year of acute care pediatric nursing experience required by the application priority deadline
- Rolling admissions: same priority deadlines apply (December 1 for fall; May 1 for spring)
Post-Graduate Certificate PNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Primary Care or Acute Care) at Duke University is not clearly stated, as credits are individualized based on a gap analysis of each student’s prior graduate education; duration is likewise not clearly stated.
Both PNP-PC and PNP-AC post-graduate certificates are available. Each is evaluated individually — prior academic work is assessed against the full requirements of the corresponding MSN major, and a personalized matriculation plan is provided before enrollment. Students are held to the same outcome criteria as MSN-degree students in the same major.
Certificate Curriculum
No fixed credit total is published; required coursework is determined entirely by the gap analysis of each applicant’s prior education. Students must complete all required graduate didactic and clinical courses in their chosen specialty major.
The specific PNP-PC or PNP-AC course sequence (listed under each MSN section above) forms the basis of what may be required, with some courses potentially waived if equivalent graduate coursework was completed previously.
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical requirements are individualized but subject to a minimum floor for non-NP applicants. Placements follow the same model as the MSN programs.
- Minimum 500 supervised, direct patient care clinical hours required for certificate students who are not already nurse practitioners
- Population focus and setting depend on specialty: PNP-PC (primary care, community) or PNP-AC (acute, critical care)
- Clinical placements facilitated through Duke’s faculty network and placement team
Certificate Admissions
The post-graduate certificate is open to MSN- or DNP-prepared nurses, as well as board-certified NPs seeking training in a new specialty area.
- Master’s degree from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited nursing program; or a master’s in another discipline acceptable to the specialty faculty
- Board-certified NPs actively practicing outside their current certification area are also eligible
- Current RN licensure or eligibility for licensure in North Carolina, or licensure in a compact state as primary residence; distance-based students practicing outside NC must hold licensure in their home state
- Statistics prerequisite: General or Introductory Statistics with C or better (3-credit course)
- Minimum 1 year of nursing experience recommended before matriculation
- Three letters of academic and/or professional reference
- Personal interview (remote arrangements available for distance applicants)
- Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions
- Individual gap analysis completed prior to enrollment to determine required coursework
- Note: post-graduate certificate students are not eligible for federal financial aid through FAFSA under this program — confirm current financial aid eligibility with Duke’s financial aid office before enrolling
Tuition
Duke University School of Nursing charges $2,345 per credit hour for the 2026–2027 academic year (up from $2,250 for 2025–2026), with no residency distinction for in-state vs. out-of-state students.
In addition to per-credit tuition, all new students pay a one-time $500 matriculation fee, a one-time $1,500 clinical placement fee, and a one-time $650 clinical readiness fee.
Recurring fees include a $200 technology fee and approximately $537–$558 in health and student activity/services fees each fall and spring semester.
The N595 physical assessment course carries a one-time $125 clinical lab fee. Students in clinical programs should budget an additional $100–$200 per year for drug screening costs. Tuition and fees are subject to change each academic year.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
Duke University School of Nursing’s MSN, post-graduate certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Duke University holds regional institutional accreditation.
Graduates of the PNP-PC program are eligible to sit for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) certification examination, and the dual behavioral/mental health curriculum component supports additional specialty certification eligibility.
Graduates of the PNP-AC program are also eligible for PNCB certification. Duke is ranked #1 in both Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care and Pediatric Acute Care NP programs by U.S. News & World Report (2025).