Pediatric Nursing Practitioner Programs

Programs by State

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs vary widely in cost, degree type, clinical placement support, and flexibility. Some states offer multiple in-state MSN and DNP pathways, while others rely more heavily on hybrid or online programs.

Our state guides help you compare Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs side-by-side, including tuition, admissions requirements, clinical hours, certification pathways, and online options available to nurses in each state.

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Programs by Pathway

Pathway	Best For
RN-to-MSN	Associate degree or diploma RNs who want to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner without earning a separate BSN first.
BSN-to-MSN	BSN-prepared RNs seeking the traditional master’s pathway to PNP certification.
BSN-to-DNP	Nurses who want to earn a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degree and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in one program.
MSN-to-DNP	MSN-prepared nurses pursuing a practice doctorate while advancing their pediatric nurse practitioner education.
Post-Master’s Certificate	APRNs adding the pediatric nurse practitioner specialty or a new pediatric population focus.

Choosing a Pediatric Focus

In addition to selecting an educational pathway, you’ll also need to choose a pediatric specialty. Some schools prepare Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioners (PNP-PC), others offer Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC) programs, and a few offer both. Be sure to compare each school’s available population focus before applying.

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Choose a Pediatric Specialty

In addition to selecting an educational pathway, you’ll also need to choose a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specialty. Most schools offer either Primary Care or Acute Care preparation, while a smaller number offer Dual Primary/Acute Care programs that prepare graduates for both certification exams.

Specialty	Best For
Primary Care PNP Programs	Nurses interested in preventive care, wellness visits, developmental screenings, and long-term outpatient pediatric care.
Acute Care PNP Programs	Nurses who want to care for critically ill or medically complex children in hospitals, PICUs, emergency departments, and specialty inpatient settings.
Dual Primary/Acute Care PNP Programs	Nurses seeking eligibility for both PNP-PC and PNP-AC certification and the flexibility to practice across outpatient and inpatient settings.

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Compare Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs by School

The directory below includes Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs nationwide, including MSN, DNP, certificate, primary care, and acute care pathways.