The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies offers six pediatric nurse practitioner pathways, with both primary care and acute care available at the master’s and post-master’s levels:
Primary Care (CPNP-PC)
- MSN
- BSN-DNP
- Post-MSN to DNP
- Post-MSN Certificate
Acute Care (CPNP-AC)
- MSN
- Post-MSN to DNP
- Post-MSN Certificate
All six are delivered online with short on-campus residencies in Kansas City during clinical semesters. The MSN, certificate, and post-MSN DNP pathways require pediatric RN experience, and all require an unencumbered RN license in the state where clinicals take place.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN – PC | $37.7K | 2–3 yrs | 47 |
| MSN – AC | $41.8K | 2–3 yrs | 52 |
| BSN-DNP – PC | $60.2K | 4–5 yrs | 75 |
| MSN-DNP – PC/AC | $40.2K–$41.8K | Not published | 50–52+ |
| Cert – PC | $15.3K | 18 mo–2 yrs | 19 (min.) |
| Cert – AC | $16.9K | 14 months | 21 |
Tuition estimates multiply UMKC’s 2026–2027 online graduate nursing rate ($803/credit, charged regardless of residency) by the catalog credit total. Per-credit online and simulation fees and the $308.25 clinical-credit fee are covered in the Tuition section.
- Why choose it: UMKC offers acute care and primary care PNP preparation at a flat $803/credit for online students in any state, with only three to four short campus residencies.
- Trade-off: Entry is gated by pediatric RN experience (one year for primary care, two for acute care), and the BSN-DNP is not enrolling until 2027.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN, BSN-DNP, post-MSN DNP, post-MSN certificates |
| Population Focus | MSN, certificate, MSN-DNP: Primary Care or Acute Care | BSN-DNP: Primary Care only |
| Format | Mostly Online: online coursework plus 2–3 day Kansas City residencies each clinical semester |
| Clinical Hours | 783.75 (MSN and certificates, PC or AC); about 1,031 plus 330 project hours (BSN-DNP) |
| Clinical Placement | Preceptor-based near the student’s home; placement responsibility not clearly published |
| Pediatric RN Experience | 1 year FTE (Primary Care) or 2 years FTE (Acute Care), within the past 3 years |
| RN License | Unencumbered license in the state where clinicals are completed |
| Start Terms | Summer for MSN, DNP, and AC certificate; summer or fall for PC certificate |
| Tuition | $803/credit regardless of residency (online students), plus per-credit and clinical fees |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN, DNP, post-graduate APRN certificate) |
Clinical Education at UMKC
Clinical rules are shared across all six pathways, so they are covered once here.
- Clinicals are completed with preceptors in community, inpatient, and outpatient settings.
- UMKC says rotations can be arranged near the student’s location. It does not publish who is responsible for securing the preceptor.
- On-campus residencies of 2–3 days are held once per semester during clinical courses, typically 3–4 in total. The DNP adds a mandatory summer residency.
- Some online courses meet synchronously at scheduled times.
- UMKC credits 82.5 clinical hours per clinical credit, per its catalog course listings.
- UMKC is not authorized to offer online programs in every state. Check the university’s state authorization map before applying.
Because UMKC does not state that it secures preceptors, applicants should plan as if they may need to identify pediatric sites themselves. That matters more for acute care, where inpatient pediatric preceptors are scarce outside children’s hospitals.
General Admissions
These requirements apply across pathways. Track sections list only the differences.
- BSN or MSN from a CCNE-, ACEN-, or NLN CNEA-accredited program
- Minimum 3.2 GPA (last 60 hours of the BSN, or cumulative MSN GPA)
- Unencumbered RN license in the state where clinicals will be completed
- Pediatric RN experience (MSN, certificates, post-MSN DNP): 1 year FTE for primary care, 2 years FTE for acute care, within the past 3 years
- Graduate statistics (grade of B or higher), which may be completed after admission for some pathways
- Summer deadline: March 5, 2027, for DNP and certificate pathways (UMKC Online lists March 7 for the MSN)
The experience gate is the main eligibility hurdle. Recent BSN graduates and nurses without pediatric bedside time cannot apply directly, and acute care applicants need twice the pediatric experience required for primary care.
MSN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Primary Care)
The estimated tuition for the MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at UMKC is approximately $37,741 (47 credits at $803/credit). The program can generally be completed in two years full-time or three years part-time.
A published credit conflict. UMKC Online lists this MSN at 46 credits and estimates its cost on that basis. The 2026–2027 catalog lists 47, because Chronic Child Health Care carries 6 credits rather than 5. This page uses the catalog figure, which reconciles course by course.
MSN – PC Curriculum
The plan combines a 15-credit graduate core (health promotion, cultural diversity, policy, theory, research) with the advanced practice sciences and a three-course pediatric clinical sequence. The sequence moves from well-child and episodic care, to chronic and complex conditions, to a 4-clinical-credit synthesis practicum. The pediatric diagnostic reasoning course is child-specific rather than lifespan-based.
- NURSE 5547C Diagnostic Reasoning/Advanced Assessment – Children (3)
- NURSE 5548 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (3)
- NURSE 5549 Pharmacology Across the Life Span (3)
- NURSE 5564C Primary Care of Children I (5)
- NURSE 5566C Chronic Child Health Care (Clinical II) (6)
- NURSE 5572 Advanced Nursing Practice: Synthesis Practicum (5)
- NURSE 5529 Ethics in Advanced Practice & Research (3)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN – PC Clinical Requirements
- 783.75 clinical hours (estimate): 206.25 in Primary Care of Children I, 247.5 in Chronic Child Health Care, 330 in the Synthesis Practicum
- Chronic care rotation may be completed in primary or specialty pediatric settings
- Clinical fee applies to the 9.5 clinical credits
At about 784 hours, the primary care track sits above the typical 600–750 range for a single population. The chronic care course adds a structured complex-care rotation many PNP programs fold into general primary care.
MSN – PC Admissions
- BSN and 1 year FTE pediatric RN experience within 3 years
- Undergraduate health assessment course (grade of B)
- Summer start only
MSN, Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the MSN Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at UMKC is approximately $41,756 (52 credits at $803/credit). The program can generally be completed in two to three years.
This track prepares graduates for the PNCB CPNP-AC exam. It requires two years of FTE pediatric RN experience, double the primary care requirement.
MSN – AC Curriculum
The acute care track replaces the chronic care and synthesis courses with two 7-credit acute care clinicals focused on complex acute, critical, and chronically ill children. It keeps Primary Care of Children I as the first clinical course, so students start with ambulatory pediatrics before moving to acute care. A 2-credit specialty pharmacology course adds prescribing content for acutely ill patients.
- NURSE 5547 Diagnostic Reasoning/Advanced Assessment (3)
- NURSE 5531 Graduate Pharmacology Specialty (2)
- NURSE 5564C Primary Care of Children I (5)
- NURSE 5532 Acute Care of Pediatric Clinical I (7)
- NURSE 5533 Acute Care of Pediatric Clinical II (7)
- NURSE 5548 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (3)
- NURSE 5549 Pharmacology Across the Life Span (3)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN – AC Clinical Requirements
- 783.75 clinical hours (estimate): 288.75 in each acute care clinical plus 206.25 in Primary Care of Children I
- About 577.5 of those hours are acute care; the rest are primary care
- Catalog does not name required PICU, NICU, or pediatric ED rotations
The total clears the 500-hour floor and sits in the normal single-population range. Applicants comparing acute care programs should note that roughly a quarter of the hours are primary care, leaving about 578 acute care hours.
MSN – AC Admissions
- BSN and 2 years FTE pediatric RN experience within 3 years
- Undergraduate health assessment course (grade of B)
- Summer start only
BSN-DNP, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Primary Care)
The estimated tuition for the BSN-DNP Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at UMKC is approximately $60,225 (75 credits at $803/credit). The program generally takes four to five years at one or two courses per semester.
Not currently enrolling. UMKC says updated plans of study are being finalized and applications are expected to open for 2027 enrollment. It suggests the MSN followed by the post-MSN DNP for students who want to start sooner. The catalog also lists a 91-credit BSN-DNP acute care option, but UMKC’s DNP program page offers only primary care at the BSN-DNP level, so it is not profiled here.
BSN-DNP – PC Curriculum
The plan pairs a 55-credit NP and doctoral core with a 20-credit pediatric primary care option. Compared with the MSN, it adds systems leadership, economics, epidemiology, theory development, and a three-course evidence-based practice project sequence. The pediatric sequence also gains a Clinical III course on children with multiple disease processes.
- NURSE 5564C Primary Care of Children I (5)
- NURSE 5566C Chronic Child Health Care (Clinical II) (6)
- NURSE 5621C Clinical III – Children (4)
- NURSE 5623C Advanced Nursing Practice: Synthesis Practicum (5)
- NURSE 5602 Healthcare Systems & Leadership (3)
- NURSE 5637 Healthcare Outcomes and Epidemiology (3)
- NURSE 5613, 5617, 5617B Application of Evidence-Based Practice I–III (9)
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN-DNP – PC Clinical Requirements
- About 1,031 clinical hours plus 330 DNP project hours (estimate based on UMKC’s clinical-credit ratio and sample plan of study)
- Mandatory summer residency in Kansas City, plus residencies during clinical semesters
Roughly 1,031 direct clinical hours is well above the single-population norm and close to what many dual PC/AC programs require. The extra hours come from the added Clinical III course and a larger synthesis practicum.
BSN-DNP – PC Admissions
- BSN; graduate statistics may be completed after admission
- UMKC’s DNP page lists no specialty-specific RN experience requirement for this track; confirm when applications open
- Summer start
Post-MSN to DNP with a PNP Role (Primary or Acute Care)
The estimated tuition for the post-MSN DNP with a pediatric NP role at UMKC is approximately $40,150–$41,756 (50–52 credits at $803/credit). UMKC does not publish a completion time for the combined pathway.
This route is for MSN-prepared nurses who are not yet PNPs. Students complete the pediatric post-MSN certificate (primary or acute care) in succession with the 31-credit MSN-DNP curriculum. Nurses who are already certified PNPs can complete the 31-credit DNP alone, which carries no new specialty clinicals or residencies.
MSN-DNP Curriculum
The pediatric content matches the certificates below. The DNP portion covers policy, systems leadership, theory, economics, epidemiology, and two DNP clinical courses tied to the scholarly project.
- Pediatric certificate coursework (19 credits PC or 21 credits AC, individualized)
- NURSE 5528 Healthcare Policy & Advocacy (3)
- NURSE 5602 Healthcare Systems & Leadership (3)
- NURSE 5611 Healthcare Economics & Quality (3)
- NURSE 5620 Advanced Practice V – DNP Clinical (5)
- NURSE 5624 Advanced Practice VI – DNP Practicum (5)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- 783.75 pediatric clinical hours through the certificate (estimate)
- DNP practice and project hours: not clearly published for the current plan
MSN-DNP Admissions
UMKC’s DNP page lists one year of FTE pediatric experience for this pathway without separating acute care. The acute care certificate page requires two years, so acute care applicants should plan for the two-year standard.
- MSN; graduate theory, research, and statistics (grade of B or higher) before progressing
- Summer start; UMKC lists a March 5, 2027, deadline
Post-MSN Pediatric NP Certificate (Primary Care)
The estimated tuition for the Post-MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certificate at UMKC is approximately $15,257 (19 credits at $803/credit). The program can generally be completed in 18 months to two years.
Credits are set by a gap analysis after admission. The 19-credit figure is UMKC’s published minimum plan; UMKC Online lists 18. Nurses missing advanced pathophysiology, health assessment, or diagnostic reasoning will take more.
Cert – PC Curriculum
- NURSE 5549 Pharmacology Across the Life Span (3)
- NURSE 5564C Primary Care of Children I (5)
- NURSE 5566C Chronic Child Health Care (Clinical II) (6)
- NURSE 5572 Advanced Nursing Practice: Synthesis Practicum (5)
A sample plan of study is available here.
Cert – PC Clinical Requirements
- Minimum 783.75 clinical hours, the same total as the MSN
The certificate carries the full MSN clinical load, so an existing NP gains no clinical-hour shortcut by holding another population credential.
Cert – PC Admissions
- MSN or DNP; personal interview required
- Prerequisites: advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, diagnostic reasoning (pharmacology is taken in the program)
- 1 year FTE pediatric experience within 3 years
- Summer or fall 2027 start; deadline March 5, 2027
Post-MSN Acute Care Pediatric NP Certificate
The estimated tuition for the Post-MSN Acute Care Pediatric NP Certificate at UMKC is approximately $16,863 (21 credits at $803/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 14 months.
It prepares graduates for the PNCB CPNP-AC exam. At the flat online rate, out-of-state students pay the same as Missouri residents.
Cert – AC Curriculum
- NURSE 5531 Graduate Pharmacology Specialty (2)
- NURSE 5564C Primary Care of Children I (5)
- NURSE 5532 Acute Care of Pediatric Clinical I (7)
- NURSE 5533 Acute Care of Pediatric Clinical II (7)
More curriculum details are available here.
Cert – AC Clinical Requirements
- 783.75 clinical hours (estimate), including 206.25 in primary care
A certified primary care PNP still takes Primary Care of Children I, so this certificate does not shorten for existing CPNP-PCs based on the published plan.
Cert – AC Admissions
- MSN or DNP; personal interview required
- Prerequisites: advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, diagnostic reasoning
- 2 years FTE pediatric experience within 3 years
- Summer 2027 start only; deadline March 5, 2027
Tuition
Estimated tuition ranges from about $15,300 for the primary care certificate to about $60,200 for the BSN-DNP. Online students pay the same rate regardless of state of residence.
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. With Fees |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PC | $37,741 | $47,637 |
| MSN – AC | $41,756 | $52,393 |
| BSN-DNP – PC | $60,225 | $75,197 |
| MSN-DNP – PC/AC | $40,150–$41,756 | $50,491–$52,393 |
| Cert – PC | $15,257 | $21,002 |
| Cert – AC | $16,863 | $22,905 |
Figures are calculated, not university-published. Tuition uses $803/credit for 2026–2027. The fee column adds the $60.25 online course fee and $88 simulation fee per credit, as UMKC Online applies them, plus $308.25 per clinical credit.
Key Cost Takeaways
- Online students pay $803/credit regardless of residency. Students not officially entered in the online subplan pay $1,597/credit as non-residents.
- Per-credit fees add about 18%. UMKC Online’s own estimate ($951.25/credit) includes them.
- UMKC Online’s totals exclude the $308.25 clinical-credit fee, which adds about $2,928 for the MSN and certificates and about $3,853 for the BSN-DNP.
- UMKC Online’s MSN estimate ($43,757.50) uses 46 credits; the catalog requires 47.
- Budget travel to Kansas City for 3–4 residencies (plus a summer residency for the DNP).
UMKC’s pricing matters most for acute care applicants outside Missouri. Public programs typically charge non-residents a premium, while UMKC’s acute care MSN comes in near $52,000 with fees for any online student.
See the official tuition and fee schedule here.
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best suited for: experienced pediatric nurses outside Missouri who want acute care or primary care PNP preparation at public-university pricing, with limited campus travel.
Best For
- PICU or pediatric inpatient nurses with 2+ years of experience seeking the CPNP-AC
- Out-of-state pediatric nurses priced out of non-resident tuition elsewhere
- Certified NPs adding acute care pediatrics through a 21-credit, 14-month certificate
- MSN-prepared nurses who want a PNP role and a DNP in one sequence
- Students who can travel to Kansas City a few times but not weekly
Biggest Strengths
Primary care and acute care at every post-BSN level. Students can pick either population in the MSN, the certificate, or the post-MSN DNP. Many PNP programs offer acute care only as a certificate or a single degree.
Flat online pricing. The $803/credit online rate applies regardless of residency. Out-of-state students avoid the non-resident premium most public programs charge.
Clinical volume. Every master’s-level pathway carries 783.75 hours, and the BSN-DNP reaches about 1,031. The primary care tracks exceed the typical single-population range.
Potential Drawbacks
- Pediatric RN experience is required: 1 year for primary care, 2 years for acute care. New graduates cannot enter.
- Preceptor placement responsibility is not published.
- The acute care tracks include about 206 primary care hours, leaving roughly 578 acute care hours.
- The BSN-DNP is not enrolling until 2027, and acute care is not offered at the BSN-DNP level.
- Summer-only starts for most pathways, with an early March deadline.
- UMKC is not authorized to offer online programs in every state.
The Verdict
UMKC is a strong choice for experienced pediatric nurses, particularly those outside Missouri who want acute care preparation. UMKC offers the population through an MSN, certificate, or post-MSN DNP at the same flat rate. The main limits are eligibility and logistics: two years of pediatric experience for acute care, summer-only starts, and no published preceptor guarantee. Applicants without pediatric bedside experience or who need school-arranged placements should compare other programs first. Those wanting a BSN-DNP should either wait for the 2027 reopening or take the MSN-then-DNP route UMKC recommends.
Accreditation
UMKC is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits its master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs. UMKC reports that graduates of its pediatric MSN, DNP, and certificate programs are prepared for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board exams: CPNP-PC for primary care and CPNP-AC for acute care. Accreditation details are here.
Review Other Missouri Pediatric NP Programs
- Maryville University - St. Louis
- University of Missouri-St. Louis - St. Louis
- University of Missouri - Columbia