Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions offers six Pediatric Nurse Practitioner pathways across primary care, acute care, and dual preparation:
Primary Care (CPNP-PC)
- MSN
- Post-MSN Certificate
- Dual MSN (PC + AC)
- Dual Post-MSN Certificate (PC + AC)
Acute Care (CPNP-AC)
- MSN
- Post-MSN Certificate
- Dual MSN (PC + AC)
- Dual Post-MSN Certificate (PC + AC)
All six pathways are delivered online on a quarter calendar with one mandatory on-campus intensive in Philadelphia. Students arrange their own preceptors, need a Pennsylvania RN license before clinicals begin, and cannot complete rotations in New York State.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN – PC | $67.5K | ~3 yrs | 52 (quarter) |
| MSN – AC | $74.0K | 3 yrs | 57 (quarter) |
| MSN – Dual | $80.5K | ~3.25 yrs | 62 (quarter) |
| Cert – PC | $44.1K | ~1.75 yrs | 34 (quarter) |
| Cert – AC | $50.6K | 2 yrs | 39 (quarter) |
| Cert – Dual | $57.1K | ~2.25 yrs | 44 (quarter) |
Tuition estimates multiply Drexel’s 2026–2027 online nurse practitioner rate ($1,298 per quarter credit) by the 2026–2027 catalog credit total. Durations follow the catalog’s sample plans of study.
- Why choose it: Drexel’s acute care curriculum already includes two primary care practicums, so the dual PC/AC option adds just one 5-credit course (about $6,500 and one quarter) to earn eligibility for both PNCB exams.
- Trade-off: Students find their own preceptors for 640 to 1,000 clinical hours, and the acute care and dual MSN tracks require a year of pediatric acute care RN experience before admission.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN (3 tracks), Post-Master’s Certificate (3 tracks) |
| Population Focus | Primary Care (CPNP-PC), Acute Care (CPNP-AC), and Dual PC/AC, at both MSN and certificate level |
| Format | Mostly Online: synchronous online lectures plus one in-person intensive (4 days PC; 5 days AC and Dual) |
| Calendar | Quarter system: four 10-week terms per year; 1 semester credit = 1.5 quarter credits |
| Clinical Hours | PC: 640 | AC: 800 | Dual: 1,000 |
| Clinical Placement | Student-arranged sites and preceptors; Division of Graduate Nursing provides resources |
| Distinctive Coursework | NURS 651: community management of medically fragile, technology-dependent children (AC and Dual) |
| RN License | Unrestricted U.S. RN license; Pennsylvania RN license required before clinicals |
| RN Experience | AC and Dual MSN: 1 year pediatric acute care. PC MSN: 1 year before clinicals |
| Clinical Location Limits | No clinical rotations in New York State |
| Tuition | $1,298 per quarter credit (2026–2027 online NP rate) |
| Accreditation | CCNE; approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing |
Clinical Education at Drexel
These policies apply to all six pathways. Each pathway section below lists only its own hours and settings.
- Placement: Students identify and coordinate their own clinical sites and preceptors. The Division of Graduate Nursing offers resources but does not guarantee placement.
- Travel: Site and preceptor availability varies by state, and Drexel warns students may need to travel.
- Licensure: A Pennsylvania RN license is required before clinicals begin, plus licensure in each state where rotations occur. Drexel recommends PA, NJ, and DE licensure.
- New York: New York residents may enroll, but rotations cannot take place in New York State.
- On-campus intensive (OCI): Held in NURS 642 during week one of the summer quarter in the college’s patient simulation lab. Four days for primary care; five days for acute care and dual. Mandatory; dates subject to change.
Self-arranged placement is the main practical burden at Drexel. It matters most for acute care and dual students, who need inpatient pediatric preceptors as well as primary care preceptors. Those sites are usually concentrated in children’s hospitals. Applicants outside the PA/NJ/DE region should line up preceptor leads before enrolling, and New York residents must plan to rotate across state lines.
General Admissions
The three MSN tracks share these requirements. Certificate rules differ and appear in each certificate section.
- BSN from a CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA accredited program
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Current, unrestricted U.S. RN license (or eligibility)
- Two professional references, a personal statement under 1,000 words, CV or resume, and official transcripts
- No standardized test required
- English proficiency scores for certain international applicants
- Next published deadline: December 7, 2026, for the Winter 2027 start (January 4, 2027)
Drexel lists start terms throughout the year rather than a single annual intake, so missing one deadline does not usually cost a full year.
Drexel PNP Pathways
MSN – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the MSN Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner is approximately $67,496 (52 quarter credits at $1,298/credit). The program can generally be completed in about three years of part-time study (11 quarters in the sample plan).
It prepares graduates for the PNCB CPNP-PC exam. Pediatric experience is not required for admission, but Drexel requires one year of RN experience before the clinical sequence begins.
MSN PC Curriculum
The first year is entirely non-clinical: graduate core courses plus pathophysiology and pharmacology. Pediatric content starts in year two, and the four primary care practicums run back to back from the summer OCI through year three. This is the only Drexel pathway that includes NURS 648, a full clinical course on children with special health care needs.
- Core courses (NURS 500, 502, 544; RSCH 503, 504): 15 credits
- NURS 550 Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning (4)
- NURS 646 Pharmacology for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (3)
- NURS 642 PNP I: Primary Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents (5), includes the 4-day OCI
- NURS 643 PNP II: Episodic Care in Primary Care (5)
- NURS 647 PNP III: Management and Care of Adolescents (5)
- NURS 648 PNP IV: Primary Care of Children with Special Health Care Needs (5)
- Nursing elective (3)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN PC Clinical Requirements
- 640 clinical hours across NURS 642, 643, 647, and 648
- Practicums run in four consecutive quarters (Year 2 summer through Year 3 spring)
- Per-course hour split not published
At 640 hours, the PC track sits in the typical 600–750 range for a single-population PNP program. Four straight clinical quarters means roughly a year of continuous preceptor coverage, so students need their sites confirmed well before the summer OCI.
MSN PC Admissions
General admissions requirements apply, plus one point to plan around:
- One year of RN experience is required before starting clinicals (not for admission)
- Prior pediatric experience is not required
MSN – Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the MSN Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner is approximately $73,986 (57 quarter credits at $1,298/credit). The program can generally be completed in three years (12 quarters in the sample plan).
It prepares graduates for the PNCB CPNP-AC exam. Applicants need at least one year of RN experience in a pediatric acute care setting and current PALS certification at the time of application.
MSN AC Curriculum
The first two years match the primary care track. The clinical sequence then differs in an unusual way: acute care students take the first two primary care practicums (NURS 642 and 643), then two acute-chronic care practicums, then a community course on medically fragile and technology-dependent children. That is more primary care and community exposure than an acute care track usually requires.
- Core courses: 15 credits; support courses: 14 credits (same as MSN PC)
- NURS 642 PNP I: Primary Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents (5), includes the 5-day OCI
- NURS 643 PNP II: Episodic Care in Primary Care (5)
- NURS 649 PNP AC I: Acute-Chronic Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents (5)
- NURS 650 PNP AC II: Acute-Chronic Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents (5)
- NURS 651 Management of the Medically Fragile and Technology Dependent Child in the Community (5)
- Nursing elective (3)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN AC Clinical Requirements
- 800 clinical hours across five clinical courses
- Settings include medical, surgical, and critical care pediatric units, plus primary care and community sites
- Five consecutive clinical quarters (Year 2 summer through Year 3 summer)
800 hours is above the 600–750 range typical for a single-population PNP program. The extra hours come from the primary care and community courses, which broadens experience but also means arranging preceptors in three different setting types.
MSN AC Admissions
General admissions requirements apply, plus two gates the primary care track does not have:
- Minimum one year of RN experience in a pediatric acute care setting
- Current PALS certification
- References from supervisors, managers, faculty, or program directors (not colleagues or family)
- Admissions interview may be required
MSN – Dual Pediatric Primary Care and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the MSN Pediatric Primary Care and Acute Care Dual Option is approximately $80,476 (62 quarter credits at $1,298/credit). The program can generally be completed in about three years and one quarter (13 quarters in the sample plan).
Graduates are eligible for both the PNCB CPNP-PC and CPNP-AC exams. Like the acute care track, it requires one year of pediatric acute care RN experience for admission.
Dual MSN Curriculum
The dual track is the acute care MSN plus one course: NURS 647, the adolescent primary care practicum, taken in a final fall quarter. That single 5-credit addition is what separates single acute care certification from dual eligibility. The dual track does not include NURS 648 (children with special health care needs), which only the primary care track requires.
- Core courses: 15 credits; support courses and elective: 17 credits
- Primary care practicums: NURS 642 (with 5-day OCI), 643, 647 (5 each)
- Acute care practicums: NURS 649, 650 (5 each)
- NURS 651 Medically Fragile and Technology Dependent Child in the Community (5)
More curriculum details are available here.
Dual MSN Clinical Requirements
- 1,000 clinical hours across six clinical courses
- Six consecutive clinical quarters (Year 2 summer through Year 4 fall)
- Settings span primary care, acute and critical care inpatient units, and community sites
1,000 hours is within the 900–1,200 range typical for dual PC/AC programs. Only 200 hours separate it from the acute care track, which is why the dual option is a small step for students already committed to acute care.
Dual MSN Admissions
- Minimum one year of RN experience in a pediatric acute care setting
- References from supervisors, managers, faculty, or program directors (not colleagues or family)
- Admissions interview may be required
- PALS: not listed on the dual program page (the acute care MSN requires it)
Post-Master’s Certificate – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate is approximately $44,132 (34 quarter credits at $1,298/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 21 months (7 quarters in the sample plan), within a 2-year maximum.
It prepares master’s-prepared nurses for the PNCB CPNP-PC exam.
Certificate PC Curriculum
The certificate is the MSN PC track minus the 15-credit graduate core and the elective. It includes advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment, then the same four primary care practicums.
- NURS 548, 549, 550: advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment (10)
- NURS 646 Pharmacology for the Pediatric NP (3); NURS 664 Professional Issues (1)
- NURS 642, 643, 647, 648 primary care practicums (5 each)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate PC Clinical Requirements
- 640 clinical hours, matching the MSN PC track
- 4-day OCI in NURS 642
Certificate PC Admissions
A published inconsistency worth knowing about. The catalog and the program page header list a master’s degree as the admission requirement, while the program page’s detailed list describes a BSN from an NLN-accredited program. This page follows the catalog: plan on needing a master’s degree in nursing.
- GPA of 3.0 overall or 3.25 on the last 60 BSN credits; GRE required if overall GPA is below 3.0
- No work experience required; pediatric experience makes applicants more competitive
- Personal statement of 800–1,600 words, two references, CV, transcripts
- Interview may be required
- Washington residents: Drexel notes this certificate is not on the state’s approved program list
Post-Master’s Certificate – Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate is approximately $50,622 (39 quarter credits at $1,298/credit). The program can generally be completed in two years (8 quarters in the sample plan).
It prepares master’s-prepared nurses for the PNCB CPNP-AC exam. Unlike the acute care MSN, the certificate page lists no RN experience or PALS requirement.
Certificate AC Curriculum
The certificate mirrors the acute care MSN clinical sequence: two primary care practicums, two acute-chronic care practicums, and the community course on medically fragile children, preceded by the APRN support courses.
- NURS 548, 549, 550, 646, 664: APRN and pediatric pharmacology support courses (14)
- NURS 642 (with 5-day OCI), 643: primary care practicums (5 each)
- NURS 649, 650: acute-chronic care practicums (5 each)
- NURS 651: medically fragile and technology-dependent child in the community (5)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate AC Clinical Requirements
- 800 clinical hours, matching the MSN AC track
- Settings include medical, surgical, and critical care pediatric units
Certificate AC Admissions
The same master’s-versus-BSN wording inconsistency appears here; the catalog requires a master’s degree.
- GPA of 3.0 overall or 3.25 on the last 60 BSN credits; GRE required if below 3.0
- No work experience required, per the program page; pediatric experience makes applicants more competitive
- Personal statement of 800–1,600 words, two references, CV, transcripts
- Interview may be required
The missing experience gate is unusual for a pediatric acute care program, and it contrasts with Drexel’s own acute care MSN. Applicants without pediatric acute care experience should expect it to weigh against them, and acute care preceptors often expect it.
Post-Master’s Certificate – Dual Pediatric Primary Care and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Pediatric Primary Care and Acute Care Dual Option Post-Master’s Certificate is approximately $57,112 (44 quarter credits at $1,298/credit). The program can generally be completed in about two years and one quarter (9 quarters in the sample plan).
Graduates are eligible for both the PNCB CPNP-PC and CPNP-AC exams. Applicants need one to two years of recent experience in a clinically appropriate area.
Dual Certificate Curriculum
The dual certificate is the acute care certificate plus NURS 647, the adolescent primary care practicum, in a final fall quarter.
- APRN and pediatric pharmacology support courses (14)
- Primary care practicums: NURS 642 (with 5-day OCI), 643, 647 (5 each)
- Acute care practicums: NURS 649, 650 (5 each)
- NURS 651: medically fragile and technology-dependent child in the community (5)
More curriculum details are available here.
Dual Certificate Clinical Requirements
- 1,000 clinical hours across six clinical courses
- Six consecutive clinical quarters
Dual Certificate Admissions
- Master’s degree (per the catalog; the program page also carries BSN wording)
- One to two years of recent experience in a clinically appropriate area
- GPA of 3.0 overall or 3.25 on the last 60 BSN credits; GRE required if below 3.0
- Two references, personal statement, CV, transcripts; interview may be required
Tuition
Estimated tuition ranges from about $44,100 for the primary care certificate to about $80,500 for the dual MSN. Drexel is private, so all students pay the same rate regardless of state.
| Program | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|
| MSN – PC | $67,496 |
| MSN – AC | $73,986 |
| MSN – Dual | $80,476 |
| Cert – PC | $44,132 |
| Cert – AC | $50,622 |
| Cert – Dual | $57,112 |
Calculated estimates, not university-published totals. Based on the 2026–2027 online MSN/post-master’s NP rate of $1,298 per quarter credit, tuition only.
Key Cost Takeaways
- Use the online rate, not the campus rate. Drexel’s general College of Nursing and Health Professions rate is $1,571 per credit, but these online NP programs bill at $1,298. Applying the campus rate overstates the dual MSN by about $16,900.
- 10% discount for some students. Drexel alumni, military members, and members of partner organizations pay $1,169 per credit (about $72,500 for the dual MSN). Students must request it within the first two weeks of the term.
- Fees are modest. The online graduate general fee is $125 per year. Drexel references additional equipment and lab fees without publishing amounts.
- One term with no aid disbursement. Every pathway includes a 3-credit term (NURS 646 alone), below the 4.5-credit federal aid minimum. Loan users need to cover that quarter out of pocket.
- Budget for the OCI. Travel and lodging for the four- or five-day Philadelphia intensive are not included.
- Rates rise each fall. Drexel states online rates may increase at the start of each academic year, so a three-year MSN will likely cost more than this estimate.
The pricing detail that matters most is the gap between tracks. Moving from acute care to dual costs about $6,500, and moving from primary care to acute care costs the same. For a private university, the per-credit rate is moderate; the quarter-credit totals look large but convert to roughly 35–41 semester credits for the MSN tracks.
See Drexel’s official graduate tuition and fee rates.
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best suited for: pediatric acute care nurses who want both PNCB credentials from a mostly online program and can secure their own preceptors.
Best For
- PICU, pediatric ED, or inpatient pediatric nurses who want to keep both primary and acute care career options open
- Acute care-focused students who want dual eligibility for little added cost or time
- Nurses interested in complex care, home care, or technology-dependent children
- Nurses in the PA/NJ/DE region with existing preceptor connections
- Master’s-prepared nurses wanting a pediatric certificate with a set clinical sequence
Biggest Strengths
Dual eligibility for one extra course. Drexel’s acute care track already includes two primary care practicums. Adding NURS 647 produces dual CPNP-PC and CPNP-AC eligibility for about $6,500 and one more quarter. Dual tracks elsewhere commonly add more than one course for the second population.
Every population at every level. PC, AC, and dual preparation are available as both an MSN and a post-master’s certificate. A nurse who finishes the PC MSN can return for the acute care certificate, and certificate students get the same clinical sequence as MSN students.
Complex-care content in the acute care sequence. NURS 651 is a full clinical course on managing medically fragile and technology-dependent children in the community. That preparation is directly useful in complex care clinics, home health, and transitional care roles.
Potential Drawbacks
- Students find their own preceptors, across up to three setting types for AC and dual students
- AC and dual MSN applicants need a year of pediatric acute care RN experience; the AC MSN also requires PALS
- A Pennsylvania RN license is required before clinicals, even for out-of-state students
- No clinical rotations in New York State; the PC certificate is not approved in Washington
- Only part-time sample plans are published; the MSN tracks take about three years
- The dual and AC tracks omit NURS 648 (children with special health care needs) from the PC sequence
The Verdict
Drexel’s strongest case is for pediatric acute care nurses. Its acute care curriculum overlaps so heavily with primary care that dual certification costs one extra course, about $6,500 and one quarter. Combined with an 800- to 1,000-hour clinical sequence and a single in-person intensive, that makes the dual MSN one of the more efficient routes to both PNCB credentials. The main limitation is self-arranged placement: students outside the Philadelphia region, or without a network of pediatric acute care contacts, carry the full burden of finding preceptors for inpatient, primary care, and community rotations. Nurses who want guaranteed placement, a faster full-time plan, or a primary care program that does not require travel should compare other options.
Accreditation
Drexel’s master’s and post-graduate APRN certificate programs in nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Drexel states that PC graduates are eligible for the PNCB CPNP-PC exam, AC graduates for the CPNP-AC exam, and dual graduates for both. Some Drexel primary care pages still list an ANCC pediatric option; ANCC closed that exam to new candidates in 2020, so PNCB is the only current route.
Other PNP Programs in Pennsylvania
- Thomas Jefferson University - Philadelphia
- University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
- Villanova University - Villanova