Online Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs in Florida

3 Schools • 1 Online • 1 Mostly Online • 1 Hybrid

Three Florida public universities offer Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs: Florida International University, the University of Florida, and the University of South Florida. All three prepare pediatric primary care NPs, and UF alone adds acute care and a dual primary/acute track. Pathways include the MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and a post-graduate certificate. FIU is online, UF is mostly online with some campus visits, and USF is hybrid with classes about once a month in Tampa. Estimated resident tuition runs from about $15K for a certificate to $50K for a DNP.

Compare Florida Pediatric NP Programs

School	Population Focus	Online Format	Campus Commitment	Cost Per Credit	Degrees	Best For
Florida International University, Miami	Primary Care	Online	None stated	Program totals only, from $14,580 resident	MSN, BSN-DNP, Certificate	Nurses with their own clinical site who want a choice of degree level
University of Florida, Gainesville	Primary, Acute & Dual	Mostly Online	Orientation and skills visits	$533 resident	BSN-DNP	Experienced pediatric acute care nurses seeking a doctorate
University of South Florida, Tampa	Primary Care	Hybrid	About monthly in Tampa	$430 resident	MSN, BSN-DNP	Newer BSN nurses wanting low-cost primary care preparation

Cost per credit includes mandatory per-credit fees. FIU publishes program tuition totals rather than a per-credit rate.

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What’s the Best PNP Program for You?

Best Overall Value

University of South Florida has the lowest resident tuition among the Florida programs, about $25K for the MSN, with 780 clinical hours and placements arranged within the state.

Best Acute Care Option

University of Florida is the only Florida school preparing acute care PNPs, with clinical access to UF Health Shands Hospital for Children. It requires a year of pediatric acute care experience.

Best Dual Primary/Acute Option

UF also runs the state’s only dual primary and acute care track: 93 credits and 1,740 clinical hours over 11 full-time semesters, about $50K for residents. Students apply to it after admission to the DNP.

Best for New Graduates

USF’s new graduate pathway admits BSN nurses with fewer than 12 months of RN experience into either PNP track, which most programs do not allow.

Best Certificate Option

Florida International University has the only post-graduate PNP certificate in the state, at about $15K for the pediatric sequence, and it also offers a PNP MSN with a built-in Nurse Educator credential.

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Primary Care vs. Acute Care PNP Programs in Florida

Primary care PNPs work in outpatient, school-based, and ambulatory settings and sit for the CPNP-PC. Acute care PNPs manage hospitalized, medically complex, and critically ill children and sit for the CPNP-AC. All three Florida schools prepare primary care, but only UF prepares acute care, and only at the doctoral level.

School	Primary Care	Acute Care	Dual Option	Experience Requirement
Florida International University	Yes	No	No	None stated
University of Florida	Yes	Yes	Yes	Acute care and dual: one year of pediatric acute care required, ICU or ED preferred
University of South Florida	Yes	No	No	None; new graduates eligible

• Student-found sites: FIU — online students identify their own clinical site, and FIU’s clinical department then sets up the contract, so nurses without a pediatric network face the heaviest lift in the state.
• School placement: UF and USF — both place students in Florida, near home when possible, though students should expect some travel within the state.
• Experience gate: UF — the acute care and dual tracks require a year of pediatric acute care nursing, while the primary care track publishes no experience requirement.
• Dual details: UF — students apply to the dual track after admission to the DNP; its 2024 plan runs 93 credits and 1,740 clinical hours.

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Florida MSN PNP Programs

Two schools offer the PNP at the master’s level, both in primary care. USF’s MSN runs 57 credits with 780 clinical hours. FIU’s runs 45 credits with 630 hours and comes in two versions: the standard MSN and a longer dual MSN that adds a Nurse Educator certificate. Neither school offers an acute care MSN.

School	Population Focus	Estimated Tuition (resident)	Duration	Clinical Hours
Florida International University — MSN	Primary Care	$28K	2 years	630 hrs
Florida International University — MSN + Nurse Educator	Primary Care	Not clearly stated	3 years	840 hrs
University of South Florida	Primary Care	$25K	7 semesters	780 hrs

• Nonresident tuition: FIU and USF — nonresidents pay about $51K at FIU and $57K at USF, roughly double the resident figures.
• Educator credential: FIU — the dual MSN adds 210 teaching hours to the 630 PNP hours and qualifies graduates for the NLN Nurse Educator exam as well as the CPNP-PC; FIU publishes no tuition total for it.
• Schedule: USF — the MSN runs lock-step over seven semesters with fall-only entry and a July 1 final deadline.

Want acute care at the master’s level? Compare BSN-to-MSN PNP programs nationally. Out-of-state schools set their own rules on enrolling Florida residents and placing students here.

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Florida BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs

All three schools offer a BSN-to-DNP, and it is the only way into acute care in Florida. UF runs primary care, acute care, and dual tracks; FIU and USF run primary care only. Costs sit close together for residents, but clinical hours, length, and placement support differ.

School	Population Focus	Estimated Tuition (resident)	Duration	Clinical Hours
Florida International University	Primary Care	$48K	3.5 years full-time	1,170 hrs
University of Florida	Primary Care	$41K	2.5 years full-time	1,260 hrs
University of Florida	Acute Care	$41K	2.5 years full-time	1,260 hrs
University of Florida	Dual Primary/Acute	$50K	11 semesters full-time	1,740 hrs
University of South Florida	Primary Care	$33K	9 semesters full-time	780 hrs

• Early certification: FIU — the DNP awards the MSN after the sixth semester, so students can sit for the CPNP-PC and start practicing before the doctoral project is finished.
• Children’s hospital access: UF — acute care students draw on UF Health Shands Hospital for Children for specialized rotations.
• Clinical hours: USF — the DNP carries the same 780 clinical hours as the MSN; the doctorate adds project credits, not clinical time.
• Nonresident tuition: UF, USF, and FIU — nonresidents pay about $104K at UF, $87K at FIU, and $77K at USF.

Don’t have a year of pediatric acute care experience? Compare BSN-to-DNP PNP programs nationally, including acute care tracks with different entry rules. Florida has no MSN-to-DNP pediatric pathway, so nurses who already hold a master’s can also compare MSN-to-DNP PNP programs.

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Florida Post-Graduate Certificate PNP Programs

FIU offers the only post-graduate PNP certificate in Florida, a 19-credit primary care sequence for nurses who already hold an MSN. It covers the pediatric specialty and role courses only; the core advanced practice sciences must be completed beforehand. It admits in fall only.

School	Population Focus	Estimated Tuition (resident)	Duration	Clinical Hours
Florida International University	Primary Care	$15K	1–2 years	Not clearly stated ⚠️

• Prerequisites: FIU — 13 credits of health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and culture must be completed within the last three years and sit outside the $15K estimate.
• Nonresident tuition: FIU — nonresidents pay about $32K for the same 19 credits.
• Placement: FIU — certificate students find their own clinical sites, as in FIU’s degree programs.

Need acute care or a school that places you? Compare post-graduate PNP certificate programs nationally. Florida has no acute care certificate, and availability elsewhere depends on each school’s authorization in Florida.

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National Online PNP Options

Florida’s in-state gaps are specific. Acute care is available only through UF’s doctorate, which requires a year of pediatric acute care experience, and there is no acute care MSN or certificate. The only fully online option, FIU, leaves clinical site searches to the student. Nurses outside commuting range of Gainesville or Tampa, or those who need acute care without a doctorate, may find a better fit nationally. The programs below accept Florida nurses, subject to each school’s state authorization and placement rules.

Maryville University PNP Programs

St. Louis | $900 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / DNP

Florida: Maryville University’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program offers Florida nurses a convenient online route into pediatric primary care and advanced practice. Florida students complete supervised clinical hours in their preferred local setting, making it easier to balance school, work, and family obligations. The program’s flexible admissions, strong accreditation, and multiple pathway options make it a solid choice for nurses seeking pediatric specialization.

Walden University Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs

Minneapolis | $785 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / RN to MSN

Florida nurses pursuing pediatric primary care advancement through Walden University’s DNP, MSN, or post-master’s certificate programs enjoy 100% online delivery with integrated Practicum Pledge® for seamless local clinical matchmaking. The Florida-friendly structure includes quarter-based credits, clinical fees, and specialized courses like Advanced Pediatric Nursing Practicum, fitting busy schedules over 1.5–3.25 years. Walden’s CCNE accreditation aligns with Florida’s licensure needs, with tuition estimates beginning at $35,690.

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FAQ

How many PNP programs are available in Florida?

Three public universities: Florida International University, the University of Florida, and the University of South Florida. Together they offer MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways, mostly in primary care, with acute care and dual tracks at UF.

Are any Florida PNP programs fully online?

FIU delivers its PNP tracks online and does not list campus requirements. UF is mostly online, with an orientation and visits for health assessment, simulation, and skills. USF is hybrid, with on-campus classes or activities about once a month in Tampa.

Which Florida PNP program has the lowest tuition?

FIU’s post-graduate certificate is the least expensive at about $15K, before any prerequisite courses. For a full degree, USF’s MSN is lowest at about $25K for residents, followed by FIU’s MSN at $28K.

Can I become an acute care PNP through a Florida program?

Only through UF’s BSN-to-DNP, in either the acute care or dual track. Both require at least one year of pediatric acute care experience, with ICU or emergency department experience preferred.

Do Florida PNP programs arrange clinical placements?

UF and USF place students within Florida, near home when possible. FIU students identify their own clinical sites, and FIU’s clinical department then establishes the contract.

Do I need nursing experience to apply?

Not for primary care. USF’s new graduate pathway admits nurses with less than a year of RN experience, and FIU and UF publish no experience requirement for primary care. UF’s acute care and dual tracks require a year of pediatric acute care.

Can out-of-state nurses enroll?

All three require a Florida RN license, or a multistate license at UF, and keep clinical rotations in Florida. Nonresidents pay roughly double the resident rate at each school.