Three Georgia universities prepare pediatric nurse practitioners: Augusta University, Emory University, and Georgia State University. Every supplied track is Pediatric Primary Care — the state has no acute care or dual primary/acute option. Available pathways are MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate.
All three schools deliver coursework in a Mostly Online format with required campus attendance in Augusta or Atlanta. Estimated program costs run from about $9K for a certificate to about $143K for a doctorate, with completion times from one year to four.
The differences that matter most:
- Augusta accepts only Georgia and South Carolina residents and confines clinical sites to those two states
- Georgia State requires a year of recent pediatric RN experience and admits once a year in spring
- Emory carries by far the highest tuition but places students across the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta network
Georgia State is the lowest-cost degree route among the supplied programs.
Compare each school’s population focus, online format, campus commitment, cost, and degree options below.
Compare Georgia PNP Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Augusta University Augusta | Mostly Online | Orientation, multi-day skills intensives | $445 | BSN-DNP, Certificate | Lowest-cost doctoral route |
| Emory University Atlanta | Mostly Online | Atlanta intensives | $1,936 DNP; $2,230 MSN; $2,090 certificate | MSN, BSN-DNP, Certificate | Children’s hospital and subspecialty pediatric placements |
| Georgia State University Atlanta | Mostly Online | First class each semester on site, plus lab days | $412 | MSN, Certificate | Lowest-cost MSN |
Population focus is Primary Care for all schools above.
What’s the Best PNP Program for You?
Best Overall Value
Georgia State University delivers a 48-credit MSN for roughly $23K including online learning fees — about one-fifth of Emory’s MSN estimate for the same population focus and a comparable clinical hour floor.
Best Doctoral Option
Augusta University prices its 77-credit BSN-to-DNP at about $34K for Georgia and South Carolina residents and offers a four-year part-time plan, which no other supplied Georgia doctoral program publishes.
Best Certificate Option
Augusta’s post-master’s certificate is estimated near $9K and structured for completion in about a year, though enrollment is part-time only and applicants must already hold NP certification.
Best for Pediatric Subspecialty Exposure
Emory University rotates students through Scottish Rite, Egleston, Hughes Spaulding, and the Sickle Cell Clinic, and matches placements individually to each student’s clinical goals.
Fastest Route to Practice
Emory’s MSN runs four consecutive semesters full-time, roughly one year — considerably shorter than Georgia State’s two-to-2.5-year full-time MSN plan.
Best for Nurses New to Pediatrics
Augusta and Emory state no pediatric RN experience requirement, while Georgia State requires at least one year of recent general pediatric clinical practice before admission.
Georgia MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Two Georgia schools award a master’s degree with a Pediatric Primary Care concentration, and both graduates’ pathways lead to CPNP-PC certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. The two programs are separated less by curriculum than by cost, pace, and admission difficulty: one runs a compressed full-time year at premium tuition, the other a longer part-time-friendly plan at resident rates with a competitive, experience-gated entry.
| School | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Emory University | $105K | 1 year full-time (4 semesters); part-time available | 780 hrs |
| Georgia State University | $23K resident | 2–2.5 years full-time; 3–4 years part-time | 600 hrs |
- Lowest estimated MSN cost: Georgia State University — about $23K for residents, including online learning fees.
- Fastest completion: Emory University — four consecutive semesters starting in fall.
- Most clinical hours: Emory University — 780 hours against a 600-hour minimum at Georgia State.
Georgia BSN-to-DNP Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Both doctoral options admit BSN-prepared nurses and lead to primary care preparation, but they differ sharply in cost and geography. Augusta charges resident rates and keeps students inside a two-state clinical footprint; Emory charges the highest tuition of any supplied Georgia program and concentrates placements in metropolitan Atlanta. Clinical hour totals also differ by roughly 300 direct hours.
| School | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Augusta University | $34K resident; $96K nonresident | 3 years full-time; 4 years part-time | 840 hrs |
| Emory University | $143K | 2.5 years full-time | 1,140 hrs |
- Only part-time doctoral plan: Augusta University — a published four-year sequence; Emory lists a full-time track only.
- Most direct clinical hours: Emory University — 1,140 hours, well above the 600–750 range typical for a single population focus.
Georgia Post-Graduate Certificate PNP Programs
All three schools offer a route for already-credentialed nurses, but eligibility is not identical. Augusta and Emory require current NP or APRN certification; Georgia State requires only a master’s degree in nursing, which opens the door to MSN-prepared nurses who never certified as an NP. Credit loads and hours are individualized at Augusta and Georgia State, so published estimates are starting points.
| School | Entry Point | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Augusta University | Certified NP with MSN or doctorate | $9K | 1 year, part-time only | 549–750, set by gap analysis |
| Emory University | APRN-certified with MSN, DNP, or PhD | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
| Georgia State University | MSN-prepared nurse | $21K | Varies with equivalency review | 600 minimum |
- Lowest estimated certificate cost: Augusta University — about $9K covering 19 certificate credits plus a 2-credit prerequisite.
- Broadest eligibility: Georgia State University — the only supplied certificate that does not require existing NP or APRN certification.
- Largest possible discount: Georgia State University — prior MSN core coursework can be waived, though the 26-credit pediatric clinical sequence never is.
National Online PNP Options
Georgia’s three schools leave real gaps. No in-state program prepares pediatric acute care or dual primary/acute practitioners, so nurses working in PICU, pediatric emergency, or inpatient pediatrics must look outside Georgia for a CPNP-AC pathway. There is also no in-state MSN-to-DNP PNP option for master’s-prepared nurses seeking a doctorate; those applicants can review national MSN-to-DNP PNP programs.
Maryville University PNP Programs
St. Louis | $900 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / DNP
Georgia: Georgia nurses interested in pediatric advanced practice can complete Maryville University’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program entirely online with no campus requirement. Georgia students are able to meet their clinical requirements locally, which helps keep the program accessible for working registered nurses across the state. With MSN, DNP, and certificate pathways available, the program supports both entry-level advancement and post-master’s specialization.
Rasmussen University PNP Programs
Bloomington | $915 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Walden University Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Minneapolis | $785 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / BSN to MSN
Walden’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care tracks deliver Georgia nurses comprehensive online training via DNP, MSN, and certificate pathways, complete with virtual labs and Grand Rounds for real-world pediatric scenarios. Georgia students arrange practicums locally with program-backed support, covering essential skills in health assessment, pharmacology, and specialized pediatric populations over about 1.5–3.25 years. The CCNE-accredited programs, costing $35,690–$76,415, position Georgia graduates for successful primary care practice and certification.
FAQ
How many PNP programs are available in Georgia?
Three universities offer pediatric nurse practitioner preparation: Augusta University, Emory University, and Georgia State University. Together they operate seven tracks — two BSN-to-DNP programs, two MSN programs, and three post-graduate certificates. All are Pediatric Primary Care.
Are there fully online PNP programs in Georgia?
No. Each school requires some campus attendance. Augusta requires orientation, a multi-day skills intensive, and a face-to-face defense. Emory requires Atlanta intensives. Georgia State requires the first class of every semester on site plus assessment lab days. All three qualify as Mostly Online rather than fully online.
Does any Georgia school offer pediatric acute care?
Not in the supplied data. All seven Georgia tracks prepare graduates for primary care practice and CPNP-PC certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. Nurses seeking CPNP-AC preparation or dual primary and acute care certification will need to look at programs outside Georgia.
Which Georgia school has the lowest estimated PNP tuition?
Augusta University’s post-master’s certificate is the least expensive option overall at about $9K for Georgia and South Carolina residents. Among full degree programs, Georgia State’s MSN is lowest at roughly $23K for residents, followed by Augusta’s BSN-to-DNP at about $34K.
Do Georgia PNP programs arrange clinical placements?
The models differ. Emory matches placements individually within its metro Atlanta pediatric network. Georgia State provides coordinator-led placement assistance but asks students to help identify preceptors and bars paid placement services. Augusta’s profile does not clearly state who secures sites and preceptors.
Can out-of-state nurses enroll?
Access is limited. Augusta admits only Georgia and South Carolina residents and requires clinical sites in those states. Emory notes that not all states are eligible for enrollment or clinical placement. Georgia State requires an active Georgia RN license or documented application to the Georgia Board of Nursing.
Is pediatric RN experience required for admission?
Only at Georgia State, which requires at least one year of recent general pediatric clinical experience and prefers one to two years. Augusta recommends but does not require one year of professional nursing experience. Emory’s supplied requirements list no pediatric experience gate.