Hawaii has one in-state Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program, offered by Chaminade University of Honolulu. The university prepares Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioners only—no Acute Care or dual Primary/Acute Care option is available anywhere in the state.
Degree pathways include a BSN-to-MSN, a BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP, and a post-doctoral PNP certificate, but Hawaii does not offer a post-master’s certificate. Coursework is delivered in a Mostly Online format with online classes and one required multi-day Honolulu immersion each year. Estimated tuition ranges from about $22K for the certificate to roughly $82K for the doctoral pathway, with completion times of 12 months to about three years.
Because Chaminade is Hawaii’s only PNP program, the decision is less about choosing between schools and more about whether its structure fits your goals. The university charges the same private tuition regardless of residency, so Hawaii residents receive no in-state pricing advantage over mainland applicants.
Nurses seeking Acute Care preparation, a dual-track option, a post-master’s certificate, multiple annual start dates, or a program with clearly documented clinical placement support should also compare national online programs.
Hawaii PNP Programs at a Glance
- Number of schools: 1
- Primary Care available: Yes
- Acute Care available: No
- MSN available: Yes
- DNP available: Yes, through a BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP pathway
- Certificate available: Post-doctoral only. A doctorate in nursing and current NP board certification are both required, so MSN-prepared NPs are not eligible.
- Delivery: Mostly Online
- Lowest published tuition: About $22K for the post-doctoral certificate. The lowest-cost degree pathway is the MSN at about $55K.
- Cost per credit: $1,205, identical at master’s and doctoral levels
| School | Tracks | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Primary Care | Mostly Online | Required multi-day immersion in Honolulu every year | $1,205 | MSN, BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP, post-doctoral certificate | Hawaii nurses who want a primary care PNP credential without relocating, and applicants who need a lower admissions bar |
Choosing a PNP Program in Hawaii
Who the Program Fits Best
Chaminade is built for working nurses in Hawaii who cannot relocate and want to stay with a local institution. Admissions requirements are unusually accessible: a 2.75 minimum cumulative GPA, no GRE, no required RN experience, and an RN license deadline that falls at the end of the first semester rather than at application. Nurses whose undergraduate transcript has closed doors elsewhere have a realistic path here.
The Doctoral Pathway Is the Structural Advantage
The BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP confers the master’s at roughly the two-year mark, so students become eligible for the CPNP-PC exam and APRN licensure while doctoral coursework continues. Because per-credit tuition does not increase at the doctoral level, the extra 22 credits are priced the same as master’s coursework and can be paid partly from NP-level earnings. Applicants choosing the DNP for additional pediatric clinical training should note that the doctoral block adds leadership, scholarship, and education courses, not more patient contact hours.
Two Questions to Resolve Before Applying
Chaminade does not clearly state whether the school arranges clinical sites and preceptors or whether students secure their own, which matters more here than at most schools given the state’s concentrated pediatric provider pool. Separately, the school’s accreditation page names the DNP and post-graduate APRN certificate as CCNE-accredited but does not name the standalone MSN. Anyone planning to finish at the master’s level should request written confirmation, since completion of an accredited program is required for certification and licensure.
When to Compare National Online Programs
Applicants who want Acute Care preparation have no in-state option and must look nationally. The same applies to MSN-prepared NPs seeking a post-master’s PNP certificate, since Chaminade’s certificate requires a doctorate. Nurses who need multiple start dates, want to avoid annual travel to Honolulu, or want a program that publishes its placement model should compare online programs that enroll Hawaii residents.
Hawaii BSN-to-MSN PNP Programs
Hawaii has one BSN-to-MSN PNP option. The Chaminade master’s prepares students for Primary Care only and can generally be completed in about two years of continuous fall, spring, and summer enrollment.
With a single in-state program available, applicants should also review national BSN-to-MSN PNP programs before committing.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Primary Care | $55K | 2 years | 750 |
- Clinical hours above the norm: 750 hours exceeds the 500-hour minimum the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board requires for CPNP-PC eligibility, and practicums run alongside the matching management coursework rather than at the end of the program.
Hawaii BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
The state’s only BSN-entry doctoral option is structured as a BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP, adding 22 doctoral credits to the master’s curriculum. Pediatric clinical hours are completed during the MSN portion, and the doctoral block covers biostatistics, systems leadership, nursing education, and a three-course scholarly project.
Applicants should also compare national BSN-to-DNP PNP programs.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Primary Care | $82K | About 3 years | 750 PNP hours during the MSN portion. Total DNP practice hours not clearly stated |
- Certification before completion: The MSN is conferred after roughly two years, making students eligible to certify and practice during the final doctoral year.
- No doctoral rate premium: Doctoral coursework is charged at the same $1,205 per credit as the master’s.
Hawaii Post-Graduate Certificate PNP Programs
Hawaii’s only PNP certificate is post-doctoral, not post-master’s. Applicants must already hold a doctorate in nursing, an active APRN license, and current national NP board certification. The 18-credit program delivers the pediatric specialty block in 12 months.
MSN-prepared NPs should review national post-master’s PNP certificate programs instead.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Primary Care | $22K | 12 months | 630 |
- Lowest estimated tuition in the state: At about $22K, the certificate is the least expensive PNP pathway in Hawaii, though eligibility is the narrowest.
- Compressed pacing: 630 clinical hours in 12 months alongside three didactic courses is a demanding schedule for a practicing APRN.
- Campus requirement: The curriculum includes two zero-credit immersion courses, confirming the Honolulu immersion applies to certificate students.
National Online PNP Programs
Maryville University PNP Programs
St. Louis | $900 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / DNP
Maryville University’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs are an excellent choice for nurses in Hawaii seeking fully online PNP education without ever leaving the islands. The four flexible tracks—MSN, BSN-to-DNP, DNP-NP, and Post-Master’s Certificate—feature 100% online coursework, local clinical placements anywhere in Hawaii, six annual start dates, and no GRE or campus visits required. Graduates achieve a 92% certification pass rate, giving Hawaii nurses a strong pathway to advance their careers in pediatric primary care.
Purdue University PNP Programs
West Lafayette | $500 to $600 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / BSN to MSN
Purdue University’s School of Nursing invites registered nurses in Hawaii to enroll in its distance-oriented MS, BSN-to-DNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate Primary Care PNP pathways. Featuring estimated tuition costs between $15,000 and $30,000, the hybrid format combines online coursework with 630 to 1,000+ supervised clinical hours spanning infant through young adult care. Hawaii practitioners receive targeted instruction in advanced pharmacotherapeutics, health assessment, and quality improvement while completing required clinical preceptorships in approved local facilities.
Rasmussen University PNP Programs
Bloomington | $915 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Rasmussen University delivers MSN-NP and Post-Graduate Certificate options in Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) practice through a flexible online competency-based model accessible to Hawaii healthcare providers. The curriculum combines self-paced coursework in pediatric health promotion and complex care with four local community-based practicums and a single on-campus weekend residency. Spanning 21 to 27 months with total estimated tuition and fees of $29,087 to $51,130, these CCNE-accredited programs allow Hawaii nurses to advance their clinical credentials without weekly deadline constraints.
Walden University Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Minneapolis | $785 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / BSN to MSN
Walden University offers online DNP, MSN, and Post-Master’s Certificate tracks in Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) practice for registered nurses residing in Hawaii. Operating on a quarter-credit schedule, the program features virtual skills labs, case-based reviews, and Practicum Pledge® assistance to aid Hawaii students with local field placement matching. With estimated tuition spanning from ~$35,690 for the certificate to ~$76,415 for the DNP, Hawaii RNs can gain specialized clinical expertise in child development, acute and chronic illness management, and advanced health promotion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PNP programs are available in Hawaii?
One. Chaminade University of Honolulu is the state’s only school preparing Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.
Does Hawaii offer an Acute Care PNP program?
No. All Chaminade PNP tracks are Primary Care, and there is no dual PC/AC option. Nurses seeking CPNP-AC eligibility must enroll with an out-of-state program.
Are any Hawaii PNP programs fully online?
No. Chaminade’s coursework is delivered online, but the required annual multi-day immersion in Honolulu makes the program Mostly Online rather than fully online.
Which Hawaii PNP program has the lowest estimated tuition?
Chaminade is the only in-state option. Within its pathways, the post-doctoral certificate is lowest at about $22K, followed by the MSN at about $55K and the BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP at about $82K. All coursework is billed at $1,205 per credit plus a $93 online fee per course.
Which Hawaii schools offer a PNP DNP?
Chaminade offers a BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP in Primary Care, estimated at $82K over about three years. There is no in-state MSN-to-DNP PNP program, though Chaminade MSN graduates may return to the doctoral pathway within three years of conferral.
Can students complete clinicals locally?
Chaminade does not publish whether the school secures sites and preceptors or whether students arrange their own, and it does not state whether placements outside Hawaii are permitted.
Is there a post-master’s PNP certificate in Hawaii?
No. Chaminade’s certificate is post-doctoral and requires an earned nursing doctorate plus current NP board certification, so MSN-prepared nurse practitioners are not eligible.