LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing prepares pediatric nurse practitioners only at the doctoral level. It publishes six PNP pathways:
- BSN to DNP – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- BSN to DNP – Acute Care, CPNP-AC
- BSN to DNP – Dual Primary and Acute Care, CPNP-PC and CPNP-AC
- BSN to DNP – Dual Adult-Gerontology and Pediatric Acute Care, CPNP-AC and AGACNP
- MSN to DNP – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- MSN to DNP – Acute Care, CPNP-AC
All six are campus-based in New Orleans and start in the summer. There is no MSN exit: BSN applicants complete the full DNP. The two MSN to DNP pathways are the university’s Post-Master’s DNP plans for nurse practitioners who hold national APRN certification and want to add a pediatric population focus.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (Resident) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNP – PC | $65K | 3 yrs (9 semesters) | 91 |
| DNP – AC | $65K | 3 yrs (9 semesters) | 91 |
| DNP – Dual PC/AC | $87K | 4 yrs (12 semesters) | 115 |
| DNP – Dual AG/Peds AC | $87K | 4 yrs (12 semesters) | 115 |
| PM-DNP – PC | $42K | 2 yrs (6 semesters) | 65 |
| PM-DNP – AC | $42K | 2 yrs (6 semesters) | 65 |
Tuition estimates apply the university’s 2026-2027 DNP tuition (a flat $9,086.50 per full-time fall or spring semester and $4,542.50 per full-time summer; $1,011 per credit in fall and spring and $757 in summer for part-time loads) to each published full-time plan of study, semester by semester, before mandatory fees.
Few schools publish this many pediatric options under one roof. LSU Health New Orleans runs separate primary care and acute care DNP concentrations, a dual plan that leads to both PNCB exams, and a second dual plan that pairs pediatric acute care with adult-gerontology acute care. Every BSN entry plan carries at least 1,200 practicum hours, well above the 600-750 hours typical of a single-population PNP program, because DNP project practicum hours are built into the same total.
That depth comes with a fixed format. Coursework is delivered in person in New Orleans, the DNP core meets on campus at least six times each semester, and practicum shifts can fall on weekdays, weekends, evenings, or nights. The acute care concentration also requires two years of acute care pediatric RN experience before admission, which rules out many applicants who are otherwise qualified for the primary care track.
LSU Health New Orleans offers pediatric primary care, acute care, and two dual plans entirely at the DNP level, taught on its New Orleans campus with at least 1,200 practicum hours in every BSN entry plan.
Quick Facts
| Population Focus | DNP-PC and PM-DNP-PC: Primary Care (CPNP-PC) | DNP-AC and PM-DNP-AC: Acute Care (CPNP-AC) | Dual PC/AC: both | Dual AG/Peds AC: CPNP-AC plus adult-gerontology acute care |
| Degree Level | DNP only; no MSN or post-graduate certificate option |
| Format | Campus-based in New Orleans |
| Campus Attendance | DNP core classes meet Monday-Saturday, at least six scheduled sessions per semester |
| Clinical Hours | 1,200 (single BSN-DNP), 1,920 (both duals), 960 (PM-DNP) |
| Clinical Settings | PC: community-based and urgent care | AC: hospital and community-based specialty clinics |
| RN Experience Required | AC and AC duals: 2 years acute care pediatric RN experience within 5 years |
| Start Term | Summer; January 31 deadline (BSN-DNP), March 1 (PM-DNP add population) |
| Tuition (2026-2027) | Full-time DNP: $9,086.50 per fall/spring semester resident; $1,011/credit part-time |
| Accreditation | CCNE through 2029; SACSCOC institutional |
Clinical Education
All pediatric pathways share one clinical model. Practicum work is completed under the guidance of program faculty and the direct supervision of approved preceptors, and the school states that practicum experiences may be scheduled on weekdays, weekends, evenings, and nights. Students are responsible for their own transportation to clinical sites; the school notes that public transportation reaches most New Orleans-area hospitals and agencies.
Each published practicum total includes the three Advanced Nursing Practicum courses (NURS 7021-7023) attached to the DNP scholarly project, not only population-focused NP clinical time. Across every LSU Health plan, practicum hours work out to 60 hours per practicum credit. On that basis, roughly 900 of the 1,200 hours in a single-concentration BSN-DNP plan fall in pediatric NP courses and about 300 in the DNP practicum series (est., from the credit split in the published plans). Even the NP-specific share sits above the 600-750 hour range typical of single-population PNP programs.
General Admissions
BSN to DNP applicants in every pediatric concentration meet the same base criteria:
- Application through NursingCAS; summer entry with a January 31 deadline
- BSN from a regionally accredited institution, with nursing credits from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on all undergraduate and graduate coursework
- Unencumbered RN license in any state with eligibility for Louisiana licensure
- Three references, including at least one from a peer, one from a nurse practitioner, and one from a nursing supervisor
- Successful interview
- Current BLS certification
- TOEFL (550 paper, 79-80 internet) for applicants whose first language is not English or who did not graduate from a US program
- $100 non-refundable application fee
Admission uses a holistic review. The single summer intake means an applicant who misses January 31 waits a full year to start.
BSN to DNP: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care (PNPPC) BSN to DNP is 91 credits over nine semesters (three years full-time), with estimated resident tuition of about $65,000. It prepares graduates for the PNCB Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care exam and focuses on routine surveillance, health maintenance, and episodic and chronic conditions in patients from infancy to age 21. It is the only single-concentration BSN entry option here without a pediatric acute care experience requirement.
Primary Care Curriculum
Year one covers the DNP foundation and the advanced practice core, ending in spring with primary care pharmacotherapeutics, primary care procedures, and Pediatric Primary Care Essentials. Year two is the pediatric specialty sequence, one course per semester, each combining didactic, lab, and practicum credit. Year three is the DNP scholarly project, the Advanced Nursing Practicum series, health policy, and a role transition course.
- NURS 6315 Advanced Health Assessment (5)
- NURS 7709 Advanced Practice Nursing Primary Care Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan (2)
- NURS 7708 Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures and Tests for Advanced Primary Care Nursing Practice (3)
- NURS 7908 Pediatric Primary Care Essentials (5)
- NURS 7921 Pediatric Primary Care NP I: Episodic Conditions (7)
- NURS 7922 Pediatric Primary Care NP II: Chronic Conditions (8)
- NURS 7923 Pediatric Primary Care NP III: Adolescent, Behavioral, and Social Health (9)
- NURS 7110, 7120, 7130 Scholarly Project I-III (3 each)
- NURS 7950 Role Transition into Professional NP Practice (3)
The third specialty course is devoted to adolescent, behavioral, and social health, which gives the primary care track a dedicated block of behavioral content. See the PNPPC curriculum.
Primary Care Clinical Requirements
- 1,200 total practicum hours
- Practicum credit in Pediatric Primary Care Essentials (2), the three specialty courses (3, 4, 5), Advanced Nursing Practicum I-III (1, 2, 2), and Role Transition (1)
- Settings: community-based and urgent care
The heaviest clinical semester is spring of year two, when the adolescent and behavioral health course carries five practicum credits (about 300 hours, est.) alongside a three-credit theory course.
Primary Care Admissions
The general criteria apply. The primary care page lists clinical nursing experience “as specified by the concentration” and BLS, without a minimum number of years or a pediatric setting requirement. See PNPPC admission criteria.
BSN to DNP: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care (PNPAC) BSN to DNP is also 91 credits over nine semesters, at about $65,000 in estimated resident tuition. It prepares graduates for the PNCB Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care exam and centers on physiologically unstable, critically ill, and injured patients from infancy to age 21; the school states that the PNP-AC does not provide routine well-child care. Admission requires two years of acute care pediatric RN experience within the past five years, plus ACLS and PALS.
Acute Care Curriculum
The plan mirrors the primary care structure semester for semester, with acute care pharmacotherapeutics and acute care procedures replacing the primary care versions and a three-course pediatric acute care sequence in year two. Acute care students still take Pediatric Primary Care Essentials, including its two practicum credits, before the acute sequence begins.
- NURS 6315 Advanced Health Assessment (5)
- NURS 7909 Advanced Practice Nursing Acute Care Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan (2)
- NURS 7706 Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures and Tests for Advanced Acute Care Nursing Practice (3)
- NURS 7908 Pediatric Primary Care Essentials (5)
- NURS 7931 Pediatric ACNP I: System Management (7)
- NURS 7932 Pediatric ACNP II: System Management (8)
- NURS 7933 Pediatric ACNP III: Critical Illness and Trauma Management (9)
- NURS 7950 Role Transition into Professional NP Practice (3)
See the PNPAC curriculum.
Acute Care Clinical Requirements
- 1,200 total practicum hours
- Practicum credit in Pediatric Primary Care Essentials (2), Pediatric ACNP I-III (3, 4, 5), Advanced Nursing Practicum I-III (1, 2, 2), and Role Transition (1)
- Settings: hospital settings and community-based specialty clinics
- Each pediatric ACNP course includes a lab credit in addition to practicum
Hospital-based rotations are where night and weekend practicum scheduling is most likely to apply. The primary care essentials course (about 120 hours, est.) gives acute care students some ambulatory pediatric exposure before inpatient work begins.
Acute Care Admissions
- Minimum two years of RN experience in an acute care pediatric setting within five years of applying
- Current BLS, ACLS, and PALS
The experience gate is the deciding factor for most applicants. Adult ICU or general pediatric clinic experience does not meet it as written; the years must be in an acute care pediatric setting and recent. See PNPAC admission criteria.
BSN to DNP: PNP-PC and PNP-AC Dual Concentration
The PNP-PC and PNP-AC dual concentration is 115 credits over twelve semesters (four years full-time), at about $87,000 in estimated resident tuition. Graduates qualify for both PNCB exams, CPNP-PC and CPNP-AC. Applicants must meet the admission criteria for both concentrations, so the acute care experience gate applies.
Dual PC/AC Curriculum
Year one matches the acute care plan. Year two runs the full pediatric primary care sequence (NURS 7921-7923), year three runs the full pediatric acute care sequence (NURS 7931-7933), and year four completes the DNP project, practicum series, and role transition. As published, the dual plan uses the acute care pharmacotherapeutics and procedures courses and does not list the primary care versions (NURS 7709 and 7708) that appear in the single primary care plan. See the dual PC/AC curriculum.
Dual PC/AC Clinical Requirements
- 1,920 clinical hours for students entering Summer 2025 or later (1,860 for earlier cohorts)
- Both specialty sequences in full: 12 practicum credits in primary care and 12 in acute care
- Settings span community, urgent care, hospital, and specialty clinic sites
At 1,920 hours this plan sits above the 900-1,200 hour range typical of dual PC/AC preparation, and roughly 1,620 of those hours are in pediatric NP courses (est., at 60 hours per practicum credit).
Dual PC/AC Admissions
Applicants must meet both concentrations’ criteria, which in practice means the acute care requirements: two years of recent acute care pediatric RN experience, ACLS, and PALS.
BSN to DNP: AGACNP and PNP-AC Dual Concentration
The AGACNP and PNP-AC dual concentration is 115 credits over twelve semesters, at about $87,000 in estimated resident tuition. It prepares graduates for the PNCB CPNP-AC exam and for adult-gerontology acute care certification (the ANCC AGACNP exam or the AACN ACNPC-AG exam), so graduates can practice acute care across pediatric and adult populations. Applicants must meet the admission criteria for both the pediatric acute care and adult-gerontology acute care concentrations.
Dual AG/Peds AC Curriculum
Year one matches the pediatric acute care plan, including Pediatric Primary Care Essentials. Year two is the pediatric acute care sequence (NURS 7931-7933), year three is the adult-gerontology acute care sequence (NURS 7310, 7312, 7314: System Management I-II and Critical Illness and Trauma Management), and year four is the DNP project and practicum series. See the AGACNP/PNP-AC curriculum.
Dual AG/Peds AC Clinical Requirements
- 1,920 practicum hours for students entering Summer 2025 or later
- 12 practicum credits in pediatric acute care and 12 in adult-gerontology acute care
Dual AG/Peds AC Admissions
The pediatric acute care gate (two years of acute care pediatric RN experience within five years) is the binding one; the adult-gerontology acute care concentration separately asks for one year of acute care RN experience within five years. ACLS and PALS are required.
Post-Master’s DNP: Add Pediatric Primary Care or Acute Care
The Post-Master’s DNP to add a new APRN population lets a certified nurse practitioner earn the DNP and add either pediatric primary care (PNP-PC plan) or pediatric acute care (PNP-AC plan). Each plan is 65 credits over six semesters (two years full-time), at about $42,000 in estimated resident tuition. Graduates are academically eligible for the matching PNCB exam, CPNP-PC or CPNP-AC. The school also offers a Post-Master’s DNP in the student’s existing role and population (35-50 credits), which does not add a pediatric credential.
Post-Master’s Curriculum
Year one covers the DNP core (leadership, biostatistics, epidemiology, theory, health outcomes, evidence-based practice) plus the population’s procedures course. Year two carries the full pediatric specialty sequence alongside the scholarly project and practicum series. Advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment are not in the plan; they are verified from the applicant’s master’s transcript.
- 65 credits for students starting Summer 2025 or later (66 for earlier cohorts)
- PC plan: NURS 7708 primary care procedures, then Pediatric Primary Care NP I-III (7, 8, 9)
- AC plan: NURS 7706 acute care procedures, then Pediatric ACNP I-III (7, 8, 9)
- Adult-certified NPs add NURS 7908 Pediatric Primary Care Essentials (5 credits, 120 clinical hours) in the first spring
- If prior clinical hours or the three Ps do not meet current state and national requirements, the missing hours or courses are added
Post-Master’s Clinical Requirements
- 960 practicum hours in the 65-credit plan
- Plus 120 hours for adult-certified NPs who add Pediatric Primary Care Essentials
- Settings follow the chosen population: community and urgent care for PC, hospital and specialty clinics for AC
About 780 of the 960 hours sit in the pediatric specialty and role transition courses and about 180 in the DNP practicum series (est., at 60 hours per practicum credit). That pediatric share is above the 600-750 hour single-population range.
Post-Master’s Admissions
- All BSN-DNP criteria for the chosen pediatric concentration, including the acute care experience gate for PNP-AC
- Unencumbered Louisiana RN and APRN license
- National APRN board certification
- At least one year of full-time NP experience within the year before applying
- Verification of Practicum Hours form covering graduate hours and the three Ps
- Scholarly writing sample, current resume, three references (including a peer and a current supervisor), BLS
- Application deadline March 1
The Louisiana APRN license requirement means out-of-state NPs need that license in hand before applying, not only eligibility. See PM-DNP admission criteria.
Tuition
For 2026-2027, LSU Health New Orleans charges full-time DNP students (9 or more credits in fall or spring, 6 or more in summer) a flat semester rate: $9,086.50 in tuition for fall or spring and $4,542.50 for summer, or $22,715.50 for a full-time year. Part-time DNP students pay $1,011 per credit in fall and spring and $757 in summer. Non-residents add a non-resident fee of $7,195 per full-time fall or spring semester and $3,600 per full-time summer, or $799 and $600 per credit when part-time.
The flat rate matters because the final year of every BSN-DNP plan drops below full-time (4, 8, and 8 credits), so those semesters bill by the credit. The first two years of a single-concentration plan cost the same whether a semester carries 10 or 15 credits. For 2025-2026 the full-time DNP rate was $8,211.60 per fall or spring semester and the part-time rate $913 per credit, so 2026-2027 is roughly an 11% increase.
Estimated Total Tuition
| Pathway | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP PC or AC (91 credits) | $64,635 | $115,799 |
| BSN-DNP Dual PC/AC (115 credits) | $87,351 | $156,505 |
| BSN-DNP Dual AGACNP/PNP-AC (115 credits) | $87,351 | $156,505 |
| PM-DNP PC or AC (65 credits) | $42,411 | $75,990 |
Calculated by this site from the 2026-2027 rate table and each published plan of study, applying the flat rate to full-time semesters and the per-credit rate to part-time semesters. Non-resident figures include the non-resident fee. These are estimates, not university-published totals.
In the Post-Master’s plan, the first spring carries only 6 credits and bills per credit ($6,066). Adult-certified NPs who add the 5-credit Pediatric Primary Care Essentials course move that semester to full-time, which raises estimated resident tuition to about $45,431.
Fees Beyond Tuition
- Mandatory student fees: $543.50 per full-time fall or spring semester and $294.50 per full-time summer, or about $60 per credit part-time (about $3,900 over a single-concentration BSN-DNP, $5,300 over a dual plan, and $2,600 over the PM-DNP, est.)
- Books and supplies: about $900 for PNP-AC or PNP-PC over the program
- Lab coats (2): $100; LANP student membership: $50 per year
- Three Ps diagnostic examination: $150
- Certification review course: $300-$450 (PNP-AC) or $250-$400 (PNP-PC), travel not included
- Poster $100, graduation fee $100, cap and gown $168
- Random drug testing if selected (about $35), a webcam-equipped laptop, and transportation to clinical sites
See the official 2026-2027 School of Nursing tuition and fees and the additional program costs.
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best suited for: Louisiana-area nurses who want a doctorate and can attend classes in New Orleans, especially experienced pediatric acute care nurses who want acute care or dual preparation.
Four Ways to Reach Pediatric Acute Care
A nurse aiming for CPNP-AC can choose the single acute care concentration, the PC/AC dual, the adult-gerontology/pediatric acute care dual, or the post-master’s route after an earlier NP certification. The AGACNP pairing is uncommon and suits nurses who want to work across pediatric and adult ICUs or in emergency and transport settings that see both populations.
Clinical Volume Above the Usual Range
Single-concentration students log 1,200 practicum hours and dual students 1,920. Even setting aside the DNP practicum series, the pediatric NP clinical time is higher than most single-population programs require.
Public Tuition With a Full-Time Flat Rate
At about $65,000 in resident tuition for a full DNP, the cost is moderate for a doctorate. Non-residents pay close to twice as much, which makes the program far less competitive for applicants outside Louisiana.
Drawbacks to Weigh
- No MSN or post-graduate certificate option; BSN applicants commit to three or four years
- Campus-based delivery with recurring class days in New Orleans
- Practicum can be scheduled on nights and weekends, which is hard to combine with full-time RN work
- One summer intake per year
- Acute care and both dual plans require two recent years of acute care pediatric RN experience
The Verdict
The strongest case is for a Louisiana resident with PICU, pediatric ED, or inpatient pediatric experience who wants a DNP and possibly dual certification, and who can be in New Orleans on class days. Nurses who need an online format, an MSN, or a primary care program they can finish in two years should compare other options.
Accreditation
The School of Nursing’s BSN, MSN, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) through 2029, and the school is approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans is accredited by SACSCOC.
The school states that PNP-PC graduates meet the requirements for the PNCB Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care exam and PNP-AC graduates for the PNCB Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care exam, with dual and add-population graduates eligible for the exams of each concentration. See accreditation and certification and licensure information.
Research More PNP Programs In Louisiana
- Grambling State University - Grambling
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana - Natchitoches