MGH Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs

MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing offers two Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • Post-BSN to MS – Pediatric Specialty NP
  • Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) – Post-MSN Pediatric Specialty NP

Both programs are delivered on-ground at the IHP’s Charlestown Navy Yard campus in Boston. Every clinical placement is arranged and coordinated by the School of Nursing at no additional cost to students — a significant differentiator from most Boston-area NP programs.

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. Tuition + FeesEst. Duration
Post-BSN to MS – PNP$85,728+fees2 years (5 terms)
Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) – PNP$52,488+fees2 years (5 terms)

The program has operated for more than 25 years and prepares graduates to sit for the PNCB Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (CPNP-PC) examination. A Direct Entry pathway also exists for non-nurses, though materials provided focus on the Post-BSN and CAS tracks.

Program Tracks Overview

Post-BSN to MS – Pediatric Specialty NP

The Post-BSN to MS PNP at MGH IHP totals an estimated $90,487 all-in.

Tuition runs approximately $85,728 (48 credits × $1,786 effective rate). Additional fees add roughly $4,759:

  • Clinical fee: ~$3,800 (over 2 years)
  • Matriculation fee: $720
  • Pediatric Advanced Practice Review fee: $239

The program would take approximately 2 years (5 terms: Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring) to complete on a full-time basis.

MSN Curriculum

The Post-BSN to MS totals 48 semester credit hours across 5 terms. Year 1 establishes the graduate foundation, then transitions into the PNP specialty sequence with primary care child theory, advanced pharmacology, and the first healthcare of the child practicum.

Year 2 deepens the pediatric specialty through adolescent health theory, primary care of the child with special health care needs, professional issues, two additional practicum courses, and a scholarly project.

Year 1, Term 1 — Fall (9 cr.)

NP 715N – Advanced Pathophysiology
Builds advanced understanding of disease processes across the lifespan to support clinical decision-making.

NP 762N – Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan
Develops advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills across physical, psychosocial, and cultural domains.

NH 602 – Master’s Health Care Policy & Politics
Examines health policy from consumer, provider, organizational, and societal perspectives.

HP 001 – What is the IHP’s Role in Health Equity?
Introduces health equity, social determinants of health, and barriers to equitable care.

Year 1, Term 2 — Spring (6 cr.)

NP 721 – Primary Care Child I Theory
Focuses on culturally sensitive primary care for well children, including growth and developmental screening.

NP 739 – Advanced Pharmacology
Applies advanced pharmacologic principles to safe prescribing and disease management across the lifespan.

Year 1, Summer (9 cr.)

NH 720 – Nursing Research and Quality Improvement Science
Introduces research design, evidence appraisal, and quality improvement for clinical and educational practice.

NP 871A – Healthcare of the Child Practicum
Provides supervised pediatric primary care practice focused on health promotion and reflective learning.

Elective
Selected course supporting program study and individual academic goals.

Year 2, Term 1 — Fall (13 cr.)

NP 821 – Primary Care Child II Theory
Refines diagnostic reasoning for managing common episodic and chronic child health problems.

NP 822 – Adolescent Health Theory
Builds theory for diagnosing and managing common adolescent health concerns.

NP 871B – Healthcare of the Child Practicum
Expands pediatric clinical experience with greater focus on acute child and adolescent concerns.

NS 891N – Scholarly Project
Serves as the culminating project integrating research, clinical, and theoretical knowledge.

Year 2, Term 2 — Spring (11 cr.)

NP 823 – PC III: Primary Care of the Child with Special Health Care Needs
Focuses on advanced primary care for children with complex health, social, or behavioral needs.

NP 839 – Professional Issues
Explores contemporary professional issues including regulation, activism, and advanced practice responsibilities.

NP 871C – Healthcare of the Child Practicum
Final pediatric practicum emphasizing advanced clinical competency in child health care.

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

MSN Clinicals

Clinical hours are distributed across three practicum courses (NP 871A, 871B, 871C) totaling 15 clinical credit hours. The IHP arranges 100% of clinical placements at no additional cost to students, through a network of 800+ clinical sites anchored by Mass General Brigham and affiliated partners. Students do not need to self-arrange preceptors.

A clinical fee of $1,900 is assessed each fall term of enrollment to support placement services.

  • NP 871A – Healthcare of the Child Practicum (3 cr.) — Summer Year 1
  • NP 871B – Healthcare of the Child Practicum (6 cr.) — Fall Year 2
  • NP 871C – Healthcare of the Child Practicum (6 cr.) — Spring Year 2
  • All placements arranged by School of Nursing at no additional student effort
  • 800+ placement sites including Mass General Brigham network

MSN Admissions

Admission is competitive. Applications are submitted through NursingCAS. No GRE is required. The IHP offers pre-application consultations with track coordinators to help nurses select the best fit specialty.

  • Associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
  • Undergraduate GPA of B or better
  • Current RN license
  • Completed graduate or undergraduate statistics course (grade of C+ or better)
  • Personal statement (~3 pages, double-spaced) addressing the most pressing issue in healthcare and how your entry into advanced practice nursing will help address it — submitted via NursingCAS
  • Two letters of recommendation (at least one academic, one professional) submitted via NursingCAS
  • Current resume or CV
  • Official transcripts from each college/university attended submitted to NursingCAS; international transcripts require course-by-course evaluation from NACES member (ECE, SpanTran, WES, or CED)
  • NursingCAS application fee
  • $720 non-refundable matriculation fee upon enrollment
  • $500 deposit to secure place (credited to first term tuition)
  • TOEFL iBT minimum 89 or IELTS minimum 6.5 (within 2 years) for applicants who have not completed a degree where English is the language of instruction
  • GRE not required
  • Program is on-ground in Boston; F-1 visa eligibility — contact admissions to confirm
  • Application deadline for Fall 2026 entry: confirm current deadline at mghihp.edu

Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) – Post-MSN PNP

Restructured dense financial information for clarity

The CAS PNP at MGH IHP totals an estimated $57,247 all-in, completed over approximately 2 years (5 terms).

Tuition runs approximately $52,488 (36 credits × $1,458 effective rate: $1,333/credit + $125/credit in fees). Additional fees add roughly $4,759:

  • Clinical fee: ~$3,800 (over 2 years)
  • Matriculation fee: $720
  • Pediatric Advanced Practice Review fee: $239

Final credit hours depend on a gap analysis at matriculation. Students missing equivalent graduate coursework in pathophysiology, health assessment, or pharmacology may need additional credits, increasing total cost.

CAS Curriculum

The CAS PNP totals a baseline of 36 semester credit hours for MSN-prepared nurses. Upon enrollment, a gap analysis determines whether NP 715N (Advanced Pathophysiology), NP 762N (Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning), or pharmacology equivalent courses are needed.

For students who already hold these prerequisites, the program focuses entirely on the PNP specialty sequence — primary care child theory I, II, and III, adolescent health theory, primary care of the child with special health care needs, and three levels of Healthcare of the Child practicum. The scholarly project required for the Post-BSN MS is not included in the CAS track.

Year 1, Term 1 — Fall (up to 6 cr., gap analysis may add courses):

  • NP 715N – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr.) — if required by gap analysis
  • NP 762N – Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan (3 cr.) — if required by gap analysis
  • HP 001 – What is the IHP’s Role in Health Equity? (0 cr.)

Year 1, Term 2 — Spring (9 cr.):

  • NP 721 – Primary Care Child I Theory (3 cr.)
  • NP 871A – Healthcare of the Child Practicum (3 cr.)

Year 1, Summer (6 cr.):

  • NP 871B – Healthcare of the Child Practicum (6 cr.)

Year 2, Term 1 — Fall (12 cr.):

  • NP 821 – Primary Care Child II Theory (3 cr.)
  • NP 822 – Adolescent Health Theory (3 cr.)
  • NP 871C – Healthcare of the Child Practicum (6 cr.)

Year 2, Term 2 — Spring (6 cr.):

  • NP 823 – PC III: Primary Care of the Child with Special Health Care Needs (3 cr.)

The CAS curriculum plan above reflects the structure for students with MSN who are not already APRNs (NU.CAS.PMSN.PEDI – WITH MSN/NOT AN NP).

Students who are already certified APRNs follow a separately individualized plan. Contact the School of Nursing directly for the Post-NP CAS curriculum plan.

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

CAS Clinicals

Clinical hours are embedded across the three Healthcare of the Child practicum courses (NP 871A, 871B, 871C), totaling 15 clinical credit hours — identical in structure to the Post-BSN MS clinical sequence. All placements are 100% arranged by the School of Nursing through the MGB-anchored network of 800+ sites. The clinical placement fee ($1,900/year) applies.

  • NP 871A – Healthcare of the Child Practicum (3 cr.)
  • NP 871B – Healthcare of the Child Practicum (6 cr.)
  • NP 871C – Healthcare of the Child Practicum (6 cr.)
  • All placements arranged by School of Nursing — 100% program-provided preceptors
  • Total supervised clinical hours not explicitly published; contact School of Nursing for specifics

CAS Admissions

CAS admission requires an MSN (or higher). Two track options exist: nurses who are already APRNs and nurses who are not yet APRNs. Pre-application consultation with a track coordinator is recommended to determine the appropriate track and estimate gap credit requirements. Applications are submitted via NursingCAS.

  • MSN from a nationally accredited nursing program (or higher) required; RNs with a master’s in a related (non-nursing) field may be considered with additional courses — pre-application advisement required
  • Current RN license; must hold APRN licensure if applying as a Post-NP candidate
  • Completed graduate or undergraduate statistics course (grade of C+ or better)
  • Personal statement (~3 pages, double-spaced) addressing the most pressing healthcare issue and your vision for addressing it as an advanced practice nurse — submitted via NursingCAS
  • Two letters of recommendation (at least one academic, one professional) submitted via NursingCAS
  • Current resume or CV
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended submitted to NursingCAS; international transcripts require NACES course-by-course evaluation
  • NursingCAS application fee
  • $720 non-refundable matriculation fee; $500 deposit credited to first term
  • TOEFL iBT minimum 89 or IELTS minimum 6.5 for non-native English speakers (within 2 years)
  • GRE not required
  • Gap analysis conducted at matriculation determines final credit load and cost
  • Application deadline for Fall 2026 entry: May 1, 2026

Tuition

MGH IHP School of Nursing charges $1,661 per credit hour for the Post-BSN to MS program and $1,333 per credit hour for the CAS (Certificate of Advanced Study) program for 2026–2027.

In addition, a General Student Fee of $75 per credit and a Technology Fee of $50 per credit apply to all students, bringing the effective all-in per-credit rate to approximately $1,786 (Post-BSN MS) and $1,458 (CAS).

Additional program-specific fees include a one-time $720 matriculation fee, a $500 deposit (credited to first-term tuition), an annual $1,900 clinical placement fee (charged each fall term), and a one-time $239 Pediatric Advanced Practice Review and Diagnostic Readiness Test fee charged in Fall Year 2.

Tuition discounts are available for Mass General Brigham employees and affiliates, employees and preceptors at 600+ clinical affiliation sites, and IHP alumni.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing graduate programs have been preparing advanced practice nurses for more than 25 years. Graduates of both the Post-BSN MS and CAS PNP tracks are eligible to sit for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (CPNP-PC) examination.

The specific national nursing accrediting body (CCNE or ACEN) is not explicitly stated in the available source materials — contact the School of Nursing at mghihp.edu to confirm accreditation status before applying.

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