Regis College’s Richard and Sheila Young School of Nursing offers seven pediatric nurse practitioner pathways, all delivered through Regis Online and all preparing for pediatric primary care:
- BSN to MSN – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- BSN to DNP – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- ADN to MSN – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- RN with Non-Nursing Bachelor’s to MSN – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- Direct Entry MSN (non-nurses) – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- MSN to DNP – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- Post-Master’s Certificate – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
Graduate coursework is online, primarily asynchronous with limited live sessions, and Regis states that no campus visit is required. Every pathway except Direct Entry requires an active, unencumbered RN license. Direct Entry students complete a full-time pre-licensure phase in person at the Weston, Massachusetts campus before moving online. Regis does not offer an acute care PNP track.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSN to MSN – PC | $50,928 | 28 months | 48 |
| RN to MSN – PC | $66,843–$70,026 | 36 months | 63–66 |
| Direct Entry MSN – PC | $101,856 (est.) | 24–36 months | 96 |
| BSN to DNP – PC | $79,575 | 40 months | 75 |
| MSN to DNP – PC | $66,843–$79,575 | 36 months | 63–75 |
| Cert – PC | $22,281–$41,379 | 14–20 months | 21–39 |
Tuition estimates multiply the $1,061-per-credit graduate nursing rate Regis Online currently publishes by the credit totals in the 2026-2027 Regis College catalog. Durations are the catalog’s months-to-complete figures, widened where program pages differ.
Every Regis PNP route, from ADN to post-master’s, runs through the same pediatric primary care sequence: Primary Care of the Child I and II (8 credits each, 300 clinical hours each) followed by a 200-hour final clinical immersion. That puts every pathway at 800 clinical hours, above the 600 to 750 hours typical of single-population PNP programs and 300 hours past the 500-hour certification floor. The entry point changes how much foundational coursework comes first, not the pediatric content.
Students share responsibility for securing those 800 hours. Regis says students have a role in finding their own placements, with clinical coordinators available for additional help, so an applicant in an area with few pediatric preceptors carries real placement work. All pathways prepare for primary care only; nurses aiming for PICU, pediatric ED, or inpatient roles would need a CPNP-AC program elsewhere.
Regis offers one 800-hour online pediatric primary care sequence through six entry routes, but students help find their own preceptors and there is no acute care option.
Quick Facts
| Population Focus | Primary Care (CPNP-PC) in every pathway; no acute care track |
| Format | Online, primarily asynchronous with limited live sessions |
| Campus Attendance | None for RN-entry pathways; Direct Entry pre-licensure phase is in person in Weston |
| Clinical Hours | 800 NP clinical hours in every pathway; DNP pathways add 500 DNP hours |
| Clinical Placement | Students help find sites; clinical coordinators may assist |
| RN Experience Required | No prior clinical experience required for RN-entry MSN pathways |
| Transfer Credit | Up to 9 graduate credits, B- or better |
| Next Start | January 4, 2027 (applications due November 30, 2026; certificate November 23, 2026) |
| Tuition | $1,061 per credit |
| Accreditation | ACEN (nursing), NECHE (institution) |
Clinical Education
The pediatric clinical sequence is identical across all seven pathways, so it is described once here. Each pathway section below covers only what differs.
- NU 664A-X Clinical Seminar, Primary Care of the Child I: 300 hours
- NU 665A-X Clinical Seminar, Primary Care of the Child II: 300 hours
- NU 675A-X Final NP Clinical Immersion: at least 200 hours
- Total: 800 supervised clinical hours with preceptors
- Placement: students have a role in finding their own sites; clinical coordinators may provide additional assistance
- Sites outside the student’s current workplace are encouraged; a current employer may be used with faculty approval
- Clinical hours may be spread over two to four semesters with program director approval
A published conflict worth knowing about. The FAQ on Regis Online’s PNP page says MSN students typically complete 664 to 724 clinical hours depending on entry point. The 2026-2027 catalog states 800 clinical hours for every PNP program, and the per-course hours listed on the same program page (300 + 300 + 200) also sum to 800. This page uses 800.
At 800 hours, Regis sits above the usual single-population range. That is more supervised pediatric practice than most PNP programs require, and it is also more preceptor time to arrange. Students in areas without pediatric practices willing to precept should plan the search early, since Regis describes placement as a shared responsibility rather than a school-arranged service.
General Admissions
These requirements apply to all RN-entry pathways. Each pathway section lists its own degree requirement and any additions.
- Active, unencumbered RN license
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA preferred
- College-level statistics course completed before classes start (MSN entries)
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
- Current resume, statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation
- No GRE required
- $75 application fee
- Next start January 4, 2027; the DNP pages list three start terms per year
Regis states that prior clinical experience is not required for the online MSN: an ADN, non-nursing bachelor’s, or BSN nurse with a valid license can move directly into the program. There is no pediatric experience gate.
MSN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (BSN Entry)
The online MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program for BSN-prepared nurses costs an estimated $50,928 (48 credits × $1,061). The catalog lists 28 months to complete; the program page says as few as 26. It prepares graduates for pediatric primary care and PNCB CPNP-PC certification. Applicants need a BSN from an accredited program and an RN license.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The program page gives 39 to 48 credits for BSN entry; the catalog states 48 credits, and its course list reconciles to that total. The 39-credit floor equals 48 minus the 9 transfer credits Regis accepts, so it appears to describe a student with maximum transfer credit. This page uses 48.
BSN to MSN Curriculum
The curriculum splits into a graduate core (theory, leadership, research, and policy), the advanced practice foundation (pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment), and the pediatric primary care sequence. The catalog sets a strict order: pathophysiology before pharmacology, pharmacology before advanced health assessment, Child I before Child II, and Child II before the final immersion. Each Primary Care of the Child course is 8 credits, which is where most of the pediatric content and all of the clinical hours sit.
Graduate Core
- NU 601 Nursing Theory (3)
- NU 605 Concepts in Nurse Leadership (3)
- NU 631 Scientific Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice (3)
- HP 609 Health Policy, Politics and Perspectives (3)
- One 3-credit elective: Complementary Therapy, Advanced Psychopharmacology, Care of the Childbearing Woman, or Seminar in Teaching and Learning
Advanced Practice and Pediatric Sequence
- NU 606 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
- NU 641 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology (3)
- NU 650 Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- NU 629 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (3)
- NU 668 Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice (3)
- NU 664A Primary Care of the Child I (8), with NU 664A-X clinical seminar
- NU 665A Primary Care of the Child II (8), with NU 665A-X clinical seminar
- NU 675A-X Final NP Clinical Immersion
The program page also lists NU 304, NU 403, NU 404, and NU 510 under the MSN core. In the catalog those four courses belong only to the RN-to-MSN bridge, not the BSN-entry plan. View the catalog program requirements.
BSN to MSN Clinical Requirements
The standard 800-hour pediatric sequence described under Clinical Education, with no additional clinical requirement.
BSN to MSN Admissions
- BSN from a regionally accredited institution and accredited nursing program
- All General Admissions requirements above
RN to MSN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (ADN or Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Entry)
Regis runs two RN-to-MSN routes into the online PNP program: the RN-to-MSN Bridge for associate degree or diploma nurses, and the RN-to-MSN for nurses who also hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. Both run 63 to 66 credits, an estimated $66,843 to $70,026, with 36 months to complete in the catalog (34 on the program page). Neither awards a BSN along the way; students move directly into the master’s after the bridge. Both prepare for pediatric primary care and CPNP-PC certification.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The program page lists 54 to 63 credits for these entries. The catalog states 63 to 66, and its course list (a 15-credit bridge plus the 48-credit MSN) reconciles to 63. As with BSN entry, the program page’s lower figure matches the catalog total minus 9 transfer credits. This page uses the catalog’s 63 to 66.
RN to MSN Curriculum
Students complete four upper-division nursing courses, 15 credits, with a B or better before any graduate nursing course. After the bridge, the plan is the same 48-credit MSN described in the BSN-entry section.
- NU 304 Health Assessment in Nursing (3)
- NU 403 Evidence for Clinical Practice (3)
- NU 404 Concepts and Challenges for Professional Practice (3)
- NU 510 Community-Based Nursing (6), including a 60-hour clinical component
ADN and diploma nurses may also owe general education courses. The catalog lists the undergraduate core the bridge expects, including English composition, sociology, ethics, religious studies, philosophy, human development, statistics, two semesters of anatomy and physiology, and microbiology. These can be transferred in, earned through CLEP, or taken at Regis, and they sit outside the 63 to 66 program credits. Nurses who have not practiced in the five years before admission must repeat or review the prerequisite sciences. Applicants with a prior bachelor’s degree do not owe general education courses. View the RN-to-MSN Bridge catalog requirements.
RN to MSN Clinical Requirements
- 60 clinical hours in NU 510 Community-Based Nursing during the bridge
- The standard 800-hour pediatric NP sequence afterward
RN to MSN Admissions
- ADN or diploma entry: associate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution and accredited program, or a nursing diploma (per the catalog)
- Non-nursing bachelor’s entry: bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, plus an ADN and RN license
- 15 bridge credits completed with a B or better before graduate nursing courses
- All General Admissions requirements above
MS Direct Entry, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
The MS Direct Entry, Pediatric NP is for bachelor’s degree holders who are not yet nurses. It runs 96 credits, an estimated $101,856 (est.). That figure applies the online graduate rate to all 96 credits; Regis Online’s rate covers the online phase, and the campus pre-licensure phase may be billed on a different schedule. Graduates are prepared for pediatric primary care and PNCB certification.
Students first complete a full-time generalist nursing phase at the Weston campus, with in-person didactic courses, lab and simulation, and clinical practice. After about 1.5 years they receive a BSN and are eligible for the NCLEX-RN. They then move to the online PNP phase, which the catalog describes as another 1.5 years. The same catalog entry lists 24 months to complete, so this page shows a 24 to 36 month range.
Direct Entry Curriculum
The pre-licensure phase covers health assessment, pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, professional nursing, care of the aging adult, acute care nursing, psychiatric and mental health nursing, maternal-child nursing, community and population health, and complex care, along with graduate-level theory, leadership, and evidence courses. The graduate phase then adds health policy, health promotion, advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, the two Primary Care of the Child courses, the final immersion, and a 3-credit elective.
Direct Entry Clinical Requirements
- In-person pre-licensure clinical practice during the campus phase
- Minimum of 800 NP clinical hours in the online phase
Direct Entry Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in any field
- Admission prerequisite courses completed by the program start
- No RN license required at entry
Applicants need to be able to attend the Weston campus full time during the first phase.
BSN to DNP, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
The online BSN to DNP with the pediatric specialization is 75 credits in the catalog, an estimated $79,575, completed in as few as 40 months. The program page gives 73 to 76 credits across specializations. It prepares for pediatric primary care and CPNP-PC certification. Since Fall 2024, BSN-to-DNP students receive the MSN once the master’s courses are complete and can sit for the NP board exam then, before finishing the DNP.
BSN to DNP Curriculum
The first 48 credits are the full BSN-entry MSN. The remaining 27 credits are nine 3-credit doctoral courses:
- NU 710 Informatics in Health Care (3)
- NU 713 Advanced Epidemiology and Biostatistics (3)
- NU 716 Culture and Health Perspectives (3)
- NU 726 and NU 727 Advanced Research: Evidence-Based Practice I and II (3 each)
- NU 740 to NU 743 DNP Scholarly Project I to IV (3 each)
View the catalog program requirements.
BSN to DNP Clinical Requirements
- 800 pediatric NP clinical hours
- 500 DNP clinical hours, per the catalog program description
- Scholarly project mentored experience runs across the four project courses
The catalog program description sets DNP hours at 500, while the scholarly project course descriptions refer to 400 hours of mentored project experience. The 400 project hours appear to be part of the larger DNP requirement; the Graduate Nursing Manual governs the final count.
BSN to DNP Admissions
- BSN and active RN license
- No GRE or GMAT
- All General Admissions requirements above
MSN to DNP, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
The online MSN to DNP with the pediatric specialization is for MSN-prepared nurses who are not yet NPs, and for NPs adding pediatrics as a second specialization. Both entries earn the DNP and prepare for CPNP-PC certification. Estimated tuition is $66,843 to $79,575 for 63 to 75 credits, over 36 months.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The program page lists 63 credits for the PNP specialization. The catalog states a minimum of 75 credits, but its own course list (the NP courses, one elective, and 27 DNP credits) sums to about 69. None of the three figures reconciles to another, so this page shows the full 63 to 75 range. Prior graduate coursework is reviewed individually, and Regis says additional courses may be required.
MSN to DNP Curriculum
The NP portion drops the leadership and evidence core courses an MSN graduate has already taken, keeping nursing theory, health policy, the advanced practice foundation, health promotion, roles and issues, and the full pediatric sequence plus an elective. The DNP portion is the same 27 credits as the BSN-to-DNP. View the catalog program requirements.
MSN to DNP Clinical Requirements
The catalog states that the post-master’s DNP requires a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours, and in the same entry lists 800 specialization hours plus 500 DNP hours (1,300 combined). Every student completes the 800-hour pediatric sequence; the DNP hours follow the BSN-to-DNP structure above.
MSN to DNP Admissions
- MSN from a regionally accredited institution and accredited nursing program
- Active, unencumbered RN license
- Proof of NP certification for the second-specialization entry
- Additional courses may be assigned after transcript review
Post-Master’s Certificate, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
The online Post-Master’s NP Certificate in pediatrics runs 21 to 39 credits, an estimated $22,281 to $41,379, depending on how much of the prior MSN transfers. Regis lists two entries: MSN-prepared RNs becoming NPs (as few as 18 months) and practicing NPs adding pediatrics (as few as 14 months). The catalog lists 20 months. It prepares for pediatric primary care and CPNP-PC certification.
Certificate Curriculum
The full 39-credit plan includes advanced pathophysiology, advanced clinical pharmacology, advanced health assessment, health promotion, nurse leadership, and roles and issues (3 credits each), plus Primary Care of the Child I and II (8 each), the final immersion, and a 3-credit elective. The 21-credit floor corresponds to a student who transfers the six 3-credit courses and completes only the pediatric sequence and elective. View the catalog requirements.
The catalog also lists a Post-Doctoral Certificate in pediatrics (19 to 39 credits, 800 clinical hours) for applicants who already hold a DNP.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
All 800 pediatric clinical hours are required regardless of prior NP certification. A practicing FNP or other NP adding pediatrics still completes the full sequence.
Certificate Admissions
- MSN from a regionally accredited institution and accredited program
- Active, unencumbered RN license
- Proof of NP certification for the NP entry
- Application deadline November 23, 2026 for the January 4, 2027 start
Tuition
Regis Online’s program pages for the MSN, both DNP routes, and the certificate list tuition at $1,061 per credit, with applications now open for the January 2027 start. That replaces the $1,025 rate on the earlier version of this profile. On the 48-credit BSN-entry MSN, the increase adds $1,728.
Estimated Total Tuition
| Pathway | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|
| BSN to MSN (48 credits) | $50,928 |
| RN to MSN (63–66 credits) | $66,843–$70,026 |
| Direct Entry MSN (96 credits) | $101,856 (est.) |
| BSN to DNP (75 credits) | $79,575 |
| MSN to DNP (63–75 credits) | $66,843–$79,575 |
| Post-Master’s Certificate (21–39 credits) | $22,281–$41,379 |
Figures are calculated from the published per-credit rate and catalog credit totals; Regis does not publish program totals.
Fees Beyond Tuition
- $75 application fee
- $300 mandatory graduation fee (catalog)
- Textbooks estimated at $100 to $300 per course (program page)
- $100 late payment fee on accounts not settled by the billing due date
- The catalog notes a technology fee may apply to some students and that some programs carry programmatic fees listed in the program handbook
Key Cost Takeaways
- Online-program discounts: 15% for active and reserve military, veterans, and military spouses; 15% for federal employees and spouses; 10% for employees of partner organizations; 10% for Regis degree alumni (not certificate-only alumni). The partner discount cannot be combined with other Regis discounts or scholarships.
- Graduate assistantships are available to students enrolled in at least six credits with a 3.0 GPA.
- Transferring the maximum 9 credits cuts about $9,549 from any MSN or DNP estimate.
- ADN applicants may owe general education courses outside the program credit total.
- Online refunds end after day five of the first week of class.
See Regis Online’s tuition and fees section.
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best suited for: RNs at any degree level, and MSN-prepared nurses, who want pediatric primary care preparation entirely online and can help line up their own pediatric preceptors.
An entry point for nearly every nursing background
ADN, diploma, non-nursing bachelor’s, BSN, MSN, and post-DNP applicants each have a defined route, and the direct-entry MSN covers bachelor’s graduates who are not nurses. ADN nurses skip a separate BSN and move into graduate work after a 15-credit bridge. No prior clinical experience is required for the RN-entry MSN.
800 clinical hours in every pathway
The pediatric sequence carries 800 hours whether a student enters with an ADN or as a practicing NP. That is above the common single-population range and gives more supervised pediatric practice before certification.
No campus travel for RN-entry pathways
Regis states that its online graduate nursing programs can be completed without a campus visit. Only Direct Entry students attend in Weston, and only during the pre-licensure phase.
Drawbacks to weigh
- Primary care only; no CPNP-AC or dual track
- Students help find their own clinical sites for 800 hours
- Credit and duration figures differ between the catalog and program pages, so the final plan depends on individual transcript review
The Verdict
Regis makes the most sense for ADN and diploma nurses who want to reach a PNP without a separate BSN, and for working RNs anywhere who need a fully online pediatric primary care program with a clear route from their current degree. Nurses headed for hospital-based pediatric practice should compare CPNP-AC programs, and applicants who want the school to arrange every clinical placement should compare programs that guarantee placement.
Accreditation
Regis College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The Young School of Nursing’s programs are approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), covering both online and on-campus programs.
The catalog names the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board as the certifying body for the PNP programs. Because every pathway is primary care, graduates sit for the PNCB CPNP-PC exam. Regis advises online applicants outside Massachusetts to check their own state’s licensure requirements before enrolling; see its licensure disclosure.
Explore Additional PNP Programs in Mass
- Boston College - Chestnut Hill
- Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions - Boston
- Northeastern University - Boston