Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing offers two Pediatric Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MSN Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC)
- MSN Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC)
Both programs are offered primarily online with occasional travel to the Lubbock campus for on-campus intensive sessions and skills labs.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN PNP-PC | $22,000–$25,000 TX resident | ~2–2.5 years |
| MSN PNP-AC | $23,000–$26,000 TX resident | ~2–2.5 years |
Clinicals are preceptor-guided and available in or near the student’s home community, making the program a strong option for nurses who want to advance without relocating. A standout requirement: both PNP tracks require two years of pediatric RN experience before admission — one of the more specific experience thresholds in the field.
MSN Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC)
The estimated cost for the MSN PNP-PC at TTUHSC is approximately $22,000–$25,000 for Texas residents or $32,000–$35,000 for out-of-state distance learners.
Estimate based on 49 credits at published 2025–2026 rates; note the curriculum transitions to 45 credits effective Summer 2026.
The program would take approximately 2 to 2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to sit for the PNCB exam and/or the ANCC exam.
PNP-PC Curriculum
The MSN PNP-PC totals 45 credits effective Summer 2026 (previously 49 credits) organized across three tiers: 12 credits of required core nursing courses, 10 credits of prerequisite nursing courses, and 23 credits of PNP-PC population focus courses.
Core courses cover population health, scientific foundations, advanced practice nursing role and leadership, and informatics/quality/safety. Prerequisite courses include advanced health assessment with an on-campus intensive, pharmacotherapeutics, and pathophysiology.
Population focus courses build progressively through well-child foundations, sick child care, and three clinical practicum courses. PALS certification is required before the first population focus clinical course.
Required Core Nursing Courses (12 cr.)
NURS 5324 – Population Health for Advanced Nursing (3 cr., online)
Explores population and environmental health principles, epidemiology, and health system frameworks. Builds foundational knowledge for population-based approaches in advanced nursing practice.
NURS 5351 – Scientific Foundations of Advanced Practice (3 cr., online)
Focuses on research and evidence-based processes that underpin advanced nursing. Emphasizes critical appraisal of studies, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and evidence application to clinical problems.
NURS 5329 – Advanced Practice Role & Leadership (3 cr., online)
Examines the evolving role, scope, and responsibilities of the APRN. Develops leadership, advocacy, and systems-thinking skills to navigate healthcare policy and promote effective, ethical practice.
NURS 5353 – Informatics, Quality & Safety (3 cr., online)
Covers informatics and quality improvement tools to enhance patient care and safety. Introduces root cause analysis, workflow redesign, and technology integration for high-reliability healthcare systems.
Prerequisite Nursing Courses (10 cr.)
NURS 5430 – Advanced Health Assessment & Reasoning (4 cr., hybrid)
Builds advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills for APRN practice. Focuses on evidence-based health promotion, data interpretation, and clinical decision-making across the lifespan.
NURS 5343 – Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Practice (3 cr., online)
Applies pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles to safe, evidence-based prescribing. Prepares nurses for informed medication management across diverse populations and conditions.
NURS 5345 – Advanced Pathophysiology in Nursing (3 cr., online)
Explores physiologic changes underlying disease processes. Links pathophysiologic mechanisms to clinical assessment and management across lifespan health conditions.
Population Focus Courses (23 cr.)
NURS 5309 – Foundations of the Well Child (3 cr., online)
Covers normal growth, development, and family influences from birth to young adulthood. Emphasizes health promotion, prevention, and counseling guided by evidence and national standards.
NURS 5319 – Care of the Sick Child (3 cr., online)
Focuses on assessment and management of acute and chronic conditions in children. Highlights family-centered care and developmental perspectives in pediatric primary care.
NURS 5580 – Pediatric Primary Care I (5 cr., hybrid)
Builds clinical and critical thinking skills for assessing and managing common pediatric conditions. Emphasizes prevention, diagnosis, and evidence-based interventions for children from birth to adolescence. Prerequisites apply; PALS required before enrollment.
NURS 5681 – Pediatric Primary Care II (6 cr., hybrid)
Expands clinical expertise in managing complex and chronic pediatric health issues. Strengthens diagnostic reasoning and family-centered treatment planning using evidence-informed practice. Prerequisite: NURS 5580.
NURS 6680 – Pediatric Nursing Practicum (6 cr., hybrid)
Provides full clinical immersion to integrate APRN competencies in pediatric primary care. Focuses on professional accountability, role synthesis, and independent clinical decision-making. Prerequisites apply.
View more curriculum details in the course catalog.
PNP-PC Clinicals
Clinical hours are embedded within the three population focus practicum courses and are preceptor-guided, with experiences available in or near the student’s home community. Clinical courses require concurrent enrollment in the associated lab/skills section and include periodic on-campus skills lab visits at the Lubbock campus. PALS certification must be held before beginning the first population focus clinical course.
- NURS 5580 – Pediatric Primary Care I Clinical (12.75 clinical hours/week equivalent)
- NURS 5681 – Pediatric Primary Care II Clinical (17 clinical hours/week equivalent)
- NURS 6680 – Pediatric Nursing Practicum Clinical (21.25 clinical hours/week equivalent)
- Clinical experiences are preceptor-guided and arranged near the student’s home community
- On-campus skills lab visits required for each clinical course
- PALS certification required before first clinical course
- ⚠️ Out-of-state students must contact admissions before applying to confirm program availability in their state
PNP-PC Admissions
Admission is competitive and holistic; TTUHSC requires demonstrated pediatric RN experience and evidence of professional leadership as part of the evaluation. The PNP-PC track has one of the more specific experience prerequisites in the field — two full years of pediatric RN experience before applying.
- Valid, unencumbered RN license
- BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program at a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA
- ⚠️ Two years of RN pediatric experience required at time of application
- PALS certification required before first population focus clinical course
- Undergraduate research and statistics courses (grade of C or better)
- Personal statement/essay (maximum 500 words)
- Track-specific essay responses
- Three professional letters of reference (no family, friends, or ministers)
- Official BSN transcript plus transcripts for all undergraduate courses
- Current curriculum vitae/resume
- TTUHSC SON Computer Literacy Test (completed before applying at nursing.ttuhsc.edu/skills)
- Current BLS certification (AHA or American Red Cross)
- TOEFL iBT 84+ (speaking 26+, writing 27+) for non-native English speakers; F-1 and F-2 visa students not eligible for online programs
- Interview may be required upon invitation
- Criminal background check and immunization documentation required upon admission offer
- $175 non-refundable placement/orientation fee required upon accepting admission
- Fall deadline: February 15 | Spring deadline: August 1
MSN Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC)
The estimated cost for the MSN PNP-AC at TTUHSC is approximately $23,000–$26,000 for Texas residents or $33,000–$36,000 for out-of-state distance learners (based on 51 credits at published 2025–2026 rates)
The program would take approximately 2 to 2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to sit for the PNCB Acute Care CPNP exam.
PNP-AC Curriculum
The MSN PNP-AC totals 51 credits effective Summer 2026 organized across the same three-tier structure as the PNP-PC: 12 credits of required core nursing courses (identical to PNP-PC), 10 credits of prerequisite nursing courses (identical to PNP-PC), and 22 credits of PNP-AC population focus courses.
The acute care specialty sequence substitutes PNP-PC-specific courses with foundations of pediatric acute care, foundations of the well child, and three levels of Pediatric Acute Care clinical courses. PALS certification is required before the first population focus clinical course.
Required Core Nursing Courses (12 cr.) — identical to PNP-PC:
- NURS 5324 – Population Health: Essentials for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr., online)
- NURS 5351 – Scientific Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr., online)
- NURS 5329 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Role and Leadership Essentials (3 cr., online)
- NURS 5353 – Informatics, Quality and Safety (3 cr., online)
Prerequisite Nursing Courses (10 cr.) — identical to PNP-PC:
- NURS 5430 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (4 cr., hybrid — on-campus intensive required)
- NURS 5343 – Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurses in Advanced Practice (3 cr., online)
- NURS 5345 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Application of Pathophysiology (3 cr., online)
Population Focus Courses (22 cr.):
- NURS 5400 – Foundations of Pediatric Acute Care (4 cr., online)
- NURS 5309 – Foundations of the Well Child (3 cr., online)
- NURS 5500 – Pediatric Acute Care I, CL (5 cr., hybrid — requires on-campus skills lab; PALS required before enrollment)
- NURS 5600 – Pediatric Acute Care II, CL (6 cr., hybrid — requires on-campus skills lab)
- NURS 6690 – Pediatric Acute Care III, CL (6 cr., hybrid — requires on-campus skills lab)
⚠️ Note: The PNP-AC population focus totals 22 credits — the catalog shows 51 total credits but core (12) + prerequisites (10) + population focus (22) = 44. TTUHSC lists 51 credits on the tuition page for AY 2025–2026. Confirm final credit requirements directly with the program, as the degree plan is effective Summer 2026.
View more curriculum details in the course catalog.
PNP-AC Clinicals
Clinical hours are embedded across three progressive Pediatric Acute Care practicum courses, delivered in a hybrid format with periodic on-campus skills lab visits. Clinicals are preceptor-guided and available near the student’s home community. PALS certification must be held before the first population focus clinical course.
The PNP-AC scope spans emergency departments, hospitals, subspecialty clinics, intensive care units, and home settings.
- NURS 5500 – Pediatric Acute Care I Clinical (12.75 clinical hours/week equivalent)
- NURS 5600 – Pediatric Acute Care II Clinical (17 clinical hours/week equivalent)
- NURS 6690 – Pediatric Acute Care III Clinical (21.25 clinical hours/week equivalent)
- Clinical experiences are preceptor-guided and arranged near the student’s home community
- On-campus skills lab visits required for each clinical course
- PALS certification required before first clinical course
- ⚠️ Out-of-state students must confirm program availability in their state before applying
PNP-AC Admissions
Admission requirements are identical to the PNP-PC track, with one additional distinction: pediatric acute care, critical care, or emergency department experience is preferred (not merely required) for the two years of pediatric RN experience.
- Valid, unencumbered RN license
- BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program at a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA
- ⚠️ Two years of RN pediatric experience required at time of application; pediatric acute care, critical care, or ED experience preferred
- PALS certification required before first population focus clinical course
- Undergraduate research and statistics courses (grade of C or better)
- Personal statement/essay (maximum 500 words)
- Track-specific essay responses
- Three professional letters of reference
- Official BSN transcript plus all undergraduate transcripts
- Current curriculum vitae/resume
- TTUHSC SON Computer Literacy Test completed before applying
- Current BLS certification (AHA or American Red Cross)
- TOEFL iBT 84+ (speaking 26+, writing 27+) for non-native English speakers; F-1 and F-2 visa students not eligible
- Interview may be required upon invitation
- Criminal background check and immunization documentation required upon admission offer
- $175 non-refundable placement/orientation fee required upon accepting admission
- Fall deadline: February 15 | Spring deadline: August 1
Tuition
Graduate tuition at TTUHSC for the 2025–2026 academic year is composed of multiple components.
For Texas residents, per-credit tuition totals $280.18 (statutory $50 + board $50 + designated $180.18).
Per-credit fees add approximately $117.58 (IT fee $24.02 + education technology fee $75.00 + learning resources fee $18.56), with flat per-semester fees including a $400 Academic Department Assessment Fee, $132 Student Services Fee, $42.50 Health Screening Fee, and $17 annual Malpractice Insurance Fee.
Total estimated all-in cost is approximately $500 per credit hour for Texas residents.
For out-of-state students enrolled in a distance learning program, a flat rate of $589 per credit hour applies, plus per-credit IT ($24.02) and learning resource ($18.56) fees and flat semester fees.
Student health insurance is charged each term and may be waived with proof of qualifying coverage (up to $1,509 fall, $2,279 spring, $1,252 summer).
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate, master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduates of the MSN PNP-PC track are eligible to sit for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) exam and/or the ANCC exam. Graduates of the MSN PNP-AC track are eligible to sit for the PNCB Acute Care CPNP exam.
Research More PNP Programs in Texas
- Texas Woman's University - Denton
- University of Texas at Austin - Austin
- UT Health San Antonio - San Antonio
- University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington