The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) in Baltimore prepares pediatric nurse practitioners only at the doctoral level, through six pathways across primary care and acute care:
- BSN to DNP – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- BSN to DNP – Acute Care, CPNP-AC
- MSN to DNP – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- MSN to DNP – Acute Care, CPNP-AC
- Postdoctoral Certificate – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- Postdoctoral Certificate – Acute Care, CPNP-AC
All six use a blended format: online classes (synchronous and asynchronous) combined with face-to-face instruction and in-person clinical work. Applicants need an active, unrestricted U.S. RN license from Maryland or a compact state. UMSON’s APRN specialties are approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing, and the school has not sought approval of them in other states.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (Resident) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP – PC | $77K | 3–5 yrs | 80 |
| BSN to DNP – AC | $77K | 3–5 yrs | 80 |
| MSN to DNP – PC or AC | $43K–$77K | 2–4 yrs (est.) | 45–80 |
| Cert – PC or AC | Up to $41K | About 2 yrs (est.) | Up to 43 |
Tuition estimates multiply the University of Maryland, Baltimore 2026-2027 School of Nursing graduate rate ($963 per credit resident) by each pathway’s published credit requirement and exclude fees; UMSON’s own four-year estimate for either pediatric DNP, fees included, is $95,796 resident.
UMSON runs pediatric primary care and pediatric acute care as two separate DNP specialties, and it arranges clinical placements for students rather than leaving them to recruit preceptors. The school places each student individually through its clinical partners, which include children’s hospitals in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Delaware. PNP students also share several clinical courses with the school’s neonatal NP students.
There is no MSN exit. A BSN-prepared nurse commits to an 80-credit doctorate, about $77,000 in resident tuition before fees, and three to five years of study. The shorter options serve narrower groups: the post-master’s DNP requires a master’s degree, and the postdoctoral certificate is open only to nurses who already hold a doctorate.
UMSON arranges pediatric placements for both its primary care and acute care tracks, but every route to the PNP credential at this school is doctoral.
Quick Facts
| Population Focus | Primary Care (CPNP-PC) or Acute Care (CPNP-AC), chosen as separate specialties in every pathway |
| Format | Blended: online classes plus face-to-face instruction and in-person clinicals |
| Clinical Hours | 1,085 for the DNP (810 clinical, 275 practicum), Summer 2027 entrants |
| Clinical Placement | Arranged by UMSON; partners include children’s hospitals in MD, DC, PA, and DE |
| RN Experience Required | Primary care: 2 years RN, 1 in pediatrics. Acute care: 2 years inpatient RN, 1 in pediatrics. NICU counts |
| Start Terms | DNP: summer (3- and 4-year plans) or fall (5-year plan). Certificate: fall or spring |
| Tuition | $963 per credit resident, $1,708 non-resident (2026-2027) |
| Accreditation | CCNE (DNP and post-graduate APRN certificates) |
Clinical Education
Both pediatric specialties follow the same placement model. UMSON describes it as an individual practicum matched to each student and tailored through its clinical partner network, which includes children’s hospitals in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Students do not find their own preceptors. Because the partner sites sit in the mid-Atlantic, expect clinical rotations within commuting distance of Baltimore rather than in your home community if you live farther away.
The pediatric clinical sequence runs six consecutive terms, Diagnosis and Management 1 through 6, and the third course in each specialty (NDNP 865 in primary care, NDNP 855 in acute care) carries a $650 DNP Skills Immersion Fee on the university fee schedule. Simulation work uses UMSON’s neonatal and pediatric high-fidelity models, including a Gaumard Super Tory infant simulator, in labs accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
General DNP Admissions
The BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP pathways share one application process. Specialty-specific work experience rules appear in each pathway section below.
- BSN from an ACEN-, CCNE-, or NLN CNEA-accredited program (or foreign equivalent) with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
- Active, unrestricted U.S. RN license
- Two recommendations, at least one from a supervisor
- Essay of no more than 350 words on how the degree will affect care of the population you plan to serve
- Resume or CV, official transcripts, and a $75 nonrefundable application fee
- On-campus interview for applicants who pass file review
- Summer/Fall 2027 cycle: application opened June 3, 2026; priority deadline November 1, 2026; interviews from January 2027; rolling review after November 2 until each specialty fills
The November 1 priority deadline matters more than most. Only applicants who apply by that date are considered for merit scholarships ($1,500 to $3,000 per semester) and receive priority for seats, and later applications are reviewed only while a specialty has space. Applicants not invited to interview do not advance. You may state a preferred plan of study, but DNP leadership sets the final plan and start term; a gap analysis of prior coursework can move an applicant from a summer four-year start to a fall five-year start.
DNP: Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The DNP Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty requires up to 80 credits, which at $963 per credit comes to about $77,040 in resident tuition before fees. Plans run three, four, or five years. It prepares graduates for the PNCB Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care exam (CPNP-PC), covering well-child care and the management of common acute and chronic pediatric conditions. Applicants need two years of RN experience, at least one of them in pediatrics or a NICU, before the first clinical course.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The program page and every plan of study total 80 credits, but UMSON’s DNP pathways page says the BSN route takes 80 to 93 credits depending on prior coursework. This page uses 80 because the plans of study sum to it course by course. The school also publishes two curricula: plans for students admitted Fall 2016 through Fall 2026 total 1,080 hours (855 direct patient care, 225 practicum), while plans for Summer 2027 and later total 1,085 (810 clinical, 275 practicum). Anyone applying now enters the Summer 2027 curriculum.
Primary Care Curriculum
The Summer 2027 curriculum divides into a 33-credit DNP core (policy, informatics, evidence, leadership, and a four-course DNP project sequence), an 11-credit APRN core, a 33-credit pediatric specialty sequence, and a 3-credit elective. In the three-year plan the pediatric clinical sequence starts in the second summer, after the advanced physiology, pharmacology, and health assessment courses; the four- and five-year plans front-load DNP core courses and push the clinical sequence later.
- NDNP 725: Advanced Pediatric Pathophysiology, Developmental Assessment and Health Promotion (2)
- NDNP 850: Diagnosis and Management 1: Introduction to Diagnostic Reasoning (3, including 45 lab hours)
- NDNP 852/853: Diagnosis and Management 2: Common Health Conditions, Episodic and Chronic, plus clinical (4 + 3, 135 hours)
- NDNP 864/865: Diagnosis and Management 3: Acute and Chronic Complex Conditions, plus clinical (4 + 3, 135 hours)
- NDNP 866/867: Diagnosis and Management 4: Integration of Multiple Health Problems and Complex Clinical Syndromes, plus clinical (2 + 3, 135 hours)
- NDNP 868: Diagnosis and Management 5: Professional Practice Immersion, clinical (4, 180 hours)
- NDNP 869: Diagnosis and Management 6: Integration of Practice and Leadership, clinical (5, 225 hours)
- NDNP 860: Transition into APRN Practice Roles (1)
Full plans of study for both curricula are on the program page.
Primary Care Clinical Requirements
- 1,085 total hours: 810 clinical hours in the pediatric sequence and 275 practicum hours in DNP core and project courses
- Clinical hours by course: 135 (D&M 2), 135 (D&M 3), 135 (D&M 4), 180 (D&M 5), 225 (D&M 6)
- Placement arranged by UMSON through its partner network
At 810 clinical hours, the primary care track sits above the usual 600-750 range for a single-population PNP program and well above the 500-hour certification floor. The load climbs through the sequence, from 135 hours per term in the first three clinical courses to 225 hours in the final term.
DNP: Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The DNP Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty carries the same 80 credits, about $77,040 in resident tuition before fees, and the same three-, four-, and five-year plans as the primary care track. It prepares graduates for the PNCB Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care exam (CPNP-AC) and for care of children with acute, complex, critical, and chronic illness. The entry gate is stricter: applicants need two years of inpatient RN experience, at least one of them in pediatrics or a NICU, before the first clinical course. Outpatient-only pediatric experience does not meet it.
The credit conflict (80 versus 80 to 93) and the curriculum change for Summer 2027 entrants described in the primary care section apply here as well.
Acute Care Curriculum
The DNP core, APRN core, NDNP 725, and the first two Diagnosis and Management courses are shared with primary care. The tracks split at Diagnosis and Management 3, where acute care students move into their own course numbers for complex conditions, integration of multiple health problems, and the two final immersion terms.
- NDNP 850 and NDNP 852/853: Diagnosis and Management 1 and 2, shared with primary care
- NDNP 854/855: Diagnosis and Management 3: Acute and Chronic Complex Conditions, plus clinical (4 + 3, 135 hours)
- NDNP 856/857: Diagnosis and Management 4: Integration of Multiple Health Problems and Complex Clinical Syndromes, plus clinical (2 + 3, 135 hours)
- NDNP 858: Diagnosis and Management 5: Professional Practice Immersion, clinical (4, 180 hours)
- NDNP 859: Diagnosis and Management 6: Integration of Practice and Leadership, clinical (5, 225 hours)
Full plans of study are on the program page.
Acute Care Clinical Requirements
- 1,085 total hours: 810 clinical and 275 practicum, the same totals as primary care
- $650 DNP Skills Immersion Fee attached to NDNP 855
- Placement arranged by UMSON through its partner network
UMSON does not name specific required acute care settings such as PICU or pediatric emergency rotations. The inpatient experience requirement is the practical difference between the two tracks for most applicants: a pediatric clinic nurse qualifies for primary care but not acute care.
Post-Master’s DNP with Specialty (Primary Care or Acute Care)
Nurses with a master’s degree in nursing, or a related master’s such as an MBA, MPA, or MPH used in an advanced nursing role, can enter either pediatric specialty through the Post-Master’s DNP with Specialty. It requires 45 to 80 credits set by a gap analysis at admission, which works out to roughly $43,335 to $77,040 in resident tuition. It prepares for CPNP-PC or CPNP-AC depending on the specialty chosen, and the specialty’s RN experience requirement applies. Admissions follow the general DNP process above, with a master’s degree in place of the BSN.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The Summer 2027 post-master’s requirements on each pediatric program page give 45 to 80 credits. The requirements for students admitted through Fall 2026 give 48 to 80, and the DNP pathways page gives 48 to 93. This page uses 45 to 80 because it is the newest statement and applies to current applicants.
- DNP core of 33 credits and 275 practicum hours; at most two courses may transfer in
- APRN core of 11 credits, which may be waived
- Pediatric specialty core of up to 33 credits and 810 clinical hours, with a 12-credit minimum
- 1,085 total clinical and practicum hours; up to 500 may come from a prior advanced practice program, and at least 585 must be completed at UMSON
The two-to-four-year duration is an estimate: the six-term pediatric clinical sequence alone takes two years, and a student needing the full APRN core and DNP core would approach the BSN plan’s length. A nurse who is already a certified PNP and wants only the doctorate would use UMSON’s separate DNP Post-Master’s Option (from 37 credits), which does not add a specialty.
Postdoctoral Certificate (Primary Care or Acute Care)
The postdoctoral certificate lets a nurse who already holds a doctorate add pediatric primary care (CPNP-PC) or pediatric acute care (CPNP-AC). The full course listing is 43 credits, about $41,409 in resident tuition, and prior coursework can lower it. Only applicants with both a graduate degree in nursing and a doctorate (DNP, PhD, EdD, or similar) are reviewed; nurses with a master’s alone must use the post-master’s DNP instead.
A published conflict worth knowing about. Both pediatric program pages list the certificate at 43 credits and 990 clinical hours, but the clinical courses in the same listing add up to 855 hours (90, 135, 135, 90, 180, and 225). The DNP pathways page gives a 13 to 62 credit range across all specialties. This page uses UMSON’s 43-credit, 990-hour figures as the full requirement and notes the itemized 855-hour sum.
- Advanced physiology and pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment (10 credits combined), unless prior coursework covers them
- NDNP 725 plus Diagnosis and Management 1 through 6 with clinicals; the acute care certificate uses the NDNP 854-859 sequence and primary care uses NDNP 864-869
- Pre-Application Assessment form with transcripts and syllabi, used to build an individualized plan and recommend a start term
- Active RN license from Maryland or a compact state, two recommendations, a 350-word essay, and a $75 application fee; selected applicants are interviewed
- Fall entry: priority November 1, final July 31. Spring entry: priority October 1, final November 15
The two-year duration is an estimate based on the six consecutive terms of the Diagnosis and Management sequence; students who need the three foundation courses first would add at least a term.
Tuition
For 2026-2027, the University of Maryland, Baltimore charges School of Nursing graduate and certificate students $963 per credit as residents and $1,708 per credit as non-residents. The pediatric program pages still show $926 and $1,643, the prior year’s rates. This page uses the newer bursar figures. On an 80-credit DNP, the difference is $2,960 for a resident and $5,200 for a non-resident.
UMSON’s own tuition page, built on 2026-2027 figures and a four-year plan, puts total tuition and fees for either pediatric DNP at $95,796 resident and $155,396 non-resident. Those totals imply about $18,756 in fees over four years (est.), the gap between UMSON’s total and 80 credits at the resident rate.
| Pathway | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP – PC or AC (80 credits) | $77,040 | $136,640 |
| MSN to DNP – PC or AC (45–80 credits) | $43,335–$77,040 | $76,860–$136,640 |
| Postdoctoral Certificate (up to 43 credits) | Up to $41,409 | Up to $73,444 |
Calculated from the 2026-2027 per-credit rates and published credit requirements; tuition only, not university-published totals.
Fees Beyond Tuition
- Clinical and Simulation Lab Fee, DNP with specialty: $85 per credit hour
- DNP Skills Immersion Fee: $650, charged with NDNP 865 (primary care) or NDNP 855 (acute care)
- Clinical/Practicum Management Fee: $35
- School of Nursing fees each semester: $159 nursing infrastructure, $250 curriculum technology, $55 academic and career success, $15 accident insurance, $5 malpractice insurance
- University fees each semester: campus center infrastructure up to $675, student services up to $166.50, technology up to $60, shuttle $47.25-$94.50, plus $61 in activities and government fees
- One-time: $100 DNP technology fee and $55 matriculation fee in the first semester
- Student health insurance: $2,686 fall and $2,642 spring for full-time students (9+ credits) without equivalent coverage
Merit scholarships of $1,500 to $3,000 per semester go only to applicants who meet the November 1 priority deadline. Nurses at the University of Maryland Medical Center should also check UMSON’s tuition remission program. See the official tuition and fees page and the DNP cost of attendance.
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best suited for: pediatric or NICU nurses in the Baltimore-Washington region who want a doctorate and would rather have the school arrange their pediatric placements.
A Choice Between Two Pediatric Populations
Primary care and acute care are separate specialties with their own course sequences from the third clinical course onward, and both are available through the BSN, post-master’s, and postdoctoral routes. The acute care track requires inpatient experience, so the choice is partly made by your RN background.
School-Arranged Placements
UMSON matches each student to a practicum through its partner network, including children’s hospitals in four jurisdictions. For a working nurse, that removes the search for pediatric preceptors, which students in self-placement programs must handle on their own.
Three Paces for Working Nurses
About 45% of students choose the five-year plan, which is built for full-time employment, and about half choose the four-year plan with part-time work. The three-year plan assumes no outside job and weekday availability. The school sets the final plan after review.
Drawbacks to Weigh
- No MSN option: BSN-prepared nurses must complete the 80-credit DNP
- Clinical placements and face-to-face instruction assume regular access to Baltimore and mid-Atlantic partner sites
- APRN approval is held only in Maryland, which matters if you plan to practice elsewhere
- Non-resident tuition of about $136,640 before fees for the BSN to DNP
The Verdict
Maryland residents with pediatric or NICU experience have the strongest case: resident tuition, school-arranged placements, and a real choice between primary care and acute care. Nurses with inpatient pediatric experience who want CPNP-AC at the doctoral level have a clear route here. Nurses who want a master’s-level PNP, who live outside commuting range of Baltimore, or who would pay non-resident rates should compare other programs.
Accreditation
UMSON’s DNP program and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the University of Maryland, Baltimore is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The DNP APRN specialties are approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing; UMSON has not sought approval in other states, so anyone planning to practice outside Maryland should check that state’s board rules.
Graduates of the primary care track are prepared for the PNCB CPNP-PC exam and acute care graduates for the PNCB CPNP-AC exam. UMSON reports an 83% pass rate for its 2024 graduates in each pediatric specialty. See the accreditation page.
Review More PNP Options In Maryland
- Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore