Minnesota’s PNP-PC DNP is built for nurses who want a top-ranked terminal degree, school-arranged clinicals, and a specialty focus on children with complex health care needs.
The University of Minnesota offers 2 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care tracks:
- BSN-DNP PNP-PC
- Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-PC
Both tracks are delivered in a hybrid format combining online coursework with required on-campus sessions each semester.
What distinguishes Minnesota is the combination of a top-ranked DNP, school-managed clinical placements, and a formal CSHCN leadership emphasis — a depth of infrastructure and specialization that suits nurses who want more than a credential and are committed to complex pediatric practice at the highest level.
Compared to many PNP-PC programs, Minnesota places heavier emphasis on complex pediatric care systems, leadership training, and interdisciplinary practice.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP PNP-PC | ~$80K | 3 years |
| Post-Master’s Certificate PNP-PC | ~$32K | 2 years |
The DNP track is the primary entry point for BSN-prepared nurses and leads to a terminal practice degree; the certificate track allows credentialed DNP-holders to add a PNP-PC specialty without repeating core doctoral coursework. Either path positions graduates to sit for the CPNP-PC certification examination.
BSN-DNP PNP-PC
The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care at the University of Minnesota is approximately $80,000, and the program takes 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
DNP Curriculum
The BSN-DNP PNP-PC spans 78 total credits across three years and integrates DNP core coursework, APRN specialty preparation, and a three-semester DNP project sequence.
- Year one builds foundational science and theory — physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, health assessment, and evidence-based practice.
- Year two shifts to pediatric-specific clinical coursework, quality improvement, healthcare economics, and nursing informatics, alongside the DNP project planning phase.
- Year three is heavily clinical, focusing on common childhood conditions, complex pediatric practice, and children and youth with special health care needs (CSHCN), while students complete and disseminate their DNP project.
A required elective from the Center for Spirituality and Healing (CSPH) and the optional Disability Policy and Services course (EPSY 5666) round out the specialty focus.
- NURS 5222 – Advanced Human Physiology
- NURS 5226 – Advanced Human Pathophysiology
- NURS 5228 – Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NURS 5229 – Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics
- NURS 5200 – Holistic Health Assessment and Therapeutics for Advanced Practice Nurses
- NURS 6111 – Introduction to Diagnostic Reasoning
- NURS 6102 – Family Health Theory
- NURS 6518 – Introduction to APRN Pediatric Specialties & Professional Topics
- NURS 6519 – Advanced Pediatric Assessment
- NURS 6920 – Primary Care: Assessment of Health and Care of Well Children
- NURS 6921 – Well Children Primary Care Practicum (240 hrs)
- NURS 6922 – Primary Care: Assessment and Management of Common Conditions Affecting Children
- NURS 6923 – Primary Care Practicum: Common Conditions Affecting Children (240 hrs)
- NURS 6924 – Assessment and Interventions for Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs
- NURS 7100 – Quality Improvement and Implementation Science in Health Care
- NURS 7205 – Healthcare Economics and Finance in Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 5115 – Nursing Informatics and Digital Health Technologies
- NURS 7230 – Advanced Nursing for Public, Population, and Planetary Health
- NURS 7925 – Advanced Practice Care and Leadership in Health Systems for Complex Pediatric Practice Practicum (360 hrs)
- NURS 7926 – Advanced Practice Care and Leadership in Health Systems for Complex Pediatric Practice
- NURS 7610 – Nurses Leading Change and Innovation to Transform Healthcare
- NURS 7110 / 7111 / 7112 – DNP Project Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation/Dissemination
- NURS 7102 – Scholarly Dissemination in Advanced Nursing Practice
- EPSY 5666 – Disability Policy and Services (optional; required for CSHCN certificate)
- Statistics elective (3 credits)
- CSPH elective (3 credits)
More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.
DNP Clinicals
The DNP PNP-PC requires approximately 1,000 clinical hours — 840 direct patient care hours across three practicum courses, plus 500 hours of scholarly project and related clinical teaching activities. Clinical placements are arranged by the school; students are not required to find their own preceptors, though those located outside the Minneapolis/St. Paul area may be asked to suggest possible sites.
- NURS 6921: 240 hours — well-child primary care
- NURS 6923: 240 hours — common childhood conditions
- NURS 7925: 360 hours — complex pediatric practice and leadership
- Total direct care hours: 840
- Total program hours including scholarly project: 1,340
- Settings include children’s hospitals, primary care clinics, specialty clinics, schools, and community health settings
- Year three requires three full days per week of clinical; students working half-time or more during that semester should expect significant scheduling constraints
DNP Admissions
The DNP PNP-PC is open to BSN-prepared registered nurses; no master’s degree is required for the post-baccalaureate entry path.
- BSN, BAN, post-bacc certificate in nursing, or entry-level master of nursing required
- Current RN license
- Preferred undergraduate GPA: 3.0
- No GRE or GMAT required
- Interviews are by invitation only and not granted to all applicants
- Applications reviewed on a rolling basis after NursingCAS verification
- Applications verified by March 1 receive priority consideration for scholarships and graduate assistantships in year one
- Currently accepting applications under Full Admission Consideration status
- TOEFL minimum: 79 total (19 reading, 21 writing); IELTS minimum: 6.5
Post-Master’s Certificate PNP-PC
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care at the University of Minnesota is approximately $32,000, and the program takes 2 years to complete.
Certificate Curriculum
The PNP-PC post-graduate certificate totals 27 credits and is structured for nurses who already hold a DNP and APRN certification in another specialty. Coursework covers family health theory, pediatric health assessment, well-child primary care, management of common childhood conditions, special health care needs, and advanced complex pediatric practice.
An analysis of prior coursework is conducted at admission to determine whether any curriculum adjustments are warranted.
Completion of the optional EPSY 5666 course makes graduates eligible for a separate Disability Policy and Services Certificate from the Institute on Community Integration.
- NURS 6102 – Family Health Theory
- NURS 6518 – Introduction to APRN Pediatric Specialties & Professional Topics
- NURS 6519 – Foundations of Pediatric Health Assessment and Primary Care
- NURS 6920 – Primary Care: Assessment of Health and Care of Well Children
- NURS 6921 – Well Children Primary Care Practicum (240 hrs)
- NURS 6922 – Primary Care: Assessment and Management of Common Conditions Affecting Children
- NURS 6923 – Common Conditions Primary Care Practicum (240 hrs)
- NURS 6924 – Assessment and Interventions for Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs
- NURS 7925 – Complex Pediatric Practice Practicum (360 hrs)
- NURS 7926 – Advanced Practice Care and Leadership for Complex Pediatric Practice
- EPSY 5666 – Disability Policy and Services (optional)
More curriculum details available here.
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate program requires 840 total practicum hours distributed across three supervised clinical courses, mirroring the clinical requirements of the DNP PNP-PC specialty coursework.
- NURS 6921: 240 hours — well-child primary care
- NURS 6923: 240 hours — common conditions affecting children
- NURS 7925: 360 hours — complex pediatric practice and leadership
- Total practicum hours: 840
- Clinical placement support details are not fully specified for the certificate track on the official page; prospective students should contact the program directly
Certificate Admissions
Admission to the PNP-PC post-graduate certificate requires an existing DNP in a clinical nursing specialty area.
- Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in a clinical nursing specialty required
- Current RN license
- Preferred GPA: 3.0
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
- Two references: Admission Reference Form plus personal letter from two separate individuals
- Two personal essays
- Current CV or resume
- No GRE or GMAT required
- TOEFL minimum: 79 total; IELTS minimum: 6.5 (if applicable)
Tuition
The University of Minnesota charges $1,172 per credit for DNP and post-graduate certificate programs in nursing, with no distinction between resident and nonresident students. Enrollment of 9 or more credits per semester is capped at $10,548.
Teaching assistantship (TA) appointments are available to DNP students and can cover 30% to 100% of tuition depending on appointment percentage — a significant financial lever for students who qualify.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Minnesota is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The post-graduate certificate program in nursing is accredited by the same body. Graduates are eligible to sit for the CPNP-PC certification examination through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
Minnesota PNP Program Comparison
Minnesota currently has only two in-state Pediatric Nurse Practitioner pathways, and the differences between them are significant. The St. Catherine University PNP program emphasizes flexible scheduling and working-nurse accessibility, while the University of Minnesota leans more heavily into academic medical center training, specialty pediatric exposure, and interdisciplinary healthcare systems.