UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing offers two Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Post-Graduate Certificate
Both programs are hybrid, requiring regular in-person attendance in San Antonio alongside online coursework. The BSN-DNP is designed to be completed in 32 months (3-year plan) or extended on a 4-year part-time plan.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (TX Resident) | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP PNP-PC | $30,248 resident | 3 years full-time / 4 years part-time |
| Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-PC | $11,144 resident | ~2 years (5 semesters) |
The Post-Graduate Certificate is structured over 5 semesters for MSN-prepared APRNs seeking PNP-PC specialization. UT Health San Antonio is best suited for Texas-based nurses who want guaranteed clinical placement, access to a large regional health system, and competitive in-state tuition at the doctoral level.
BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice – PNP-PC
The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP PNP-PC at UT Health San Antonio is approximately $30,248 for Texas residents or ~$83,676 for non-residents (76 credits × $398/$1,101 per credit). T
he program would take approximately 3 years full-time (9 semesters) or 4 years part-time (15 semesters) to complete.
The program requires a minimum of 1,080 total clinical/practicum hours (810 advanced practice clinical hours + 270 DNP project hours).
DNP Curriculum
The BSN-DNP PNP-PC totals 76 semester credit hours organized across DNP leadership core courses, APRN prerequisite courses (the “3 Ps” plus health assessment), PNP-PC specialty didactic and clinical courses, and a four-course DNP project sequence.
The PNP specialty sequence builds through three levels of pediatric primary care diagnosis and management (Theory 1, 2, and 3) with concurrent clinical application courses and seminars, plus an advanced practice role transition course.
Clinical hours for students entering Fall 2025 and later are calculated at 1:6 (90 clinical hours per credit hour for clinical courses).
Year 1 — DNP Core and Prerequisites (3-year plan, 29 cr.):
Fall 1 (11 cr.):
NURS 7302 – Leadership in Healthcare
Focuses on leadership, organizational development, quality, safety, and interprofessional collaboration in healthcare systems.
NURS 6229 – Foundations of Scholarly Communication
Refines scholarly communication abilities (partial match from file).
NURS 6380 – Epidemiology & Statistical Methods in Population Health
Applies statistical/epidemiological methods to health data for population outcomes.
NURS 6315 – Informatics & Health Care Technologies
Optimizes ICT for clinical leadership, quality metrics, and stakeholder engagement.
Spring 1 (10 cr.):
NURS 7303 – Knowledge Translation: Searching, Appraising and Synthesizing Evidence
Appraises evidence for EBP, addressing knowledge-practice gaps.
NURS 7320 – Statistical Process Control and Quality Improvement Methods
Uses stats/QI analytics for outcome evaluation and visualization.
NURS 6430 – Advanced Pathophysiology
Covers pathophysiological processes across lifespan with clinical reasoning.
Summer 1 (8 cr.):
NURS 6250 – Advanced Health Promotion and Population Health
Analyzes theories/epidemiology for health promotion strategies and equity.
NURS 6302 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
Develops safe, evidence-based pharmacologic prescribing across lifespan.
NURS 7304 – Knowledge Translation: Designing and Implementing Evidence-Based Interventions
Designs/implements EBP interventions for quality/safety.
Year 2 — Health Assessment, DNP Project, and PNP-PC Specialty Begins
Fall 2 (11 cr. / 90 DNP project hrs + 90 lab hrs):
NURS 7415 – Health Systems Policy, Economics, and Financial Planning
Applies economics/policy to healthcare improvements (combined match).
NURS 6321 – Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning: Didactic
Builds advanced assessment/reasoning across lifespan.
NURS 6121 – Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning: Clinical Application
Applies comprehensive health assessment/differential diagnosis.
NURS 7328 – DNP Project Problem Identification and Evidence Synthesis
Develops DNP project proposal with literature/theory.
Spring 2 (10 cr. / 90 DNP project hrs + 90 lab hrs):
NURS 6421 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management: Concepts & Theory 1
Theory foundation for PNP primary care competencies in assessment/management.
NURS 7211 – DNP Project Plan and Implementation
Implements/evaluates DNP project in clinical immersion.
NURS 6144 – Special Population Pharmacology: Applied Pediatric Pharmacology
Builds PNP prescription skills for pediatric conditions.
NURS 6141 – PNP-PC Clinical Skills/Clinical Prep/Coding
Lab science for PNP diagnostic testing/procedures.
Summer 2 (9 cr. / 90 DNP project hrs + 180 clinical hrs):
NURS 6422 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management: Concepts & Theory 2
Hybrid theory builds PNP skills for pediatric primary care partnerships.
NURS 7212 – DNP Project Evaluation (Part of NURS 7306 progression)
Continued DNP project evaluation.
NURS 6124 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management: Clinical Seminar 1
Reflects PNP primary care knowledge via clinical synthesis/presentations.
NURS 6424 – PNP Clinical 1
Applies PNP theory to pediatric primary care experiences.
Year 3 — PNP-PC Clinical Progression and Program Completion (17 cr.):
Fall 3 (10 cr. / 270 clinical hrs):
NURS 6224 – PNP-PC Diagnosis & Management: Concepts & Theory 3
Advances PNP competencies in pediatric primary care via case-based learning.
NURS 6125 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management Clinical Seminar 2
Advances PNP skills in pediatric primary care through mentoring.
NURS 6425 – PNP Clinical 2
Advanced clinical for PNP pediatric health promotion/chronic care.
NURS 7307 – DNP Project Dissemination
Disseminates DNP outcomes via writing/presentations.
Spring 3 (7 cr. / 360 clinical hrs):
NURS 6130 – Advanced Practice Nurse Role and Transition to Practice
Explores NP competencies, leadership, and quality improvement.
NURS 6324 – PNP Clinical 3
Integrates PNP theory for pediatric health promotion/illness management.
NURS TBD – PNP Clinical Seminar 3
Continued PNP clinical reflection.
View more curriculum details in the course catalog.
DNP Clinicals
Students complete a minimum of 1,080 total clinical/practicum hours — 810 advanced practice clinical hours and 270 DNP project hours. UT Health San Antonio guarantees clinical placement and arranges all clinical rotations through its network of more than 400 clinical affiliates. Students do not need to self-arrange preceptors.
Clinical hours use a 1:6 ratio for students entering Fall 2025 and later (90 clinical hours per clinical credit hour).
- NURS 6121 – Advanced Health Assessment Clinical Application (90 lab hrs)
- NURS TBD – PNP-PC Clinical Skills/Coding Lab (90 lab hrs)
- NURS TBD – PNP Clinical 1 (180 clinical hrs)
- NURS TBD – PNP Clinical 2 (270 clinical hrs)
- NURS TBD – PNP Clinical 3 (360 clinical hrs)
- NURS 7328 – DNP Project Problem Identification (90 project hrs)
- NURS 7211 – DNP Project Plan and Implementation (90 project hrs)
- NURS 7212 – DNP Project Evaluation (90 project hrs)
- Total: 1,080 clinical/practicum hours minimum
- All clinical placements are within Texas; students must be licensed in Texas or a compact state
DNP Admissions
Admission requires a BSN, one year of RN clinical experience, and completion of an embedded online interview within NursingCAS. The program is competitive and holistic; a completed application requires both a NursingCAS application and a $45 School of Nursing supplemental fee.
- BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program (ACEN, NLNAC, or CCNE)
- Minimum 3.0 GPA from last 60 hours of college coursework
- RN licensure in Texas or a compact state with multistate privileges
- Minimum 1 year (2,000 hours) of RN clinical experience — must be documented on resume; resume uploaded to NursingCAS
- Three professional references (submitted via NursingCAS)
- Interview — embedded online interview within NursingCAS application
- Admission essay
- NursingCAS application + $45 non-refundable School of Nursing application fee
- Official transcripts from all attended post-secondary institutions submitted to NursingCAS
- Current BLS for Healthcare Providers (American Heart Association)
- Current required immunizations and proof of health insurance
- Clear criminal background check
- TOEFL (minimum 550 paper / 250 computer-based / 68 internet-based) or IELTS (minimum 6.5) for international applicants
- International transcripts must be evaluated by an accredited foreign credential service
- Minimum B grade required in all fundamental APRN courses; minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA required for retention
- Fall entry only | Application deadline: April 1
Post-Graduate Certificate – PNP-PC
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-PC at UT Health San Antonio is approximately $11,144 for Texas residents or ~$30,828 for non-residents based on the published minimum of 28 credits (28 × $398/$1,101 per credit).
It would take approximately 2 years (5 semesters) to complete.
Actual credit hours are determined on a case-by-case basis after admission, so total cost may vary. The program is available to MSN-prepared, currently licensed APRNs who wish to obtain PNP-PC specialty certification.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-PC requires a minimum of 28 semester credit hours. The curriculum is the PNP-PC specialty sequence only — students must have already completed graduate-level Advanced Health Assessment (with didactic and clinical), Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology with a grade of B or better as prerequisites.
The specialty sequence spans 5 semesters across two academic years, building from theory courses through three levels of clinical application.
Year 1 — Specialty Theory (12 cr.):
Spring 1:
- NURS 6421 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management: Concepts & Theory 1 (4 cr.)
- NURS 6144 – Special Population Pharmacology: Applied Pediatric Pharmacology (1 cr.)
- NURS 6141 – PNP-PC Clinical Skills and Laboratory Science (1 cr.)
Summer 1:
- NURS 6422 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management: Concepts & Theory 2 (4 cr.)
- NURS 6250 – Advanced Health Promotion and Population Health (2 cr.)
Year 2 — Clinical Applications (16 cr. / 660 clinical hrs):
Fall 2:
- NURS 6224 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management: Concepts & Theory 3 (2 cr.)
- NURS 6424 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management: Clinical Application 1 (4 cr. / 240 clinical hrs)
- NURS 6124 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management: Clinical Seminar 1 (1 cr.)
Spring 2:
- NURS 6130 – Nurse Practitioner Conceptual Basis for Advanced Practice Nursing (1 cr.)
- NURS 6425 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management: Clinical Application 2 (4 cr. / 240 clinical hrs)
- NURS 6125 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management Clinical Seminar 2 (1 cr.)
Summer 2:
- NURS 6324 – PNP-PC Diagnosis and Management: Clinical Application 3 (3 cr. / 180 clinical hrs)
View more curriculum details in the course catalog.
Certificate Clinicals
Certificate students complete 660 supervised clinical hours across three clinical application courses. As with the BSN-DNP track, UT Health San Antonio arranges all clinical placements through its network of 400+ affiliates — guaranteed placement is extended to certificate students as well. All clinicals must be conducted within Texas.
- NURS 6424 – PNP-PC Clinical Application 1 (240 hrs)
- NURS 6425 – PNP-PC Clinical Application 2 (240 hrs)
- NURS 6324 – PNP-PC Clinical Application 3 (180 hrs)
- Total: 660 clinical hours
- Clinical placements guaranteed and arranged by the program
- All clinical experiences must be conducted in Texas; APRN licensure in Texas or a compact state required
Certificate Admissions
Certificate admission requires an MSN, current APRN licensure, and completion of the three graduate-level prerequisite courses (the “3 Ps”) with a grade of B or better. Certificate programs admit for the Spring semester for APRN tracks.
- MSN from a CCNE-, ACEN-, or NLNAC-accredited school of nursing
- Current APRN licensure in Texas or a compact state with multistate privileges
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in previous graduate studies
- Completion of graduate-level Advanced Health Assessment (with didactic and clinical), Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology — grade of B or better in each; Pharmacology must be current (completed no more than 6 years before anticipated certificate completion)
- Three professional references (submitted via NursingCAS)
- Interview and writing sample completed through Kira Talent (embedded within NursingCAS)
- NursingCAS application + $45 non-refundable School of Nursing application fee
- Official transcripts from all attended post-secondary institutions
- Professional goal statement/essay (submitted via Supplemental Application, not NursingCAS)
- Current resume or CV
- Current BLS for Healthcare Providers (American Heart Association)
- Current required immunizations and proof of health insurance
- Clear criminal background check
- TOEFL or IELTS for international applicants
- Minimum B in all fundamental APRN courses; minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA required; no more than one grade of C permitted; no incomplete grades at graduation
- Spring entry for APRN tracks | Application deadline: August 1
Tuition
Graduate tuition at UT Health San Antonio is assessed per credit hour at a published resident rate of $398 per credit hour (statutory $50 + differential $100 + designated $46 + designated deregulated $202) and $1,101 per credit hour for non-residents.
In addition to tuition, fees are assessed each semester — for the BSN-DNP program, fees total approximately $3,160 per fall and spring semester and $2,921 per summer term, including a $1,022 Clinical Skills fee, $1,266 Academic Advising fee, and smaller charges for library, computer use, liability insurance, fitness center, student services, and portfolio.
A one-time $120 LINC Fee applies in the first term. Health insurance is charged separately each term and may be waived with qualifying coverage.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduates of both the BSN-DNP PNP-PC and Post-Graduate Certificate PNP-PC tracks are eligible to sit for national certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
All graduates may apply for Texas APRN licensure upon passing their respective certification examinations.
Continue Reviewing Texas PNP Programs
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- University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington