Wayne State is the only Michigan nursing school offering both primary care and acute care PNP tracks at the MSN and DNP level, with program-coordinated clinical placements that remove the preceptor search burden entirely.
Wayne State University offers 6 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MSN PNP-PC (Primary Care) — 47 credits, 2–3 years
- MSN PNP-AC (Acute Care) — 47 credits, 2–3 years
- BSN-DNP PNP-PC — 73 credits, 3–4 years
- BSN-DNP PNP-AC — 73 credits, 3–4 years
- Post-MSN DNP PNP (NP certified) — 38 credits
- Graduate Certificate PNP-AC or PNP-PC — 24 credits, 1 year (cross-certification only)
All programs are delivered on campus or via synchronous online format — students select one modality at program start and stay in it.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition (In-State) | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN PNP-PC | ~$53,400 | 2–3 years |
| MSN PNP-AC | ~$53,400 | 2–3 years |
| BSN-DNP PNP-PC or PNP-AC | ~$82,900 | 3–4 years |
| Post-MSN DNP (NP certified) | ~$43,200 | Not clearly stated |
| Grad Certificate PNP-AC (for PNP-PC certified) | ~$27,300 | 1 year |
| Grad Certificate PNP-PC (for PNP-AC certified) | ~$27,300 | 1 year |
The combination of dual PNP specialty tracks, a terminal degree pathway, and program-managed clinical placements makes Wayne State the most structurally comprehensive PNP option among Michigan’s public nursing programs. The one-year pediatric work experience prerequisite before clinical courses applies to all PNP tracks.
MSN PNP — Primary Care
The estimated cost for the MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care at Wayne State University is approximately $53,400 for Michigan residents (47 credits at $1,136.03/credit). The program takes about 2 years full-time or 3 years part-time to complete.
MSN Curriculum
The 47-credit MSN PNP-PC combines 12 credits of master’s core coursework, 7 credits of supporting cognates, and 28 credits of clinical sequence courses. The curriculum emphasizes well-child care, developmental screening, anticipatory guidance, and management of common and complex conditions across birth through adolescence.
Master’s core courses (12 cr.):
- NUR 6510: Health Economics, Policy, and Professional Issues for APNs (3 cr.)
- NUR 7000: Statistics in Nursing (3 cr.)
- NUR 7105: Theoretical Foundations for Nursing (3 cr.)
- NUR 8625: Evidence-Based Nursing Practice: Theoretical & Methodological Issues (3 cr.)
Supporting cognates (7 cr.):
- NUR 7444: Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (4 cr.)
- NUR 7207: Advanced Pediatric Pharmacology (3 cr.)
Clinical course sequence (28 cr.):
- NUR 7030: Advanced Nursing Assessment (4 cr.)
- NUR 7670: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management I — Didactic (4 cr.)
- NUR 7675: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management I — Clinical (4 cr.)
- NUR 7680: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management II — Didactic (3 cr.)
- NUR 7685: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management II — Clinical (5 cr.)
- NUR 7690: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management III — Didactic (2 cr.)
- NUR 7695: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management III — Clinical (6 cr.)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN PNP-PC uses three paired didactic-clinical course sequences that progressively build primary care skills across pediatric populations from birth through adolescence. Clinical placements are coordinated by the College of Nursing’s Specialty Coordinators and Graduate Clinical Placement Coordinator — students are not responsible for sourcing their own preceptors.
- Three sequential clinical courses (NUR 7675, 7685, 7695) carrying 4, 5, and 6 clinical credits respectively
- Total clinical credit hours: 15 cr. of clinical coursework across three sequences
- Population focus: infants, children, and adolescents in primary care, specialty, and community settings
- Program-managed placement: coordinator-led; burden removed from student
- Prerequisite: one full-time year of RN experience in a pediatric setting required before clinical sequence begins
MSN Admissions
Admissions are competitive and require a pediatric work experience prerequisite in addition to standard nursing school requirements; all qualified applicants are interviewed. Applications are free — contact the College of Nursing for a waiver code.
- BSN from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- One year of full-time direct care experience in a pediatric setting (required before clinical sequence)
- Current Michigan RN license (out-of-state applicants must obtain MI license within 2 semesters)
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Resume or CV
- Personal statement of goals (~2 pages)
- Two professional letters of recommendation (on company letterhead with credentials)
- Application via NursingCAS (free — request waiver code from gradnursing@wayne.edu)
- 30-minute Zoom interview required for all qualified applicants
- Admission deadline: August 1 (fall); December 1 (winter)
- International applicants: CGFNS certification and TOEFL/IELTS required (minimum TOEFL 101; IELTS 7.0+)
MSN PNP — Acute Care
The estimated cost for the MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care at Wayne State University is approximately $53,400 for Michigan residents (47 credits at $1,136.03/credit), and the program takes about 2 years full-time or 3 years part-time to complete.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN PNP-AC is also 47 credits and shares the same master’s core and cognate structure as the PNP-PC, but the clinical sequence is specific to acute, critical, and emergent pediatric care in hospital, ICU, and emergency settings.
Master’s core and cognate courses are identical to the PNP-PC track above. Clinical course sequence (28 cr.):
- NUR 7030: Advanced Nursing Assessment (4 cr.)
- NUR 7920: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management I — Didactic (4 cr.)
- NUR 7925: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management I — Clinical (4 cr.)
- NUR 7930: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management II — Didactic (3 cr.)
- NUR 7935: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management II — Clinical (5 cr.)
- NUR 7940: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management III — Didactic (2 cr.)
- NUR 7945: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management III — Clinical (6 cr.)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
Clinical sequences for the PNP-AC focus on acute, critical, and emergent pediatric environments including hospitals, ICUs, emergency departments, and specialty clinics. Placements are program-coordinated.
- Three sequential clinical courses (NUR 7925, 7935, 7945) carrying 4, 5, and 6 clinical credits
- Population focus: children and adolescents with complex acute, critical, and life-threatening conditions
- Settings: hospitals, ICUs, emergency departments, specialty clinics
- Program-managed placement: coordinator-led
- Prerequisite: one year of full-time in-hospital pediatric RN experience required before clinical sequence (increasing to 1.5 years for Fall 2027 admissions)
MSN Admissions
Admissions requirements are identical to the PNP-PC MSN track, with in-hospital pediatric experience specifically required (not just any pediatric setting).
- BSN from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program, minimum 3.0 GPA
- One year of full-time in-hospital pediatric experience (note: increasing to 1.5 years for Fall 2027 admissions)
- Current Michigan RN license
- Official transcripts, resume/CV, personal statement (~2 pages), two professional letters of recommendation
- Application via NursingCAS (free — request waiver code)
- 30-minute Zoom interview required
- Admission deadline: August 1 (fall); December 1 (winter)
DNP PNP
The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Wayne State University is approximately $82,900 for Michigan residents (73 credits at $1,136.03/credit).
The program takes about 3 years full-time or 4 years part-time to complete.
The post-MSN DNP for currently NP-certified nurses is approximately $43,200 (38 credits); post-MSN for those without NP certification requires a gap analysis to determine total credits.
DNP Curriculum
The BSN-DNP builds a terminal degree in three layers: 26 credits of DNP core coursework, 7 credits of supportive APRN courses, 28 credits of specialty clinical sequence (identical to the MSN clinical sequence for the chosen specialty), and 12 credits of DNP project practicum. Both PNP-PC and PNP-AC specialty tracks are available at the DNP level. Post-MSN NP-certified students complete only the DNP core and project practicum courses (38 credits).
DNP core courses (26 cr.):
- NUR 8210: Determinants of Health (3 cr.)
- NUR 8615: Informatics in Nursing (3 cr.)
- NUR 8620: Foundations of Nursing as a Discipline (3 cr.) — must pass with B- or higher to progress
- NUR 8625: Evidence-Based Nursing Practice: Theoretical & Methodological Issues (3 cr.)
- NUR 8650: Advanced Professional Leadership (3 cr.)
- NUR 8653: Healthcare Analytic Methods, Data Management, Evaluation, and Outcomes (4 cr.)
- NUR 8665: Health Policy, Economics, Ethics and Evaluation in Advanced Practice Nursing (4 cr.)
- NUR 8895: Population Health in Nursing (3 cr.)
DNP project practicum courses (12 cr.):
- NUR 9508: DNP Project Proposal Development Practicum I (4 cr.)
- NUR 9510: DNP Project Practicum III (4 cr.)
- NUR 9520: DNP Project (4 cr.)
Supporting and clinical courses are identical to the MSN PNP-PC or PNP-AC course sequence above, depending on specialty chosen. NUR 7000 Statistics in Nursing (3 cr.) is a prerequisite if not already completed.
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinicals
Clinical requirements for the BSN-DNP mirror those of the corresponding MSN specialty track, with the addition of DNP project practicum hours. Placements are program-coordinated across all DNP pathways.
- Clinical course sequence: 28 credits (three specialty didactic-clinical dyads), same courses as MSN specialty track
- DNP project practicum: 12 additional credits of practice-focused scholarly work
- Population focus varies by specialty: pediatric primary care or pediatric acute/critical care
- Prerequisite: one year of full-time pediatric RN experience before clinical sequence (1.5 years for PNP-AC starting Fall 2027)
- Time limit: 7 years to complete all DNP requirements
DNP Admissions
DNP admissions require a BSN (for BSN-DNP) or MSN with national NP certification (for post-MSN path II) and follow the same application process as the MSN, with one additional requirement for post-MSN applicants.
- BSN from ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program, minimum 3.0 GPA (for BSN-DNP)
- Post-MSN applicants: MSN plus current national NP certification in area of specialization (for Path II); gap analysis determines additional requirements (for Path III without NP certification)
- Current Michigan RN license
- Official transcripts from all institutions
- Resume or CV
- Personal goal statement (~2 pages)
- Two professional letters of recommendation (one doctoral-prepared reference preferred)
- Application via NursingCAS (free — request waiver code)
- 30-minute Zoom interview required
- Admission deadline: August 1 (fall only — DNP admits fall semester only)
- Graduate statistics prerequisite (NUR 7000, 3 cr.) must be completed in the first semester if not already taken
Graduate Certificate PNP
The estimated cost for the Graduate Certificate in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care or Primary Care at Wayne State University is approximately $27,300 for Michigan residents (24 credits at $1,136.03/credit), and each certificate is designed to be completed in one calendar year.
Important: These are cross-certification programs, not standard post-master’s certificates. The PNP-AC certificate is for currently PNP-PC certified nurses adding acute care credentials. The PNP-PC certificate is for currently PNP-AC certified nurses adding primary care credentials. Applicants must hold an active PNP certification in the opposite specialty to be eligible.
Certificate Curriculum
Each certificate is 24 credits of specialty-specific didactic and clinical courses taken in sequence — no transfer credit is accepted. The PNP-AC certificate uses the acute care clinical sequence; the PNP-PC certificate uses the primary care sequence. Both require completion within 3 years of admission and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
PNP-AC Certificate courses (24 cr.):
- NUR 7920: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management I — Didactic (4 cr.)
- NUR 7925: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management I — Clinical (4 cr.)
- NUR 7930: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management II — Didactic (3 cr.)
- NUR 7935: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management II — Clinical (5 cr.)
- NUR 7940: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management III — Didactic (2 cr.)
- NUR 7945: PNP-AC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management III — Clinical (6 cr.)
PNP-PC Certificate courses (24 cr.):
- NUR 7670: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management I — Didactic (4 cr.)
- NUR 7675: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management I — Clinical (4 cr.)
- NUR 7680: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management II — Didactic (3 cr.)
- NUR 7685: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management II — Clinical (5 cr.)
- NUR 7690: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management III — Didactic (2 cr.)
- NUR 7695: PNP-PC Pathophysiology, Clinical Care & Management III — Clinical (6 cr.)
More curriculum details are available here (PNP-AC) and here (PNP-PC).
Certificate Clinicals
Both certificates require 675 clinical hours in the respective specialty — higher than what is required for the MSN specialty tracks — reflecting the cross-certification expectation that students are adding a full new scope of competency.
- Minimum 675 clinical hours in the certificate’s specialty area
- PNP-AC certificate: acute and critical care pediatric settings
- PNP-PC certificate: primary care, specialty clinics, and community environments
- Clinical experiences are tailored to meet the needs of each individual certificate student
- Program-managed placement: coordinator-led, same model as degree programs
Certificate Admissions
Admission requires an active graduate nursing degree and current PNP certification in the opposite specialty; these are not entry-level or post-BSN programs.
- MSN or DNP from a nationally accredited nursing program, minimum 3.0 GPA
- Current PNP certification in the opposite specialty (PNP-PC cert required for AC certificate; PNP-AC cert required for PC certificate)
- Current Michigan RN license
- Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions
- Resume or CV
- Personal goal statement (~2 pages)
- Two professional letters of recommendation (at least one doctorally prepared reference preferred)
- Application via NursingCAS (free — request waiver code)
- 30-minute Zoom interview required
- Admission deadline: August 1 (fall only)
- Note: GAP analysis may identify additional prerequisite courses, increasing total credits and time
- Certificate must be completed within 3 years of admission
Tuition
Wayne State College of Nursing charges $1,136.03 per credit hour for Michigan residents and $2,106.97 per credit hour for non-residents at the graduate level — applicable to MSN, DNP, and graduate certificate programs alike.
Additional fees include a registration fee of $288.58 per semester and a student service fee of $46.41 per credit hour. No flat-rate tuition structure applies to graduate students; all charges are assessed per credit.
Tuition estimates above are based on credit hour rates only and do not include per-semester or per-credit fees.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
Wayne State University’s College of Nursing MSN and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The university holds regional institutional accreditation. Graduates of all PNP specialty tracks are eligible to sit for national certification examinations through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
Explore More Michigan Pediatric NP Programs
Wayne State offers the broadest Pediatric Nurse Practitioner lineup in Michigan, especially for nurses interested in acute care pediatrics, DNP pathways, or program-managed clinical placements.
You may also want to compare:
- University of Michigan Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs — a nationally ranked online MSN option with cohort-based learning and periodic Ann Arbor intensives.
- Spring Arbor University Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs — a flexible online program with RN-to-MSN bridge access and one of the lower tuition ranges among Michigan PNP programs.
You can also review all Michigan Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs for statewide comparisons of online availability, tuition, and certification pathways.