Choose the Best Online Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Programs for You

Choosing an Online School for Your PNP Program

With so many PNP online choices, it helps to compare programs to ensure what you choose matches with your career goals. Consider the following factors and talk with each school’s admissions department to find a program that aligns with your objectives.

Your Goals

There are a variety of pathways to becoming a PNP. Some schools offer both acute and primary care PNP specialties, including dual programs that combine both in a single program; program structure and length vary by school, so confirm specifics with the admissions office.

Other options include accelerated MSN programs and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs with a pediatric specialty. Per the PNCB, both master’s- and DNP-prepared graduates of a qualifying program are eligible for national PNP certification — a DNP isn’t required for clinical practice, though it may also open pathways into nursing leadership, administration or research.

Think about what type of career responsibilities you want, what pediatric nursing area you want to specialize in and how long you want to be in school.

Program Accreditation

Nursing school accreditation is a process schools go through to meet national standards of academic quality. State licensure boards may require that you complete a nursing program from an accredited school before awarding you a license. Common accreditors include the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); the PNCB also accepts graduates of programs accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). Accreditation affects your eligibility for state licensure and national certification exams.

Program Length

How long you’re willing to be in school will influence the online pediatric nurse practitioner program you choose. If you want to space out your schooling, you might consider part-time programs. If you want to complete your education at a faster pace, look into accelerated or full-time programs.

Admission Requirements

Most online PNP programs require at least a BSN degree from a school accredited by an organization such as CCNE, ACEN or NLN CNEA. GPA requirements, course prerequisites and other admission criteria vary by school — confirm specifics with each program’s admissions department.

Applicants typically need an unencumbered, active RN license to be admitted, since the program will require clinical practice hours, along with materials like official transcripts, a resume/CV, a personal statement and letters of recommendation; exact requirements vary by school. Separately, the PNCB requires an active RN license and a qualifying accredited graduate degree or postgraduate certificate to sit for the national certification exam.

Clinical Hours Experience

Most online pediatric NP programs require completion of clinical practice hours before graduation. These hours ensure a student has practiced pediatric nursing in a real-world environment under professional academic supervision, so they can get the necessary feedback.

Schools will have various clinical practice hour requirements. To sit for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) CPNP-PC exam, you’ll need a minimum of 500 supervised direct-care clinical practice hours in primary care pediatrics.

Potential Salary and Jobs

The median annual wage for nurse practitioners nationwide was $132,300 as of May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Nurse practitioner pay varies widely by experience, setting and location: the BLS reports the highest-paid 10% of nurse practitioners nationwide earned $174,420 or more per year in the same period.

PNPs work with patients from birth through young adulthood; the exact age range a PNP treats is set by that practitioner’s state board of nursing, not a fixed national cutoff, per PNCB’s age-parameters guidance. There’s variety in the PNP career field: PNPs may work as primary care specialists performing wellness exams and providing medical care in NP offices, or in hospitals or emergency treatment centers as acute care specialists. PNPs may also work in community healthcare clinics and surgical centers. Nursing salaries vary based on your work setting.

Certifications and Licenses

Once you’ve graduated from PNP school, you’ll pursue two distinct things: national certification as a pediatric nurse practitioner or acute care pediatric nurse practitioner, and separately, advanced-practice licensure or certification from the board of nursing in the state where you want to work. PNCB certification is a national credential; your authority to practice as an APRN is governed by your state board, and terminology and requirements vary by state — Maryland, for example, separately requires an RN license, graduate nursing education and national certification. You’ll likely already have a registered nurse license, since that’s a typical requirement for PNP school. Note, however, that nursing licensure by state varies. You may be able to work as an entry-level RN in pediatrics without certification, but certification may be able to help you advance your career.

The PNCB offers the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (CPNP-PC) credential and the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care (CPNP-AC) credential. Once you’ve achieved one or both of these national credentials, you can add them to your nursing title. According to the PNCB, CPNP-PC recertification is annual, between November 1 and January 31. You’ll also need to fulfill your state’s nursing licensing requirements to stay active.

Additional Nursing Programs

In addition to traditional MSN degrees from an on-campus or online nurse practitioner program to become a PNP, there are other online nursing programs that may fit your experience and/or desired school experience. These include:

• Accelerated nursing programs: An accelerated nursing program condenses prelicensure nursing education for those who already hold a non-nursing degree. These lead to an initial nursing credential rather than a PNP specialization; length and structure vary by school.
• Bridge programs (RN to MSN): If you don’t yet have a BSN but you’re working as an RN, you might consider an RN-to-MSN online program with a pediatric nurse practitioner focus, combining BSN- and MSN-level coursework. Length and credit-hour requirements vary by school.
• Post-master’s certificates: If you already have an MSN but want to specialize in pediatrics, some schools offer post-master’s certificates for PNP study; length varies by school. Per the PNCB, graduates of a qualifying certificate program are eligible for PNP certification exams.
• DNP PNP programs: A DNP, or Doctor of Nursing Practice, is the top practice-based nursing degree. DNP programs generally involve more coursework than an MSN and can take longer; length varies by school. DNP graduates are prepared for advanced clinical practice and may also pursue leadership, administration or research roles.

Scholarships for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Students

There are various nursing financial aid opportunities for future PNPs. Here are some scholarships for PNP students:

• A Nurse I Am Scholarship: Provided by Cherokee Uniforms, this scholarship awards multiple nursing students funds toward their education each year; the 2026 application window has closed, but the program typically runs annually — check the site for the next cycle.
• NAPNAP Foundation DNP/PhD Student Scholarship: This $5,000 scholarship supports pediatric-focused doctoral nursing students who meet the foundation’s GPA and graduation-timeline criteria; the 2026 application window has closed — check the site for the next cycle.
• Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) Conference Scholarship: PNCB and SPN jointly offer this award for eligible certified pediatric nurses attending the SPN annual conference. It isn’t a general PNP-student scholarship, and its 2026 application window has closed.