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 programs offer both acute and primary care PNP specialties, including dual programs where you can learn both specialties in a single program.

There are also accelerated MSN programs to get your degree more quickly, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs with pediatric specialties. A DNP may help lead to careers in nursing leadership and administration.

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.There are two main nursing school accreditation organizations: the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). These organizations ensure accredited programs are of high quality, meet nursing standards for professional licensure and accreditation, and have experienced faculty and staff to support student education and development.

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 college or university accredited by the CCNE and/or ACEN. Students will also need to send official transcripts and meet minimum GPA requirements, generally ranging from at least a 3.0 or 3.2 in the last 60 credit hours of the BSN program. There may also be course prerequisites, like completion of a statistics course.

Applicants typically will need an unencumbered, active RN license to be admitted into a PNP program, because the program will require clinical practice hours. A resume/CV, personal statement and letters of recommendation are also typically required.

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) exams, you’ll need at least 500 clinical practice hours, but the PNCB recommends at least 600 clinical hours for in-person and online pediatric acute care nurse practitioner programs.

Potential Salary and Jobs

The number of jobs for nurse practitioners is projected to grow 52% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports. The 2020 median nurse practitioner salary was $11,680 per year, the BLS reports.

Since PNPs work with patients up to young adults, 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 they may work 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 need to apply for state certification as a pediatric nurse practitioner or acute care pediatric nurse practitioner in the state where you want to work. 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 credentials, you can add them to your nursing title. They’ll need to be renewed every year through the board. You’ll also have to fulfill state 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 PNP programs: An accelerated nursing program condenses education into a shorter time frame for non-nursing degree holders. You may be able to complete the program in less than 18 months. This may be a good fit if you’re able to devote your schedule to school full time and can handle a more intense, condensed schedule, with the benefit of graduating earlier.
• 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. These programs include coursework similar to nursing coursework in a BSN program, as well as advanced nursing coursework you’d learn in a traditional online MSN program. Bridge programs typically have more credit hours and can be longer than traditional BSN-to-MSN programs, but they may enable you to earn a graduate degree without starting with an undergraduate degree in nursing.
• Post master’s certificates: If you already have an MSN but want to specialize in pediatrics nursing, there are certificates for post-master’s PNP online programs. These programs are shorter than traditional MSN programs and provide you with the knowledge and experience to sit for the PNCB exams to get credentialed.
• DNP PNP programs: A DNP, or Doctor of Nursing Practice, is the top practice-based nursing degree. DNP programs are longer than BSN-to-MSN programs. But, since you are learning more and are getting a higher-level degree, you may be able to pursue more advanced clinical nursing roles. These may include research-based nursing roles and leadership positions.

Scholarships for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Students

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

• AfterCollege/AACN $10,000 Scholarship Fund: This fund supports BSN, MSN and DNP students, including RN-to-MSN program and accelerated nursing program students.
• A Nurse I Am Scholarship: This annual scholarship is provided by Cherokee Uniforms to nursing students around the country. Some years, multiple winners have been selected.
• Elaine Gelman Student Scholarship: This $1,300 scholarship is awarded to nurse practitioner students who demonstrate academic achievement, pediatric healthcare advocacy and clinical competence.
• Foundation of the National Student Nurses Association Inc. General Scholarship: Scholarships of up to $7,500 per academic year are awarded to nursing students specializing in the nursing profession, such as in pediatrics.
• Society of Pediatric Nurses Scholarships: The Society of Pediatric Nurses presents two academic scholarships a year.