How to Become a Pediatric Nurse – Career Guide

Pathways to Becoming a Pediatric Nurse

Some undergraduate nursing programs include coursework focused on the care of children, such as the child health nursing courses in the CSU Fullerton and Michigan State University BSN curricula. Nursing careers can range from unlicensed assistive personnel to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), who are educated at a master’s or post-master’s level according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Graduate options include a Master of Science in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

There are several online nursing programs you can take while pursuing a career as a pediatric nurse. Below are some paths to become a pediatric nurse.

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

As undergraduate degrees, associate degrees in nursing programs can be completed in two to three years, according to NANN. Students who graduate with an ADN may be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam, depending on state licensure requirements; eligibility is determined by the nursing regulatory body where you apply, according to the NCLEX registration steps.

Course titles vary by school. Examples of foundational ADN classes, several of which appear in programs such as Wallace Community College’s ADN curriculum, may include:

• Behavioral Health
• Chemistry
• Communications
• English
• Foundations in Nursing
• Microbiology

Earning an ADN degree may be a good way to get core knowledge and clinical skills to begin your pediatric nursing career.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN)

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree may help you continue your education and build on the knowledge gained from an ADN degree. You may also apply straight to BSN programs instead of pursuing the ADN pathway. BSN nurses may be given more responsibilities in the workplace and may be able to pursue direct-care and managerial roles in specialty fields. In fact, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) advocates for BSN-educated RNs.

Course titles vary by school. Examples of courses and prerequisites in BSN programs, several of which appear at CSU Fullerton and Michigan State University, may include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Emergency Care
• Family, Community and Population-Based Care
• Health Assessment
• Microbiology
• Nursing Ethics
• Nursing Research
• Nursing Theory
• Statistics

RN to BSN

As an RN, gaining more knowledge and clinical skills may ultimately help improve your practice and help advance your career. RN-to-BSN programs can be pursued online, which gives you the flexibility to complete your studies while you work. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, these programs serve diploma- and ADN-prepared nurses, and many are offered at least partially online.

Course titles vary by school. Examples of topics covered in RN-to-BSN programs, several of which appear in curricula such as Indiana University’s, CSU Dominguez Hills’ and North Carolina Wesleyan University’s, may include:

• Community health nursing
• Concepts in nurse leadership
• Cultural competence in nursing
• Evidence-based practice
• Healthcare informatics
• Human nutrition

An RN-to-BSN degree may also be a stepping-stone to graduate nursing study. APRNs are educated at a master’s or post-master’s level, according to the NCSBN, and states vary in how they have adopted APRN regulatory standards, so check with your state board of nursing.

Should I Become a Pediatric Nurse?

Pediatric nurses comfort and care for children. If you have a heart built for helping children and making them feel comfortable, you might consider becoming a pediatric nurse.

The Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) publishes pediatric core competencies that describe the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to begin practice in a pediatric acute care setting. Its Pediatric Residency Core Competencies, Second Edition (2024) are organized into five domains:

• Engagement
• Values
• Principles
• Care Delivery
• Continuous Improvement

Becoming a pediatric nurse may be considered a career choice for those who meet or exceed these competencies while providing care and education for children and their families.

Salary

The median annual wage for registered nurses in the United States was $97,550 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The 10th percentile annual wage was $68,940 and the 90th percentile annual wage was $137,470. These national figures cover all registered nurses, not pediatric nurses specifically. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, U.S. registered nurses.

Nursing salaries also vary by location.

Roles and Responsibilities

Pediatric nurses serve as a child’s health advocate, letting them and their families know about preventive care, current health and treatment needed. They also may help develop individualized home healthcare plans.

According to the CPN role outlined by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB), CPNs may do the following, depending on their specific role:

• Assess, analyze, plan and implement nursing interventions
• Evaluate patient and population outcomes
• Educate students and nurses in the pediatric specialty
• Conduct research about patient outcomes or professional issues
• Manage, supervise or lead teams of pediatric nurses

Skills

To earn the CPN credential, nurses must demonstrate mastery of content in four areas, according to the PNCB:

• Physical and Psychosocial/Family Assessment
• Health Promotion
• Management of Illness/Clinical Problems
• Professional Role

Pediatric Nurse Certifications

Nursing certification demonstrates you have advanced skill and knowledge. Below are two certifications pediatric nurses can pursue. Information on these certifications was last retrieved from the certifying organizations in September 2026. For the most up-to-date information, check with each organization.

Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)

The CPN certification is offered by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). Information below on the CPN certification was last retrieved in September 2026. For the most up-to-date information, check with the PNCB.

Eligibility requirements (PNCB lists additional conditions on its certification steps page):

• A current, valid, unrestricted and unencumbered RN license in the United States, Canada, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands or the U.S. Virgin Islands at the time of application
• A minimum of 1,800 hours of pediatric clinical experience within the past 24 months as an RN, or
• If you cannot meet the 1,800-hour requirement, a minimum of five years as an RN in pediatric nursing and 3,000 hours in pediatric nursing within the last five years, with a minimum of 1,000 hours within the past 24 months
• Pediatric nursing experience in U.S. or Canadian facilities; international practice experience is accepted if you hold an active, current, unencumbered U.S. RN license
• Completion of PNCB’s free Ethics in Testing module before you apply, with an attestation of completion on the application

Source: PNCB CPN certification steps.

Fees:

• $309 for the exam (includes a $103 nonrefundable registration fee)
• $45 discount on the initial exam for members of the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN)
• $252 for re-examination
• $134 for exam extension

Source: PNCB CPN certification steps. PNCB states that all fees are subject to change without notice.

Renewal:

• The CPN certification must be renewed annually. PNCB’s recertification window runs from November 1 to January 31 each year, and a late fee applies if you recertify in February.
• To recertify, you must complete 15 contact hours or PNCB-accepted equivalents each year.

Pediatric Nurse – Board Certified (PED-BC)

The PED-BC certification is offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Passing the exam earns the credential Pediatric Nurse – Board Certified (PED-BC). Information below on the PED-BC certification was last retrieved in September 2026. For the most up-to-date information, check with the ANCC.

Program status: As of an April 2026 update on the ANCC’s website, the Pediatric Nursing (PED-BC) certification program is transitioning to renewal only. The ANCC will accept applications through December 31, 2026, and testing will be available through December 31, 2027. After December 31, 2027, exams will be retired. Nurses who are actively certified as of January 1, 2028, may continue to renew their credentials.

Eligibility requirements:

• Current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States, or the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country
• Registered nurse for the equivalent of two years full-time
• Clinical practice of at least 2,000 hours in the specialty area of pediatric nursing within the last three years
• 30 hours of continuing education in pediatric nursing within the last three years

Fees:

• $295 for American Nurses Association members
• $340 for members of the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN)
• $395 for non-members

Renewal:

• PED-BC certification renewal is required every five years. Renewal costs $350 for non-members, as low as $250 for American Nurses Association members or $295 for members of the Society of Pediatric Nurses.

Source for ANCC program status, eligibility, fees and renewal: ANCC Pediatric Nursing Certification (PED-BC).

Pediatric Nurse Resources

Here are some resources for pediatric nurses, from certification and professional groups to specialty associations.

• American Nurses Credentialing Center: This group, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, certifies and recognizes nurses in specialty practice areas.
• American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association: This association provides advocacy, collaboration, mentorship and leadership for pediatric surgical nurses.
• Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners: This group is for nursing educators who teach in pediatric, family and school nurse practitioner programs.
• Association of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Nurses: For nurses caring for children with gastrointestinal disorders.
• Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses: Support for nurses working with children, adolescents and young adults with cancer and blood disorders.
• National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners: A professional association for pediatric nurse practitioners and pediatric-focused registered nurses.
• Pediatric Endocrine Society: Dedicated to the research and treatment of children with a variety of endocrine disorders.
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board: This board provides certifications and continuing education in pediatric nursing.
• Society of Pediatric Cardiovascular Nurses: An international organization for nurses seeking more knowledge and expertise in the treatment of children and young adults with heart disease.
• Society of Pediatric Nurses: Offers professional development, community engagement, education and practice resources.

Related Nursing Careers

Pediatric nurses may choose to move on to other types of nursing careers. Both in-person and online programs can help you along your nursing career path. Here are some related nursing careers you may consider pursuing:

• Certified Nurse Midwife: As a certified nurse midwife (CNM), you provide care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, along with sexual and reproductive health, gynecologic health and family planning services, and primary care from adolescence throughout the lifespan, according to the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Research online CNM programs if this career interests you.
• Family Nurse Practitioner: Family nurse practitioners deliver family-focused care; the American Association of Nurse Practitioners recognizes family/individual across the lifespan as a nurse practitioner population focus. If you’d like to become an FNP, you may look into in-person and online FNP programs.
• Labor and Delivery Nurse: LDNs work in perinatal nursing, which the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) describes as holistic, family-centered care for women, birthing people and their newborns during the preconception, antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods.
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse: NICU nurses work with newborns who have conditions such as prematurity, birth defects, infection, cardiac malformations and surgical problems, according to NANN.
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner: Neonatal nurse practitioners specialize in the care of newborn infants, working with physicians and nursing staff to provide critical care in the NICU, according to NANN. If becoming this type of nurse practitioner interests you, you may want to learn more about online nurse practitioner programs.
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: PNPs provide primary and acute care for children from birth through the transition to adult care, according to the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner: WHNPs provide obstetrical, gynecological and primary care to women in inpatient and outpatient settings, according to the National Certification Corporation.

There are a few basic questions many ask when considering a career as a pediatric nurse. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions—and answers—for pediatric nurse candidates.