Skip to main content

Master's Degree

RN to PNP Online Program
Accelerate from ADN to PNP

Calendar

CLASSES START
May 6th

28 Mo.

Program Length

64

Credits

Online

Format

630 Hrs

Clinicals

Master's Degree

RN to PNP Online Program
Accelerate from ADN to PNP

Go from RN to MSN – Pediatric NP with Herzing University

AccreditationCCNE accredited,1Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Choose your pathChoose our Accelerated RN to MSN curriculum, or stop for a BSN on the way (RN to BSN to MSN)
Format100% online coursework with hands-on clinical practicum experience
Paying for schoolScholarships and financial aid available for those who qualify; transfer credit from prior college coursework to reduce cost and time
Our pledgeWe pledge your clinical placement!
QuickPathsTransfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University
Nurse Practitioner Smiling Holding Laughing Infant
US News Best Graduate Nursing Programs 2024

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2024

RN to MSN - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
US News Best Graduate Nursing Programs 2024

Overview: Accelerated RN to MSN-PNP

The RN to MSN – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degree pathway is a 64-credit graduate program which prepares you for a career as a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner. The degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in leadership and management, community and public health nursing, healthcare of infants, children, and adolescents, and much more.

SVG
Career-focused curriculum

Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.

SVG
Flexible schedule

We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.

SVG
Virtual services

Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.

SVG
Lifelong support

We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.

SVG
Rolling admissions

No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.

Classes Start May 6th

Learn More Today

Curriculum

RN to MSN-PNP courses & curriculum details

All didactic lecture-style courses are delivered 100% online. You will also be required to complete 630 clinical practicum hours.

You may also elect to earn a bachelor’s degree on the way as part of an RN to BSN to MSN pathway, which combines our RN to BSN (12 months) and MSN-PNP (24 months) programs. Please contact admissions for more details.

ProgramMonthsiCredits
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Accelerated RN-MSN (MSNPNPA)2864

i. Average number of months for students to complete program.

Required Bridge Courses

All courses, 16.00 semester credit hours, are required prior to completing graduate level coursework.

Required Core Courses

All courses, 15.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Required Direct Care Courses

All courses, 9.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Required Specialty Courses

All courses, 24.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Clinical Proficiency Exam

The following courses are 0.00 semester credit hours associated with the policy outlined above. Students are required to take as co-requisite courses along with NU 611, NU 664, or NU 671, depending on the program of study. NSG 0600 - Clinical Proficiency Exam Semester Credit Hours: 0.00 NSG 0600R - Clinical Proficiency Remediation Course (if needed) Semester Credit Hours: 0.00

Tuition & Cost

Tuition & Cost

The cost of tuition for the RN to MSN-PNP program is $735 per credit.

You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.

Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.

Find my estimate

 Scholarships & Financial Aid

You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants—including our Nurses Circle of Achievement scholarship, which offers up to 10% tuition reduction.

Find scholarships and grants 

 Military/Veteran Discounts

Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.

VA/Military benefits 

Requirements

Admissions requirements

Enrollment requirements are the same whether you choose the Accelerated RN to MSN-PNP or RN to BSN to MSN-PNP track. Prerequisites include:

  • Live in a state where Herzing University is authorized to offer the RN to MSN program
  • Hold a current, active and unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the same state in which they practice
  • Hold an associate degree (ADN/ASN/AASN) in nursing from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university
  • Participate in an interview to identify your goals and determine if the program is right for you

Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District Of Columbia.

MSN Clinical Placement Pledge Herzing Badge

Your clinical placement is our pledge.

We understand securing clinical placement as part of an Accelerated RN to MSN-PNP program is one of the biggest concerns students face. At Herzing, we offer guidance and support through our step-by-step Clinical Guidance Process to ensure you can get the clinical practice experiences you need.

As a Herzing student, we’ll encourage you to find your own preceptor and clinical sites as there are many benefits to doing so. However, we provide extensive support should you find difficulty along the way. With Herzing, you are never on your own.

Because of our strong relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S. and our comprehensive Clinical Guidance Process, we are confident in our ability to help you find clinical placement. So much so that if you are unable to find a clinical site on your own, we pledge to step in and help you secure clinical placement.*

* Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the enrollment documents.

Waived Enrollment Fee

Now Through March 31st

Possibilities

Make your impact as nurse practitioner

You can greatly expand your scope of practice and find your calling in the pediatric specialty as a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Our curriculum emphasizes primary care skills to prepare you to become a primary caregiver and form long, meaningful relationships with your patients—from infancy through adolescence and even beyond.

The program equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to sit for the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (CPNP-PC) certification exam from the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).

Job outlook

 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners earn an average salary of $124,680 per year ($59.94 per hour).*

Employment of nurse practitioners is expected to rise 45% from 2022-2032, much faster than the average across all occupations.

Begin earning a master’s degree and prepare to join one of the fastest-growing careers in the United States.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

While there are many different types of nurses who work with the pediatric patient population, there are two specific types of pediatric nurse practitioners: primary care pediatric NPs (PNP-PC) and acute care pediatric NPs (PNP-AC).

The PNCB Pediatric Nursing Demographic Report, published in December 2022, states there were 20,254 certified CPNP-PC professionals and 4,419 certified CPNP-AC professionals. Most CPNP-PCs work in private practice, while most CPNP-ACs work in inpatient treatment at children’s hospitals.

Working with kids can be incredibly rewarding—particularly for primary care pediatric NPs who can help their patients have a healthy childhood and grow from infancy, through adolescence, and into adulthood.

Even within pediatrics alone you’ll encounter great patient diversity in the age range from birth to roughly 21 years old. Every day will bring new challenges with young people at different stages of development and health issues for you to solve.

Kids are fun!—and some of the most determined, impressive patients you’ll ever work with.

Advancing to nurse practitioner allows you to expand your skillset and potentially earn greater autonomy in your work. While both types of nurses work with the pediatric patient population, most of the differences relate to the general difference between the RN and NP roles.

A few of the biggest differences between RN and NPs include:

  • Nurse practitioners can act as a primary care provider, and can potentially spend more time with patients and build longer-term relationships
  • Nurse practitioners can prescribe medications
  • Nurse practitioners can diagnose patients and write treatment plans
  • Nurse practitioners may enjoy a greater work/life balance, as they may have more control over their working schedule

Current RNs can potentially become a pediatric nurse practitioner in 2-3 years.

  • Associate degree RNs can complete our Accelerated RN to MSN-PNP program in as few as 28 months
  • Bachelor’s degree RNs can earn an MSN-PNP in as few as 24 months, or 2 years
  • Master's degree RNs can earn a post master's certificate in as few as 20 months

For those who have yet to become an RN, you’ll need additional time to first earn an associatebachelor’s, or master's degree in nursing before pursuing an MSN.

The primary difference between pediatric nurse practitioners and family nurse practitioners is the patient population. Pediatric NPs focus their care on only pediatric patients, while FNPs provide care across the lifespan, including adults and elderly patients.

If you are also interested in treating older patients—and not only children—you may choose to work towards becoming a family nurse practitioner.

The biggest step to becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner is to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in a PNP concentration. The basic steps include:

  1. Understand the role of a PNP
  2. Become an RN (if you aren’t already)
  3. Choose primary or acute care
  4. Enroll in an MSN program
  5. Get certified
  6. Meet all state requirements
  7. Find your first PNP job

This will depend largely on the board of nursing stipulations in your state. In some instances, it may be permissible for PNPs to see patients past the 18-21 age range who are typically transitioning from pediatric to adult care.

A pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) is a specialized Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who cares for newborns, infants, toddlers, adolescents, and young adults.

Because their patients range in age from infants to young adults, PNPs work with both the patient and their family to provide the right resources and care, including education and emotional support.

Learn more about the general roles and responsibilities of pediatric nurse practitioners.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners across all specialties earn an average salary of $124,680 per year ($59.94 per hour).* Average pay can vary based on many different factors including prior experience, type of medical institution, state of employment, and much more.

Locations

Program Finder

RN to MSN - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Degree Programs

Showing 1 program for the Online campus

On Campus| Online

To learn more about this program, click the Request Info button to the right.

Request Information

Ready to get started?

Contact us to request more information

Opt-In to Receive SMS Messages

By selecting this button you agree to receive updates and alerts from Herzing University. Text HELP to 85109 for help, Text STOP to 85109 to end. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. By opting in, I authorize Herzing University to deliver SMS messages and I understand that I am not required to opt in as a condition of enrollment. By leaving this box unchecked you will not be opted in for SMS messages. Click to read Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Choose your NP pathway

Choose your NP pathway

Considering all of your options for nurse practitioner specialties?

Herzing University offers multiple nurse practitioner programs for current nurses holding an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree in nursing.

Our goal is to help you walk your career path no matter where you are, or where you want to go.

Explore Herzing NP programs

Disclosures

Disclosures & Accreditation

1. The master's degree program in nursing at Herzing University - Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.

Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

View Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals

* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.

Request Information
Ready to get started?

Contact us to request more information

Opt-In to Receive SMS Messages

By selecting this button you agree to receive updates and alerts from Herzing University. Text HELP to 85109 for help, Text STOP to 85109 to end. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. By opting in, I authorize Herzing University to deliver SMS messages and I understand that I am not required to opt in as a condition of enrollment. By leaving this box unchecked you will not be opted in for SMS messages. Click to read Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Herzing Tuition Wizard

When do you want to start classes?

The program has an automatic transfer of credits, and allows you to transfer up to additional credits.

  Transfer Credits

The program allows you to transfer up to credits.

  Transfer Credits

The program allows you to transfer up to credit hours.

  Transfer Credit Hours
RN to MSN - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Online Campus
Tuition
Cost per Credit$735.00
Base Tuition$47,040.00
Savings from Transfer Credits (9 x $735.00 )(-$6,615.00)
Estimated Tuition Cost*$40,425.00
Fees
One-time Program Fee$0.00
Per-semester Program Fee$750.00
Per-semester Learner Resource Fee$530.00
Estimated Total Fee*$7,680.00
Total Semesters 1
RequiredNeeded
66
Total Credits
RequiredNeeded
6455
Estimated Cost 2
Base CostYour Cost
$54,720.00$48,105.00
Estimated Savings*
$6,615.00

Questions?

Reach out to a member of the Financial Aid team at the Online campus:

1 

Actual semesters to complete are dependent upon university approved transfer credits and program mapping.

2 

Estimated program length, estimated number of semesters, and estimated program shown above are standard by program for each student based on: a student taking a full-time course load each semester, the student not having any transfer credits (from previous Herzing experiences or from other post-secondary institutions), and successful completion of each course.

Current tuition rates for all programs are effective through the Summer 2024 semester.