Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) Programs
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP)?
In the United states nurse practitioners are also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). There are several NP specialty programs to choose from. Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioners (PPCNP) provide ongoing primary care for infants, children, and adolescents. PPCNPs focus on health promotion, disease prevention, well-child exams, vaccinations, and management of common childhood illnesses. They build long-term relationships with families, supporting growth, development, and overall wellness in outpatient and community settings.
In many U.S. states, PPCNPs practice independently, which expands access to care in both urban and rural areas. However, the scope of practice can vary depending on the state. For example, some states are considered full practice, allowing PPCNPs to operate independently, while others are reduced or restricted practice, requiring physician supervision or collaboration.
Where do Pediatric Primary Care NPs work?
A variety of settings, and this varies by state of course. Some examples include:
Outpatient clinics
Primary care practices
School-based health clinics
Home health agencies
How do I become a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner?
If you are thinking of becoming an PPCNP, I highly recommend reading this post on different pathways to become an NP. After getting a BSN, you need to become a registered nurse. From there, gain as much experience as possible. If you decide to pursue an PPCNP degree, most programs will mandate you have pediatric experience - so it’s important to look ahead to the future to ensure your RN experience is relevant for any future NP program. There are many different degree pathways to become an NP. Here is a visual representation of what your journey may look like:
PPCNP Curriculum
Each program consists of a combination of clinical and non-clinical course work, plus clinical placements. Here is an example of the University of Florida College of Nursing BSN-DNP curriculum (snap shot - you can see the DNP programs also include leadership based courses):
Theory and Research for Advance Nursing Practice
Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
Health Promotion
Applied Statistical Analysis
Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Nursing Practice
Research Methods and Evidence Based Practice
Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning
Health Systems Leadership
Nursing Informatics & Information Management
Advanced Pediatric Procedures and Diagnostics
Advanced Pediatric Pharmacology
Leading Quality Improvement Practice
Health Policy & Finance in Advanced Nursing Practice
Ready to kick-start your NP journey? NP Reasoning curates the top guideline updates, clinical approaches & diagnostic pearls to help you make confident decisions with your patients.
👉 Sign me up.
Becoming a PPCNP - Different Tracks to Choose: MSN, post-masters certificate, and DNP
In the United states, there are several PPCNP programs. But first, it’s important to define some terms:
BSN: bachelor's of nursing science (undergraduate degree)
MSN: masters of nursing science (masters graduate degree)
MN-NP: combined maters + nurse practitioner degree (masters graduate degree)
DNP: doctor of nursing science (some schools offer with an NP specialty) (doctoral graduate degree)
Post-masters certification: an additional certification (like an NP speciality) someone gets after completing a masters of nursing degree
When applying for a PPCNP program, there are 4 tracks offered. Not all universities offer every track:
Master of Science in Nursing with an NP specialty (MN-NP or MSN)
Post-masters NP (sometimes referred to as post-masters certificate)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN-DNP) with an NP specialty
Masters of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN-DNP) with an NP specialty
Let’s break these down:
MN-NP programs: these are for students who do not have a master’s degree in nursing. Courses are a blend of masters & clinical courses, to prepare you to become an NP.
Post-masters programs: you require a master’s degree in nursing to apply for a post-masters program. Programs focus on core NP clinical courses to prepare you to become an NP.
BSN-DNP with an NP specialty: This is an advanced, doctoral-level nursing program for Registered Nurses (RNs) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who want to become a specialized Nurse Practitioner (NP). These programs are typically longer e.g. 3-4 years.
MSN-DNP with an NP specialty: This is an advanced, doctoral-level nursing program for Registered Nurses (RNs) with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) who want to become a specialized Nurse Practitioner (NP). These programs are typically longer e.g. 3-4 years.
The path you choose will be unique to you. Personally, I pursued an MSN in nursing, then went on to do a post-masters certificate. Some people decide to go right from a BSN degree to a doctoral level NP program (DNP), designed for hands-on clinical practice and leadership, with an emphasis on translating research and evidence into improved patient outcomes (this is different from a PhD in nursing). Now let’s get into different program offerings across key states.
Most programs offer part and full time options.
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) Programs- there’s lots to choose from!
While several states offer PPCNP programs, I will focus on the following states that offer several program options: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) Programs California
| University | Program Tracks | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Azusa Pacific University | MSN, post-masters | |
| California State University, Long Beach | BSN-DNP | |
| Loma Linda University | BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| San Diego State University | BSN/MSN-DNP | In Person |
| University of California, Los Angeles | BSN-DNP | In Person |
| University of California, San Francisco | BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| University of San Diego | MSN, BSN-DNP dual family/gerontology | In Person |
| West Coast University - Orange County | MSN, post-masters | Online |
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) Programs Florida
| University | Program Tracks | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Florida International University | MSN, post-masters, BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| University of Miami | MSN | In Person |
| University of Florida | BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Florida Atlantic University | MSN | |
| University of Central Florida | BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| University of South Florida | MSN, BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| The University of Tampa | MSN, post-masters | Hybrid |
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) Programs Illinois
| University | Program Tracks | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Bradley University | MSN, post-masters, BSN-DNP | Online |
| Rush University | BSN-DNP | Online |
| University of Illinois Chicago | BSN/MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| DePaul University | BSN/MSN-DNP | Online |
| Loyola University Chicago | Post-masters, BSN/MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| St. Anthony College of Nursing | MSN, MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Chamberlain University | MSN | Online |
| Lewis University | MSN, BSN/MSN-DNP | Online |
| North Park University | MSN, post-masters | Online |
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) Programs New York
| University | Program Tracks | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain University | MSN | Online |
| NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing | MSN, post-masters | In Person |
| University of Rochester School of Nursing | MSN | Online |
| University of Buffalo - The State University of New York | BSN/MSN-DNP | Online |
| PACE University, NYC & Westchester | MSN | Hybrid |
| St John Fisher University | MSN | In Person |
| Stony Brook University, SUNY | MSN, post-masters, MSN-DNP | Online |
| Molloy University | MSN, post-masters, BSN/MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Binghamton University | MSN, BSN/MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Hunter College | MSN, BSN/MSN-DNP | In Person |
| Mount St. Mary College | MSN, post-masters | Hybrid |
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) Programs Ohio
| University | Program Tracks | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Kent State University | BSN/MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Ohio State University | BSN-DNP | Online |
| University of Cincinnati | MSN | Online |
| Ursuline College | MSN, post-masters | Hybrid |
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) Programs Pennsylvania
| University | Program Tracks | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson University | MSN, post-masters | Online |
| Drexel University | MSN, post-masters | Online |
| University of Pennsylvania | MSN | Hybrid |
| University of Pittsburgh | BSN-DNP | Online |
| La Salle University | MSN | Online |
| Pennsylvania State University | Post-masters, DNP | Hybrid |
| Temple University | BSN/MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) Programs Texas
| University | Program Tracks | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas at Arlington | MSN, post-masters | Hybrid |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | MSN | Hybrid |
| Texas Woman’s University | MSN | Hybrid |
| UTHealth Houston (The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston) | BSN-DNP | In Person |
| The University of Texas Medical Branch | MSN | Mainly Online |
Pre-Requisites for Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) Programs
Specific pre-requisites vary across universities and programs, but commonly, here is what you will need for a successful application:
Bachelor of science in nursing degree (BScN)
A masters of science in nursing degree (MScN) if applying for a post-masters certificate program, and some DNP programs that do not offer the direct entry from BSN
RN license in the respective state
Minimum GPA of 3.0
RN experience – the more the better! For most PPCNP programs, many universities require 1-2 years full time RN experience in a pediatric setting within the last 3-5 years.
Official transcripts.
A CV/resume
Statement of interest
2-3 academic +/- clinical references
Others: many require an undergraduate statistics course completion with a grade of B or C
Online Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) Programs
Many universities offer online PPCNP programs, both full and part time. Several highlight the need for a few on-campus “intensives.” Intensives are hands-on workshops that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. These immersions are held at the university's physical location, are guided by expert faculty, and focus on refining advanced clinical skills.
👉 Read this post for more information about online PPCNP programs.
Key Take home Points:
Do your research on NP programs.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to university admissions offices to ask questions about the program or admission process.
Talk with nurse practitioners who have been through this process already.
Think about what you want out of your career (Do you want a serious challenge with career growth potential?)
The NP program (and career in general!) is intense and will probably be the steepest learning curve of your life. Don’t let this intimidate you – check out our newsletter to kick-start your NP journey.