Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program

Penn's one-year Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program is consistently rated in the top three nationally by US News & World Report. Every PNP faculty member is currently in practice offering students a uniquely relevant educational experience. Our clinical preceptors include nurse practitioners and physicians in the inner city and suburbs. Opportunities also exist for students to work with patients speaking languages other than English.

The Pediactric NP program offers full-time, part-time, post-master's, and BSN/MSN study. The full time program is 12 months in length, beginning each September, and continuing through the year to the following August (Fall, Spring and Summer sessions). Course work includes 4 core courses (graduate research and sciences), 2 electives, and 6 theory/clinical courses.

The core courses include classroom work focused on pathophysiology, pharmacology, physical assessment, and research. The theory/clinical courses include classroom work, lab sessions, and clinical preceptorships, focused on the management of well, common acute and chronic health problems. 

Graduates are eligible to become certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP) with a specialty as pediatric nurse practitioners. Successful completion of the program qualifies graduates to apply for national certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) to become Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (CPNP).