To become a pediatric nurse practitioner, you need to have skills in well-child care as well as in the prevention or treatment of common childhood diseases, including chronic health conditions and developmental issues.

An immersive educational experience can help you build the expertise to care for and treat children. Earning an undergraduate degree, particularly a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), is generally the best way to start. From there, you must earn a master’s- or doctoral-level degree in nursing to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

You can choose from a number of advanced degree options. For example, if you already have your undergraduate degree in nursing, you may choose to enroll in a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. You may also go straight from your undergraduate degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, or from a master’s to a doctoral-level degree.

No matter which option you choose, your educational path will entail classroom learning as well as hands-on, clinical experience. Note that for students who prefer the convenience and flexibility of an online program, plenty of virtual learning opportunities are available in this field. However, online pediatric nurse practitioner degree programs will usually require you to complete clinical work at a local hospital or health facility that is convenient for you.

You may wish to consider an online pediatric nurse practitioner program for any of a number of reasons. The benefits include:

●  Enroll in highly regarded programs without being limited by geography. One of the major perks of online learning is that you can apply to top programs without having to worry about your commute or a physical relocation. In fact, many online programs do not even require campus visits.
●  Prepare for a successful career in health care. Online programs can help you prepare for licensure and practice in a fast-growing career field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nurse practitioner field is projected to grow 52% between 2020 and 2030. Additionally, PayScale reports that pediatric nurse practitioners have a median annual salary of around $91,500 as of 2021.
●  Learn with a flexible schedule. Online programs allow you to set your own hours and learn in a way that works for you. For those who have day jobs or children to worry about, the flexibility afforded by online nursing degree programs is truly invaluable.
●  Choose from a wide range of subspecialties. Most of the top online nursing programs allow you to pick a field of specialization that aligns with your career goals. Maybe you are interested in pediatrics, but keep in mind that you can also choose to focus on mental health, adult gerontology, or primary care, among other specializations.
●  Get qualified to sit for certification exams. Online programs will provide all of the academic qualifications you need to sit for certification exams, and to feel confident about your career prospects in pediatric nursing.
●  Complete your program in a short span of time. If you are seeking a master’s in nursing, you may be able to complete your program in as little as 28 months.

Depending on your current level of educational experience and career goals, you can choose from several types of pediatric nurse practitioner programs. Many are offered in online settings for those who need more flexibility.

Master’s in nursing

Earning an MSN can give you the basic clinical skills required to provide exemplary care for young patients and guide them through their healthy growth and development. Master’s-level programs can prepare you either for certification or further postgraduate studies.

Doctorate in nursing, BSN to DNP

Looking for a way to skip straight from your undergraduate nursing degree to a doctorate? BSN to DNP programs can help build up your core nursing skills while developing the advanced knowledge needed to become a nurse leader. With BSN to DNP programs, you do not need to take the intermediate step of earning an MSN.

Doctorate in nursing, MSN to DNP

If you already have your MSN but wish to develop even more advanced knowledge in nursing practice and health care policy, an MSN to DNP may be the right approach. Note that DNP is the terminal degree in the nursing profession, preparing you to be in nurse leadership roles such as educator or manager.

Postgraduate certificates

For nurses who have an MSN but have not had specialized training in pediatrics, postgraduate certificate programs offer an optimal way to hone skills for treating juvenile patients. These certificates are a good way to augment or enhance your current educational standing.

Once enrolled in a pediatric nurse practitioner program, you will engage with a robust curriculum that can prepare you to enact positive change in the lives of your patients. While the curriculum differs from program to program, common examples of pediatric nurse practitioner courses include:

●  Health Assessment
●  Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
●  Nursing Theory
●  Nurse Leadership
●  Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
●  Health Policy
●  Clinical Pharmacology
●  Primary Care for Children or Adolescents

Enrolling in a pediatric nurse practitioner program will prepare you, first and foremost, to treat patients. Additionally, the role of your program should be qualifying you for certification so you can pass any examinations required to begin your practice.

For this particular field, you will need to seek certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB), an accrediting body that offers four different types of certifications for pediatric nurses. The requirements for either primary or acute care certification include:

●  Having an active registered nurse (RN) license
●  Having either an MSN or a DNP from an accredited program
●  Gaining 500 or more hours of supervised clinical practice
●  Completing graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology (all of which will be included in your pediatric nurse practitioner degree program)

Completing your pediatric nurse practitioner program can help prepare you for these important certification steps.

The length of the process to become certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner can vary depending on the program you choose and the pace at which you complete your degree. (Remember, online programs offer a lot of flexibility, allowing you to learn and complete clinicals on your own time.)

Getting an MSN alone may take as little as 18 months, or as long as three years. A full BSN to MSN bridge will likely take three years. A BSN to DNP may take four years, while an MSN to DNP usually takes two.