How to Become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (with steps)

by | Jun 10, 2025 | Nursing Degrees and Programs | 0 comments

Becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) is an amazing next step for nurses who love working with kids and want more autonomy in patient care. But getting there takes more than just loving pediatrics, it requires advanced education, clinical experience, and national certification.

If you’ve ever googled “how to become a pediatric nurse practitioner steps,” you probably got a wall of bullet points and a bunch of random info you have to piece together on your own. Let’s break it down in plain language, step by step, so you know exactly what’s ahead.

how to become pediatric nurse practitioner steps

What Do Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Do?

Pediatric Nurse Practitioners specialize in delivering high-level care to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Depending on their scope and setting, PNPs will:

  • Conduct exams and developmental screenings
  • Diagnose and manage acute and chronic illnesses
  • Prescribe medications and treatments
  • Educate patients and families on health maintenance
  • Collaborate with physicians, therapists, and school health teams

Where they work:

PNPs practice in a variety of settings: children’s hospitals, pediatric clinics, NICUs, school-based clinics, urgent care centers, and more. This all depends on their training and specialization.

Depending on which specialty you choose, you can work in acute care (like hospitals or ICUs) or primary care/outpatient settings (like pediatric offices or clinics).

Step-by-Step: How to Become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Let’s walk through how to become a pediatric nurse practitioner step by step: from RN to APRN.

âś… Step 1: Become a Registered Nurse (RN)

If you’re not already, you’ll need to:

  • Complete an ACEN or CCNE-accredited nursing program (ADN or BSN)
  • Pass the NCLEX
  • Get your RN license in your state

Pro Tip ➡️ Many PNP programs prefer applicants with a BSN, especially competitive ones, so just keep that in mind if you’re starting with an ADN. If you’re still early in your journey and already know you want to become a pediatric NP, going the BSN route from the start can really help streamline your path.

💡 Still choosing a program? Use our Nursing School Planner to compare your options and stay organized. 👇

âś… Step 2: Gain Pediatric Nursing Experience

While this is not always required, it’s highly recommended to get some hands-on pediatric experience first, especially if you’re aiming for an acute care certification. You could could get this experience by working in:

  • Pediatric med-surg
  • Pediatric ICU (PICU)
  • Neonatal ICU (NICU)
  • Pediatric primary care clinics

Working with pediatric patients will help you figure out if you truly enjoy this specialty, and if you want to commit years of your life (and thousands of dollars) to advanced training.

It also makes your PNP program applications stronger. Clinical hours in pediatrics show admissions committees that you’re serious, and that you understand what pediatric care is really like (not just in theory, but in the actual day-to-day of practice). And don’t underestimate the emotional growth that comes from this step! Caring for kids can be joyful, heartbreaking, and unpredictable, sometimes all in the same shift. So having real-world experience with these highs and lows gives you depth as a future provider.

âś… Step 2.5: Pick Your Track (Acute or Primary Care)

Most schools offer either Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care (CPNP-PC) or Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care (CPNP-AC) tracks. Some schools offer dual-track options, but they’re less common and often more demanding. And most programs require you to choose your focus at the application stage before you even start.

It’s a good idea to talk to NPs working in both settings before deciding, because once you’re in a track, switching can be complicated.

Acute vs. Primary Care PNP: What’s the Difference?

Acute Care NP:

  • Works in hospitals, ICUs, emergency departments
  • Manages complex, high-acuity conditions
  • Certification: CPNP-AC

Primary Care NP:

  • Works in clinics, outpatient offices, schools
  • Manages well-child visits, chronic conditions, and minor illnesses
  • Certification: CPNP-PC

Basically, primary care PNPs focus on well visits, developmental milestones, chronic disease management, and preventive care. They work in pediatrician offices, school clinics, and outpatient settings. If you love building long-term relationships and supporting kids and families through all stages of growth, this might be your track.

Acute care PNPs, on the other hand, care for critically ill or unstable pediatric patients. Think: PICU, ER, specialty hospital units. If you thrive in fast-paced environments and want to handle complex conditions in hospital settings, acute care may be a better fit.

Note: The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) retired its Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP-BC) exam on December 31, 2018. So as of 2020, if you’re pursuing certification as a primary care PNP, you’ll now sit for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) exam: Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care (CPNP-PC). And if all the letters are making you dizzy, you are not alone. 🙂

âś… Step 3: Enroll in a Pediatric NP Program (MSN or DNP)

Once you’ve decided on your track, it’s time to apply to a graduate NP program. Your two main degree options are:

  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – generally 2-3 years long
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – usually 3-4 years, with a deeper focus on leadership and evidence-based practice

Both prepare you to become a licensed pediatric nurse practitioner, but the DNP includes extra coursework and a final scholarly project. It’s not necessarily required for practice, but it may open more doors in the future (especially if you’re thinking about teaching, policy, or leadership).

Expect your program to include coursework in advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and assessment, along with pediatric-specific clinical rotations. These clinical hours are critical, and they must align with the type of PNP track you chose (acute or primary). Even if some programs are fully online, your clinicals will always be hands-on in a real care setting.

🧭 Not sure where to start your search? Use our partner’s tool below to explore accredited MSN and NP programs that are in your specific state. It’s free, easy to use, and a great first step toward finding the right pediatric NP path for you. 👇

âś… Step 4: Get Your Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification

Once you’ve graduated from your program, you’ll sit for the national board exam for your specialty:

  • CPNP-PC: you’ll sit for the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care exam
  • CPNP-AC: you’ll sit for the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care exam

Both are administered by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).

👉 Certification is mandatory for licensure in most states. It also shows employers you’ve met rigorous national standards in your area of expertise.

Each exam has its own application process, eligibility requirements, and prep materials. And while they might sound intimidating, you’ve already built the foundation in your program, you’re just formalizing it now.

Many new grads also find support through test prep communities (like the ones run by Sarah Michelle NP!). Having that structured support can help you build confidence and stay focused during this transition from school to practice.

🎧 Want to hear what it’s really like to prep for boards? I recently sat down with Sarah Michelle Boes, FNP (who’s a board prep expert and NP mentor) for a chat about tackling the certification process with confidence. Click play to listen to that convo below! 👇

âś… Step 5: Apply for State Licensure and Start Practicing

After passing your board exam, you’ll apply for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) licensure in your state.

This process varies depending on where you live, but generally, you’ll need to provide:

  • Your graduate transcripts
  • National certification
  • Proof of clinical hours
  • A criminal background check

Some states also require collaborative agreements with physicians, especially when you’re new to practice. Be sure to check with your state Board of Nursing early so you’re not caught off guard by extra paperwork or delays.

Once you’re licensed, you can start applying for pediatric NP jobs and practicing in your full role. (Cue the confetti! 🎉)

Final Thoughts for How to Become A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Choosing to become a pediatric nurse practitioner is a solid way to combine clinical skill with your love for working with kids. And whether you’re still in nursing school or deep in the process of comparing graduate programs, it’s okay to take your time. Ask questions. Talk to practicing PNPs. Reflect on where you want to grow and serve.

You don’t need to have every detail figured out today. Just keep moving forward with curiosity, compassion, and confidence. ➡️ One final tip? Stay grounded in your why. The work is intense, but the impact is enormous. You’ve got this.

🧰 Want to Go Deeper? More Resources for PNP

Here are a few tried-and-true resources to help you as you navigate this path:

Nursing Degrees and Programs Page
Picture of Kati Kleber, founder of FRESHRN

Hi, I’m Kati.

I'm a nurse educator, author, national speaker, and host of the FreshRN® Podcast. I created FreshRN® – an online platform meant to educate, encourage, and motivate newly licensed nurses in innovative ways.

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