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Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Graduate Certificate)

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Graduate Certificate)

Academic programs / Graduate degrees / Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Graduate Certificate)

Advance Practice Nurse, Advanced Practice, CERTIFICATE, Nurse, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, pediatrics

Program description
Degree awarded: Certificate  Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Certificate)

The certificate program for the pediatric nurse practitioner specialty is an advanced nursing practice program. It prepares graduates to provide holistic, client-centered primary care of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. The program is designed for board-certified nurses in a different advanced practice registered nurse specialty area who seek additional certification as a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner, and for doctorate-level nurses who seek to become a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner.

This is a hybrid program, a blend of in-person and online learning. Students are required to travel to campus for orientation once and for immersions two or three times per semester.

Core courses include advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology and advanced health assessment. Any deficiency courses determined by the student's unique gap analysis must have been completed within the previous five years to be eligible for credit.

Using best evidence, specialty courses focus on health promotion and the assessment and management of culturally appropriate plans of health care for well infants, children, adolescents and young adults, as well as those with minor, acute and stable complex and chronic health disorders.

Focused clinical experiences are arranged for students residing in Maricopa County, Arizona. Students should expect to travel throughout Maricopa County and, in some cases, surrounding counties to complete their assigned clinical placement.

Students residing outside of Maricopa County are responsible for identifying the required number of clinical sites in their area of residence and for identifying preceptors and sites willing to accommodate clinical rotations. Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation must approve these sites before students start any clinical experience; the doctoral program office does not guarantee a clinical placement site for any student outside Maricopa County. If, during the program, faculty determine that a student needs additional supervision for clinical progress in the program, the student must complete clinical experiences in the Phoenix area.

The program offers practicum experiences (clinical rotations) in health profession shortage areas throughout the state, in both urban underserved and rural areas, which provide students with multicultural experiences to enhance professional development.

As a participating National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements member, Arizona State University is authorized to offer distance education to persons located in individual State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement member states, in accordance with the council's established policies and standards. California is not a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement member, and the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education does not regulate out-of-state public institutions. ASU may offer educational activities in California. There are some exceptions for specific programs at Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation; these are noted on the ASU state authorization website.

ASU nursing practice programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

At a glance
Degree requirements

32 credit hours

Required Core (32 credit hours)
DNP 640 Advanced Human Pathophysiology Pediatrics (4)
DNP 641 Advanced Health Assessment Pediatrics (3)
DNP 642 Applied Pharmacotherapeutics for Pediatrics (3)
DNP 643 Developmentally Based Care of the Well Child (3)
DNP 644 Well Child Advanced Practicum (3)
DNP 645 Management of Common Problems in Pediatric Primary Care (3)
DNP 646 Management of Common Problems in Pediatric Primary Care Practicum (5)
DNP 647 Management of Complex and Chronic Health Problems in Pediatric Primary Care (3)
DNP 648 Management of Complex and Chronic Problems Pediatric Primary Care Practicum (5)

Additional Curriculum Information
Nurses who complete this certificate program meet the eligibility requirements to take a national pediatric nurse practitioner certification examination. In addition to completing didactic courses, students complete 13 credit hours (585 clock hours) of pediatric practicum experiences in a community setting.

Admission requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's and master's degree in nursing from a nationally recognized, regionally accredited academic institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. documentation of a current unencumbered RN license in the state in which the student plans to do clinical practicums
  4. three professional letters of recommendation
  5. resume
  6. goal statement
  7. admission essay
  8. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency per the Graduate College requirement and all requirements for the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.

International students who need an F-1 or J-1 visa need to apply to and be accepted into a graduate degree program prior to being considered for the certificate program. International students residing in the U.S. on other types of visas must adhere to all Graduate College policies and procedures regarding admission to be considered for admission to this certificate program.

All students are required to have an unencumbered Arizona RN license or an unencumbered compact state RN license as mandated by the Arizona State Board of Nursing. The RN license must remain unencumbered throughout enrollment in any nursing program.

Applicants are required to have an in-person interview with the program faculty.

Applicants are asked to read "The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice" (2006) and then submit an admission essay. It should contain the following:

  • description of career goals for the next five to 10 years and discussion about how an NP certificate from ASU will help them meet these goals
  • description of how meeting one of the first seven essentials (from the prescribed reading noted above) will further their career goals

All Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation students are required to complete health and safety requirements, and they must have a passing disposition on a background clearance and satisfactory completion of a substance screen with the program's identified agency.

One year of clinical experience working within the student's specialty population is preferred.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Application deadlines
SessionModalityDeadlineType
Session A/CIn Person 12/15Priority
Career opportunities

The Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation prepares graduates for excellence upon entering the workplace. The pediatric nurse practitioner role is well established in all urban and most rural areas of Arizona. Graduates are prepared to provide comprehensive health care for infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Careers include positions in:

  • clinical education and training of future health care providers
  • community health centers
  • fast-track emergency departments
  • outpatient primary and secondary health care clinics
  • specialty health care
Professional licensure

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is WRGP (Western Regional Graduate Program)?
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.

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