Broaden your career opportunities as a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP-PC) through an online, faith-based certificate program that aligns with your life and values.
Spring Arbor University's Post-Master’s Certificate – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PMC-Pediatric NP) online program equips you with the clinical expertise to support the optimal health of children through primary care.
SAU is recognized by Colleges of Distinction for its engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes.
As a student in the online PNP certificate program, you can:
- Continue working full-time as you earn your certificate on your own schedule.
- Enjoy a week off in between classes with our 7-1-7 model (7-week courses, 1-week breaks).
- Receive dedicated support from a Student Success Coach who will guide you through the program, helping you find a work-school-life balance.
- Join a close community of motivated students and caring faculty.
- Students complete their certificate prepared to take the PNP-PC certification exam (CPNP-PC).
- Experience spiritual growth through a quality educational journey rooted in faith.
For more information about our online Pediatric Nursing Certification program, request a program guide.
Program details
- 16 to 23 months (depending on completion of prerequisite courses)
- $767 per credit hour
- 500 clinical hours
Designed for Working Nurses
- Take one seven-week course at a time and enjoy a week off in between
- Begin your certificate at the right time for you — choose from six intake dates a year
- Flexible login times — complete your assignments on your own schedule
Inspiring Outcomes
- Experience a unique, quality educational program in preparation for certification
- Ranked on a national and regional level for its academic quality and value
A Caring Community
- Small class sizes and committed, connected faculty provide a personal learning experience
- Dedicated student success advisor to support you from enrollment to graduation, as well as career development support
- Faith-based educational philosophy that considers Christian perspectives in nursing practice and values spiritual growth
This course focuses on advanced comprehensive health/physical assessment and pharmacotherapeutics for the infant, child, and adolescent in the context of their family. The course prepares the pediatric nurse practitioner student to complete comprehensive history, physical/psychological and health promotion needs assessments, and integrate pediatric pharmacology knowledge and skills necessary to assess, appropriately select, calculate, and integrate pharmacologic agents, and therapeutic modalities in the pediatric population
This course prepares the pediatric nurse practitioner student to address the primary healthcare needs of infants, children, adolescents, and their families. The course focuses on normal growth and development, health promotion, health maintenance, and health care management for children from birth through adolescence within the context of their family.
In this course the pediatric nurse practitioner student builds on nursing management of pediatric primary healthcare needs in the context of normal growth and development, health promotion, health maintenance, and health care management for children from birth through adolescence. This course focuses on nursing management of primary health care needs for the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of common health problems and acute illnesses of infants, children, and adolescents in the context of their families.
In this course, the pediatric nurse practitioner student builds on the nursing management of pediatric primary healthcare needs in the context of normal growth and development, health promotion, health maintenance, and health care management of common health problems and acute illnesses for children from birth through adolescence. This course focuses on nursing management through assessment, diagnosis, and treatment including collaboration with appropriate pediatric specialists, for infants, children, and adolescents experiencing complex, chronic and/or disabling life-long processes and their families.
The Post-Master's Certificate Pediatric Nurse Practitioner online program will develop your advanced nursing knowledge and clinical reasoning while empowering your spiritual growth.
As a student in the program, you will:
- Understand Population-Specific Care: Use epidemiological, social and environmental data to draw inferences about the health status of pediatric patient populations, and conduct interventions to promote and preserve health and healthy lifestyles.
- Grow a Spirit of Service: Address pediatric healthcare disparities by delivering compassionate care and advocating for underserved populations and their healthcare needs, as exemplified by the Christian worldview.
- Build a Leadership Mindset: Reach a new level of professionalism and intellectual development as you evolve into a nursing leader. Learn how to deliver culturally responsive and high-quality nursing care and conduct healthcare team coordination, oversight and accountability for care delivery and outcomes.
- Gain Advanced Nursing Competencies: Develop essential knowledge and experience in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment — including collaboration with appropriate pediatric specialists — for pediatric patients experiencing complex, chronic and disabling lifelong processes.
Contact us to discuss Spring Arbor University's online PNP certificate program.
Admission Requirements
- MSN degree from an accredited program
- Official graduate transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended
- 3.0 GPA calculated from the most recent 60 academic credits
- A current nursing license from your state of employment
- Online application
- Short personal statement
Prerequisite Courses
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Health Assessment
- Some additional prerequisites may apply
For a complete listing of courses, download a program guide.
Featured courses:
Spring Arbor University is recognized as a “Best Value” school by U.S. News & World Report. The online PMC-Pediatric NP program provides academic quality with competitively priced tuition of $767 per credit hour.
You may also be eligible to receive financial aid. SAU will work with you to determine any benefits for which you qualify, including student aid, military discounts and tax benefits.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) may provide the full spectrum of pediatric primary care services, just as pediatricians do. They prescribe medication, perform examinations, diagnose illnesses and provide treatment for patients ranging from newborns to adolescents.
In some states, PNPs can practice independently. They typically work in outpatient settings, including:
- Primary care practices
- Public health centers
- Specialty practices
Gain access to full course descriptions, program details and tuition information.
The growing shortage of pediatric healthcare providers means that millions of children lack access to primary care.* The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) reports that there are more than 325,000 nurse practitioners in the country, yet only 3.2% are certified in pediatric primary care. This deficit clearly demonstrates the need for more providers to care for this vulnerable population.
Benefits of Becoming a PNP
Becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner can fulfill your passion for service and healthcare advocacy for young patients and their families. Other benefits include the following:
- Increased salary and career opportunities
- Better work/life balance with a more traditional work schedule
- New level of independence and leadership
- Versatility to work in a wide range of care environments
Job Outlook
The job outlook for all types of NPs is exploding. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that projected employment for this profession is expected to grow 52% through the year 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage** of PNPs is $110,000, which is 37% higher than that of RNs.***
*National Council for Mental Wellbeing
**American Association of Nurse Practitioners
***U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The post-graduate APRN certificate program in nursing at Spring Arbor University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
