Master of Science
Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
With a master’s degree in this specialty, you’ll be ready to care for children who are typically healthy but are seeing you because they are sick. You’ll learn how to assess, diagnose, treat, and manage short-term, serious health conditions like a respiratory illness or injury from an accident. You’ll build special relationships with kids and their families.
Explore a rewarding career as an independent provider who makes a difference in children's lives.
Overview
Format
Hybrid online
Mostly online with some in-person requirements on the CU Anschutz Campus in Aurora, CO.
Avg. time to complete
3 years
9 semesters
Exam prep
AC-PNP
When you finish the program, you can sit for the Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (AC-PNP) exam to become board-certified.
Clinical placements set up for you
If you’re in Denver or Aurora, we arrange clinical placements for you. We work with some of the top clinics and hospitals in the area like Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children.
Expert faculty dedicated to your success
Many of our faculty are recognized locally and nationally for their excellence in nursing, education, and research. Our educators are passionate about helping students advance their knowledge and careers.
#1
Nursing master’s program in Colorado*
1st
Nurse practitioner program was developed at CU Nursing
Career
When you complete the MS Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program, you can take the board certification test through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. After passing the exam, you'll be ready to get your license, unlocking a new career path and scope of practice. Acute care pediatric nurse practitioners can get licensed to work in all 50 states, including Colorado.
What you can do
- Prescribe medication
- Serve as an independent provider
- Assess, diagnose, and treat health conditions
- Educate patients about health management and disease prevention
Who you can care for
Children of all ages, from newborns to young adults
Where you can work
- Hospitals
- Family clinics
Admissions
Deadline(s)
| Start term | Application opens | Priority deadlinetooltip | Extended deadlinetooltip |
| Fall 2025 | August 15, 2024 | January 15, 2025 | April 1, 2025 |
Get started
1
Check the requirements
Understand the admissions requirements like how many letters of recommendation you need and what courses should be on your transcript.
2
Start your application
Work on your application and submit it through NursingCAS.
Curriculum
Hands-on training
You’ll gain 585 hours of clinical experience in this program. Through this training, you’ll build skills to diagnose and treat children with complex or chronic illnesses.
In-depth coursework
This program includes 37 classroom-based credit hours. Courses include theory foundations for advanced nursing and pediatric primary care essentials.
Skills and knowledge you'll gain
Costs
| Residency status | Estimated total tuition** |
| Colorado residents | $39,250 |
| Eligible western state residents** | $39,250 |
| Nonresidents | $63,650 |
| Additional expenses | Time frame | Estimated costs |
| Matriculation fee | One-time | $140 |
| Other fees | By term | Fall $392, Spring $232, Summer $180 |
| Books and supplies | Total for program | $2,000 |
| CU health insurance (may be waived with proof of comparable personal health insurance) | By term | Fall $1,575, Spring $1,575, Summer $1,050 |
I earned my undergraduate degree... through the University of Cincinnati, which is set up similar to [the Anschutz Medical Campus], where there's a children's hospital close by. So, I knew that I was going to get that same kind of relationship between CU Nursing and Children's Hospital Colorado where I work.
Lindsey Harms, MSN, CCRN
CU Nursing Alum
MS Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program
Become the nurse practitioner looked to first 
Get your degree from the top nursing college in Colorado. Start your journey to become a CU nurse today.