Master of Science
Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Earning a master’s degree in this field prepares you to care for children from birth to young adulthood. You’ll learn how to provide a wide range of preventive care, including check-ups and vaccinations, and ongoing care, including diagnosing, treating, and managing health conditions. As a primary care provider, you’ll be a consistent, trusted partner to kids and their families throughout childhood.
Train to become an independent health professional who supports children's health as they grow.
Overview
Format
Hybrid online
Mostly online with some in-person requirements on the CU Anschutz Campus in Aurora, CO.
Avg. time to complete
2.5 years
8 semesters
Exam prep
PNP-PC
When you finish the program, you can sit for the Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC) 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 metro area to provide high-quality, hands-on experiences.
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 Primary 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. Primary 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
Patients ranging in age from newborns to young adults.
Where you can work
- Hospitals
- Family clinics
- Schools
- Health departments
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
Practical training
In this program, you’ll train in a clinical setting for 540 hours. We arrange placements for you if you’re in the Denver Metro area, where you’ll get in-depth experience treating children.
In the classroom
You’ll complete 35 classroom-based credit hours in this program. Classes include pediatric chronic illness and disability, advanced pathophysiology, and policy and politics of health.
Skills and knowledge you'll gain
Costs
| Residency status | Estimated total tuition** |
| Colorado residents | $36,895 |
| Eligible western state residents** | $36,895 |
| Nonresidents | $59,831 |
| 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 |
The CU Anschutz Medical Campus is such a cool learning environment, and I really appreciate the connection a lot of the instructors have with Children's Hospital Colorado... I also like that it’s a relatively close drive for me even though a lot of my curriculum is online.
Jordan Knickerbocker, MSN, BSN
CU Nursing Alum
Post-Graduate Certificate Primary 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.