Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are knowledgeable APRNs who are qualified to provide care to children. With patients ranging from newborns to young adults, PNPs must be well-versed in the management of varying pediatric conditions.
PNPs may choose to specialize in either primary care or acute care.
Nurses who wish to pursue any of these specialty tracks may do so through any of the PNP programs offered by the following Florida-based institutions.
How to choose a PNP program in Florida
PNP applicants first pick between Pediatric Primary Care (PNP-PC, for outpatient/clinic settings) and Pediatric Acute Care (PNP-AC, for inpatient/ICU/specialty services). Florida has fewer PNP options than FNP or AGNP because pediatric clinical sites are harder to stock with preceptors. University of Florida is the only Florida program that offers both PNP tracks; most other schools run PNP-PC only.
For cost, Florida International University is the cheapest published public MSN-PNP for in-state applicants, with University of South Florida close behind for the BSN-to-DNP-PNP. Herzing University and Rasmussen University are the main online-forward private options for APRNs adding pediatric scope. Under Florida’s Autonomous Practice Registration (3,000+ hours post-certification), certified PNPs can eventually practice independently, which is relevant for pediatric primary-care NPs planning solo or small-practice settings.
PNP Programs Accepting Florida Applicants
Florida RN to Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Programs
In the ‘Sunshine State,’ residents and non-residents alike can become pediatric nurse practitioners without enrolling in a separate BSN degree. This is made possible by an RN to PNP program, such as the one featured below:
Herzing University
- Winter Park, Florida
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 64
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Tuition: $755 per credit for 64 units – $48,320 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Herzing’s 28-month online RN-to-PNP combines asynchronous didactics with regional clinical practicum, and graduates sit for the Pediatric Primary Care NP certification (CPNP-PC). Stackable credits from Herzing’s BSN program transfer in, which is the reason this is typically chosen by associate-degree RNs completing the whole pathway at one school. It’s a fit for nurses who want a single-institution RN→BSN→MSN route; BSN-prepared RNs can finish faster elsewhere.
Florida BSN to Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Programs
BSN graduates, meanwhile, pursue their PNP aspirations through the aptly-named BSN to PNP program. In Florida, four institutions offer the said pathway:
Florida International University
- Miami, Florida
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 45
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Resident Tuition: $373.38 per credit for 45 credits – $16,802.10 plus other fees
Non-resident Tuition: $1,300.66 per credit for 45 credits – $58,529.70 plus other fees
Program Overview:
FIU’s BSN-to-MSN-PNP is one of six specialties in the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing, focused on Pediatric Primary Care for infants through adolescents. Miami’s pediatric clinical sites (including Nicklaus Children’s-affiliated partners) give students exposure to a diverse urban pediatric panel. Public in-state tuition makes it the cheaper of Florida’s MSN-PNP routes; nurses wanting acute-care pediatrics will need to look at UF.
Herzing University
- Winter Park, Florida
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 68
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Tuition: $755 per credit for 68 units – $51,340 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Herzing’s 32-month BSN-to-PNP adds the DNP project on top of the MSN-PNP core, so students graduate with the doctorate rather than a stand-alone MSN. Online didactics and regional clinical rotations prepare graduates for the CPNP-PC certification exam. The strength here is the school-sourced placement support; the trade-off is higher total tuition compared with FIU’s public MSN-PNP alternative.
University of Florida
- Gainesville, Florida
- Hybrid + Online + Campus
Modality: Hybrid (online learning with periodic campus visits)
Credit Hours: 78
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Resident Tuition: $531 per credit for 78 credits – $41,418 plus other fees
Non-resident Tuition: $1,255 per credit for 78 credits – $97,890 plus other fees
Program Overview:
UF is the only Florida program that offers both PNP tracks under one roof: Pediatric Primary Care (birth to 21) and Pediatric Acute Care (inpatient/ICU-facing). Clinical rotations pull from UF Health and Shands Children’s Hospital, which gives acute-care students the tertiary pediatric volume they need. It’s the default pick for Florida RNs who want acute-care PNP; primary-care-only applicants should compare UF’s in-state tuition against FIU’s.
University of South Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- In-person
Modality: In-person
Credit Hours: 45
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Resident Tuition: $431.43 per credit for 45 credits – $19,414.35 plus other fees
Non-resident Tuition: $877.17 per credit for 45 credits – $39,472.65 plus other fees
Program Overview:
USF’s BSN-to-DNP-PNP runs through the College of Nursing with Tampa Bay pediatric clinical partners. Students graduate with the DNP credential rather than an MSN-only exit, which matters for applicants entering under the AACN DNP-for-APRN-entry direction. A fit for Tampa-area RNs who want the doctoral credential; applicants seeking a shorter MSN path should look at FIU.
Online Florida Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Programs
Florida’s online PNP options are limited because pediatric primary-care clinical sites are harder to source remotely than adult primary care. Herzing University‘s online RN-to-PNP (28 months) and its BSN-to-PNP (32 months) are the main online-forward MSN/DNP routes, with school-arranged regional clinical placements. Rasmussen University‘s PNP post-master’s certificate runs online for APRNs adding pediatric scope.
Florida International University delivers the BSN-to-MSN-PNP in hybrid format with Miami-area clinical rotations; it’s not fully online, but it’s the cheapest Florida PNP route for in-state residents.
Best PNP Programs in Florida
University of Florida is the only Florida program that offers both PNP tracks (Primary Care, birth–21, and Acute Care for inpatient/ICU). For primary-care PNP applicants, UF’s UF Health and Shands Children’s Hospital affiliations drive the ranking strength. University of South Florida‘s BSN-to-DNP-PNP is the other strong public pick, with Tampa Bay clinical networks.
Florida International University is the budget-conscious choice (public in-state tuition) for PNP-Primary applicants willing to commit to Miami-area clinical sites. Applicants wanting PNP-Acute Care have essentially one in-state option (UF).
MSN to PNP Post-Graduate Certifications
Graduates of MSN programs may expand their practice horizons even more with the help of MSN post-graduate certifications. In Florida, aspiring pediatric nursing practitioners may obtain the said qualification through:
Florida International University
- Miami, Florida
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 32
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Resident Tuition: $373.38 per credit for 32 credits – $11,948.16 plus other fees
Non-resident Tuition: $1,300.66 per credit for 32 credits – $41,621.12 plus other fees
Program Overview:
FIU’s PNP post-master’s certificate lets APRNs in other specialties add pediatric primary-care scope. The program is priced at public in-state rates and draws heavily from Miami-area FNPs and AGNPs expanding their panel. Applicants should verify whether prior graduate pathophys/assessment/pharm coursework counts toward certificate requirements.
Herzing University
- Winter Park, Florida
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 33
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Tuition: $755 per credit for 33 units – $24,915 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Herzing’s online PNP post-master’s certificate is for already-licensed APRNs adding pediatric primary-care scope, with school-arranged clinical placements and asynchronous didactics. It’s a fit for full-time-working APRNs who can’t pause employment; applicants in smaller Florida markets benefit most from the placement support.
Rasmussen University
- Various locations in Florida
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 53 units
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Tuition: $26,525 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Rasmussen’s online PNP post-master’s certificate is aimed at MSN-prepared APRNs adding pediatric primary-care scope with asynchronous coursework and a national clinical-placement model. It’s a self-directed program suited to APRNs in smaller Florida markets where in-person graduate pediatric programs aren’t reachable.
Per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Florida NP salaries average around $115,000 annually. Pediatric NPs generally sit below the specialty average because pediatric primary-care reimbursement is lower than adult specialties, though PNP-Acute Care salaries at tertiary children’s hospitals (UF Health Shands, Nicklaus Children’s, Johns Hopkins All Children’s) compete with adult acute-care NP rates.
Florida’s Most Affordable PNP Programs
For Florida residents, Florida International University‘s in-state public tuition typically makes it the cheapest published PNP route. University of Florida‘s in-state rate is competitive and adds flagship clinical exposure at Shands. University of South Florida sits in similar territory. The three publics are all meaningfully cheaper than Herzing University or Rasmussen University for in-state applicants; non-residents should compare out-of-state public rates against the online private options.
Related Florida NP Program Guides
Looking at other NP specialties or the statewide view? See all Florida NP programs, or compare by specialty: Florida FNP programs · Florida AGNP programs · Florida DNP programs.