Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) treat children from birth to adolescence. Nurses specializing in this area generally choose a track in either acute or primary care, and they can work in various facilities, including doctors’ offices, clinics, or hospitals.
In Texas, there are multiple options for nurses who wish to pursue a degree in this nurse practitioner specialty.
How Texas PNP programs sort themselves out
Texas has fewer dedicated PNP programs than FNP or PMHNP programs, and the list narrows further once you distinguish between Primary Care (PNP-PC) and Acute Care (PNP-AC) certifications. Most Texas schools offer one, not both. UT Arlington is the exception, running both tracks within a single MSN structure.
Houston-area applicants have the widest mix of options because Baylor (BSN-DNP), UT Health Houston, and Texas Children’s (the nation’s largest pediatric hospital, which partners with several Texas NP schools for clinicals) are all within driving range. El Paso, the Panhandle, and the Rio Grande Valley have fewer PNP-specific options, though several online MSN-PNP programs accept local clinical placements at community pediatric clinics.
Texas PNP Programs: Key Facts for 2026
- 8+ CCNE-accredited PNP programs — Texas offers both Pediatric Primary Care (PNP-PC) and Pediatric Acute Care (PNP-AC) specialty tracks.
- PNP-PC vs. PNP-AC — Primary care PNPs practice in outpatient pediatric clinics and community settings; acute care PNPs work in children’s hospitals, pediatric ICUs, and specialty services. Separate certifications through the PNCB.
- Reduced practice authority — Texas PNPs must maintain a collaborative practice agreement with a physician under Texas Occupations Code § 157.0512.
- Broadest PNP menu — The University of Texas at Arlington offers both PNP-PC and PNP-AC as MSN specialties (46 credits, 720 clinical hours).
- Top-ranked PNP programs — Baylor University (Louise Herrington) and UT Health San Antonio are consistently ranked among U.S. News’s top nursing graduate programs nationally.
- BSN-to-DNP PNP options — Baylor, UT Austin, UT Health Houston, and UT Health San Antonio offer doctoral-level PNP tracks with 1,000-1,150 clinical hours.
- Online MSN-PNP option — Houston Christian University (Linda R. Dunham School of Nursing) offers a BSN-to-PNP Primary Care track, one of the few 100% online pediatric primary care MSN pathways in Texas.
- Pediatric certification — Graduates sit for the CPNP-PC (primary care) or CPNP-AC (acute care) exam through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
- Job growth — BLS projects 40% employment growth for NPs from 2023 to 2033. PNPs remain in demand due to persistent pediatric primary care shortages, particularly in rural Texas.
Texas PNP Program Comparison (2026)
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs in Texas compared side-by-side: modality, credits, clinical hours, and which specialty track is offered. Dashes indicate data not publicly listed in a standard format.
| Program | Track | Modality | Credits | Clinical | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | PNP (via BSN-DNP) | Online | 77 | 1,125 | $1,150/credit |
| Houston Christian University | PNP-PC (BSN to MSN) | Online | 46 | 733 | $530/credit |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | PNP-PC | Online | 48 | 630 | ~$22–$25k total |
| Texas Woman’s University | PNP | Online | 45 | 780 | $634.70/credit |
| The University of Texas at Arlington | PNP-PC + PNP-AC | Online | 46 | 720 | ~$26,814–$30,084 total |
| The University of Texas at Austin | PNP (via DNP) | Hybrid | 45 | 840+ | $1,418 resident / $2,035 non-res per credit |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | PNP | Online | 33–49 | 675–775 | ~$552/credit |
| UT Health Science Center at San Antonio | PNP (via BSN-DNP) | Hybrid | 76 | 1,000+ | ~$9,558/yr in-state |
PNP Programs Accepting Texas Applicants
Texas BSN to Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Programs
BSN-prepared nurses have multiple options for pursuing a DNP degree in Texas, including MSN and DNP degrees. Some of these universities also offer post-graduate options for nurses with an MSN in another specialty.
Baylor University
- Waco, Texas
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $1,150 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Baylor has two DNP options: a BSN to PNP DNP Acute Care and a BSN to PNP DNP Primary Care program. The main coursework for both programs is completed online, though multiple on-campus immersions are required throughout the program. The primacy care option is 75 credits with 1,125 clinical hours, and the acute care option is 89 credits with 1,725 clinical hours.
Houston Christian University
- Houston, Texas
- Online + In-person
Modality: Online with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 38
Clinical Hours: 517
Tuition: $19,570 for the program + fees; breaks down to about $515 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The BSN to PNP Primary Care program at Houston Christian University can be completed in as little as 24 months. It consists of 12 courses, all of which are offered in an asynchronous online format, which allows students to attend classes at a time that works for their schedule.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- Lubbock, Texas
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $1,003.69 per credit including fees for residents; $1,413.69 per credit including fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
TTUHSC offers two PNP programs: a BSN to PNP Acute Care track and a BSN to PNP Primary Care track. The acute care track requires 51 credits, and the primary care track requires 49. Most coursework is completed online, but students are required to come to campus a few times throughout the program.
Texas Woman’s University
- Dallas, Texas
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 45
Clinical Hours: 780
Tuition: $323 per credit + fees for residents
Program Overview:
The BSN to PNP Primary Care program at Texas Woman’s University consists of online coursework with some on-campus requirements. The school also has a Post-Graduate MSN to PNP option that is 27 credits with 780 clinical hours. Because these programs have such a strong online component, they are only available to Texas residents.
The University of Texas at Arlington
- Arlington, Texas
- Varies
Modality: Varies
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $654 per credit + fees for online; $3,456 for one 6-credit semester hybrid + fees or about $576 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The University of Texas at Arlington offers more PNP pathways than any other university in the state. If interested in acute care, BSN-prepared nurses can enroll in the BSN to PNP Acute Care Online or BSN to PNP Acute Care On-Campus program. There is also a BSN to PNP Primary Care Online and a BSN to PNP Primary Care On-Campus option. UTA also offers a BSN to PNP Dual Acute/Primary Care program to gain a full range of experience in caring for pediatric patients.
MSN-prepared nurses also have multiple options: Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to PNP Acute Care Online, Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to PNP Acute Care On-Campus, Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to PNP Primary Care Online, and Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to PNP Primary Care On-Campus programs.
The University of Texas at Austin
- Austin, Texas
- Campus + In-person
Modality: On-campus with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 48
Clinical Hours: 660
Tuition: $1,418 per credit + fees for residents, $2,035 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
The BSN to PNP Primary at the University of Texas at Austin is an on-campus program that takes two years to complete, though part-time options are available. UT Austin also offers two options for MSN-prepared nurses: a 24 to 30-credit Post-Graduate Certificate PNP Acute Care option and a 27-credit Post-Graduate Certificate PNP Primary Care option.
The University of Texas at El Paso
- El Paso, Texas
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $522 per credit + fees for residents; $782 per hour + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
UT El Paso offers two PNP options: the BSN to PNP Acute Care program, which requires 49 credits and 765 clinical hours, and the BSN to PNP Primary Care program, which requires 49 credits and 675 clinical hours. Both options feature flexible online learning options, on-campus requirements, and experience in the school’s innovative simulation lab.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- San Antonio, Texas
- Hybrid + In-person
Modality: Hybrid with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 76
Clinical Hours: 1020
Tuition: $398 per credit + fees for residents; $1,106 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
The BSN to PNP DNP Primary Care program at UT Health San Antonio is a hybrid program with online and on-campus requirements. There is also a Post-Graduate Certificate MSN to PNP option that is 28 credits with 660 clinical hours.
Texas Online PNP Programs
Every Texas PNP program requires in-person clinical hours, but didactic coursework ranges from fully asynchronous online to hybrid with required campus sessions.
Houston Christian University’s BSN-to-PNP Primary Care track (46 credits, 733 clinical hours, $530/credit) is the only 100% online asynchronous pediatric MSN in Texas. UT Arlington, UT El Paso, and Texas Woman’s University all offer online-forward PNP programs where didactic coursework is online and clinicals are arranged in the student’s community. TTUHSC’s MSN-PNP-PC is also online-first. BSN-to-DNP PNP options at Baylor, UT Austin, UT Health Houston, and UT Health San Antonio are hybrid with regular on-campus sessions.
Best PNP Programs in Texas
The strongest Texas PNP programs break down by the question you’re answering.
If you want both PNP-PC and PNP-AC specialty options at the same school, UT Arlington is the only Texas program offering both as MSN concentrations (46 credits, 720 clinical hours, online). That dual-certification flexibility is hard to match elsewhere in the state.
If you want the terminal clinical degree, the BSN-to-DNP PNP tracks at Baylor (77 credits, 1,125 clinical hours), UT Austin (45-credit DNP with 840+ clinical), UT Health Houston (79 credits), and UT Health San Antonio (76 credits, 1,000+ clinical) all deliver AACN-recommended doctoral preparation. Baylor’s and UT Health San Antonio’s PNP programs consistently place well in U.S. News’s graduate nursing rankings.
If you want fully online MSN-PNP-PC access, Houston Christian is the standalone option.
Texas Most Affordable PNP Programs
UT Health Houston’s BSN-to-DNP charges $248 per credit for Texas residents, the lowest published rate for a Texas PNP doctoral pathway. UT Health San Antonio runs about $9,558 per year in-state for its 76-credit BSN-to-DNP. Houston Christian University’s online MSN-PNP-PC runs $530 per credit (46 credits, roughly $24,400 total before fees). UT El Paso’s MSN-PNP runs about $552 per credit.
Texas Woman’s University at $634.70 per credit is mid-range. UT Arlington’s total program cost is roughly $26,814 to $30,084 for the 46-credit MSN. Baylor’s BSN-to-DNP PNP runs $1,150 per credit, significantly more per credit than the public options but with a proportionally larger clinical-hour requirement.
Private programs tend to bundle more into the per-credit rate; public programs often add course fees, technology fees, and clinical-placement fees separately. Contact each program directly for current totals.
Texas PNP Programs: Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between PNP-PC and PNP-AC?
Pediatric Primary Care NPs (PNP-PC) work in outpatient pediatric clinics, schools, and community health, providing well-child and chronic condition management. Pediatric Acute Care NPs (PNP-AC) work in children’s hospitals, pediatric ICUs, and specialty services managing acutely and critically ill children. They require separate PNCB certifications with different clinical scope.
How long does it take to earn a PNP in Texas?
MSN-PNP programs typically take 2 to 3 years full-time. BSN-to-DNP PNP tracks at Baylor, UT Austin, UT Health Houston, and UT Health San Antonio run 3 to 4 years. Part-time pathways extend completion by 1-2 additional years.
Which Texas PNP programs are available online?
Houston Christian University offers a 100% online BSN-to-PNP Primary Care MSN track. TTUHSC (Lubbock), UT Arlington, UT El Paso, and Texas Woman’s University offer online-forward PNP programs where didactic coursework is delivered online and clinicals are arranged in the student’s community.
What certifications do Texas PNPs pursue?
Graduates sit for the CPNP-PC (primary care) or CPNP-AC (acute care) certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). After passing the exam, candidates apply for APRN licensure through the Texas Board of Nursing.
What is the PNP scope of practice in Texas?
Texas is a reduced practice state for NPs. Under Texas Occupations Code § 157.0512, PNPs must maintain a collaborative practice agreement with a physician to prescribe medications, including controlled substances. PNPs can diagnose, order and interpret tests, and manage pediatric treatment plans under that collaborative framework.
What is the job outlook for PNPs in Texas?
BLS projects 40% employment growth for NPs nationally from 2023 to 2033. Pediatric primary care demand remains strong in Texas due to persistent shortages in rural and underserved communities. Children’s hospitals in Houston (Texas Children’s), Dallas (Children’s Health), and San Antonio (Methodist Children’s) actively recruit both PNP-PC and PNP-AC graduates.