Master of Science in Nursing in Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Online
This program prepares the pediatric nurse to work with the growing number of children with complex, high-acuity healthcare needs. This highly specialized online program was developed from UTA's on-campus program, one of the first programs of its kind in the U.S. when founded in 2004.
Program Overview
Consider the MSN - Pediatric Acute Care NP online program
The accelerated, 100% online Master of Science in Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program (PNP-AC) is designed for experienced, BSN-prepared pediatric nurses who wish to expand their professional scope of practice as a nurse practitioner. This highly specialized online program was developed from UTA's on campus PNP-AC program, one of the first programs of its kind in the U.S. when founded in 2004.
This online MSN acute care NP program prepares you to work with the growing number of children with complex, high–acuity healthcare needs. You will learn to provide children with evidence-based interventions to facilitate optimum health and growth. Learn essential elements of advanced nursing practice for pediatric acute and chronic healthcare in a wide range of environments, including critical care, emergency rooms and specialty office practices or clinics, as well as intensive rehabilitation and early intervention programs.
Coursework is designed to expand knowledge and experience to practice in high acuity areas as laid out by the scope of practice and includes the role of the nurse in health assessment and advanced practice, pediatric primary care, pediatric acute care and an advanced clinical nursing practicum.
UTA's online MSN in Acute Primary Care Nurse Practitioner includes these key elements:
- A high-quality program which produces highly employable graduates
- Preparation to utilize expertise in providing care to acutely ill children, including diagnostic reasoning, complex monitoring, and intense therapies
- Provide pediatric care and case management for pediatric patients and their families through the management of acute, chronic, complex and unstable illness
- Practice in using research and theoretical knowledge to implement therapies that restore health, minimize complications, reduce risk factors and improve the growth and development of the child
- Instruction in coordinating the acute care of the child in collaboration with other healthcare professionals with attention to principles of ethics, advocacy for the child and family, and an understanding of varying constructs of culture
- Develop interprofessional and collaborative relationships to address health problems related to economic, psychosocial, cultural and environmental factors in the quality improvement of healthcare delivery to the pediatric population
Graduates are eligible to be licensed as Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioners by the Texas Board of Nursing and to take the PNP-AC National Certification Exam through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
The CCNE-accredited MSN in Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program can lead to expanded roles in clinical settings such as:
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PACU)
- Pediatric Sedation Service Operations
- Pediatric Sub Specialty Clinic (Hematology, Nephrology)
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PACU)
- Pediatric Sedation Service Operations
- Pediatric Sub Specialty Clinic (Hematology, Nephrology)
Clinical Requirements
The clinical requirements included in the MSN in Pediatric Acute Care NP program at UTA are intended to provide students with experiential learning opportunities to enable them to transition successfully into the role of the nurse practitioner. An essential part of each clinical experience is active, hands-on practice, guided by a licensed preceptor with expertise in their advanced nursing practice specialty.
Clinical placement at The University of Texas at Arlington in the graduate nursing department is a collaborative process with each student. Students are asked to locate a preceptor which is aligned with their program requirements; however, the Graduate Nursing Department will provide assistance with clinical placement when a student is experiencing difficulty. Clinical placement policies are available in the Graduate Nursing clinical management system, Exxat, and are available to all students upon admission.
Due to the rigorous nature of the graduate nursing program and the time commitment of the coursework and clinical, students can expect to spend a significant amount of time studying and preparing required assignments. Generally, a student will be expected to spend 5 hours per week outside the class room for every 1 credit hour of the course. This means a 3 credit-hour class would require approximately 15 hours per week of student study time. Given this, it is strongly recommended that accepted applicants limit work schedules to keep up with the academic rigor of the program.
The clinical requirements included in the MSN in Pediatric Acute Care NP program at UTA are intended to provide students with experiential learning opportunities to enable them to transition successfully into the role of the nurse practitioner. An essential part of each clinical experience is active, hands-on practice, guided by a licensed preceptor with expertise in their advanced nursing practice specialty.
Clinical placement at The University of Texas at Arlington in the graduate nursing department is a collaborative process with each student. Students are asked to locate a preceptor which is aligned with their program requirements; however, the Graduate Nursing Department will provide assistance with clinical placement when a student is experiencing difficulty. Clinical placement policies are available in the Graduate Nursing clinical management system, Exxat, and are available to all students upon admission.
Due to the rigorous nature of the graduate nursing program and the time commitment of the coursework and clinical, students can expect to spend a significant amount of time studying and preparing required assignments. Generally, a student will be expected to spend 5 hours per week outside the class room for every 1 credit hour of the course. This means a 3 credit-hour class would require approximately 15 hours per week of student study time. Given this, it is strongly recommended that accepted applicants limit work schedules to keep up with the academic rigor of the program.
State Authorization
Residents of certain states may not be eligible to enroll in all UTA accelerated online programs. See program map for details. Currently enrolled students who reside in ineligible states will need approval to continue uninterrupted in their programs in accordance with applicable state laws. Approval is not guaranteed.
Also available:
UTA offers a wide variety of nursing programs online. Check out all of our online nursing programs.
Not looking for an online program?
We also offer this program on campus!Accreditation
The baccalaureate, master's and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs and the post-graduate APRN certificate program in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at The University of Texas at Arlington are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Tuition
Discover the value of our low-cost tuition
The University of Texas at Arlington is committed to providing students with a quality, affordable education. That's why this online program offers pay-by-the course options.
To determine the cost of additional course materials required, check with the UTA Bookstore.
| Per Credit Hour | Per Course* | Per Program |
|---|---|---|
| $654 | $1,962 | $29,430 |
Tuition Guarantee
Did you know if you enroll now and complete your program without interruption, you can lock in your tuition rate? Read more
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Know the important dates for our students
The MSN in Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner online program offers multiple start dates to accommodate your professional and personal schedule.
| 8-week courses | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Payment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer I | 5/19/25 | 4/18/25 | 5/2/25 | 5/16/25 |
| Summer II | 6/30/25 | 5/30/25 | 6/13/25 | 6/27/25 |
| Fall I | 8/18/25 | 7/18/25 | 8/1/25 | 8/15/25 |
| Fall II | 9/29/25 | 8/29/25 | 9/12/25 | 9/26/25 |
| Fall III | 11/3/25 | 10/3/25 | 10/17/25 | 10/31/25 |
Now enrolling:
Ready to take the next steps toward earning your degree?
Admissions
Understand the application process for the online MSN - PNP - AC program
The College of Nursing and Health Innovation admission process is the first step toward changing your life and enriching the lives of others. Familiarize yourself with these admission requirements, along with information on required documentation.
Admission Requirements
- Online application
- Official transcripts
- Active RN license
- 2 Years experience
Online Admission Requirements
- Unconditional admission for students with a 3.0 GPA or higher
- Probationary admission for applicants with 2.8-2.99 GPA
- An unencumbered RN license
- Two years clinical RN experience within the area of concentration, in an acute care setting within the previous five (5) years is required
- Completion of all prerequisites, including: Bachelor of Science with a major in Nursing from ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program.
- Undergraduate (basic) statistics course with a minimum grade of "C"
- International students required to have two years clinical experience in a United States (or equivalent) healthcare system
- International students are required to have a TSE score of 40 or higher. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam is required if the applicant's native or first language is not English and if he or she does not hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. institution. TOEFL score requirement includes minimum of 550 on paper-based test, 213 on computer-based test, or 79 on the internet-based test, and achieve the following minimum scores of subtests: Writing, 22; Speaking, 21; Reading, 20; and Listening, 16; or IELTS minimum score of 7.0
Visit Graduate Nursing Advising for a list of AO Graduate advisors.
Transfer Credits
The maximum amount of credit that may transfer from another university is 10 semester hours. The syllabus for the course(s) you wish to transfer will need to be reviewed. You must apply before we can review your syllabus.
Have a question? Call us at 866-489-2810.
Learn more about our admission requirements, review the nursing handbook and policies, and discover tips for success on the UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation (CONHI) page.
Courses
Take a look at the online curriculum
To complete the MSN in Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Online program, students must complete the following courses.
Additional Information
Due to the rigorous nature of the graduate nursing program and the time commitment of the coursework and clinical, students can expect to spend a significant amount of time studying and preparing required assignments. Generally, a student will be expected to spend 5 hours per week outside the class room for every 1 credit hour of the course. This means a 3 credit-hour class would require approximately 15 hours per week of student study time. Given this, it is strongly recommended that accepted applicants limit work schedules to keep up with the academic rigor of the program.
To see which courses are going to be offered on each start date, download the course schedule.
*Per-course tuition based on 3 credit-hour courses.
