How Do I Become a Certified Pediatric Nurse?

The steps you'll have to take to become a certified pediatric nurse will likely depend on your jurisdiction. Typically, however, you will have to complete a jurisdiction-approved education program that lasts from about one to four years. After your training is complete, you will usually have to pass a licensing exam and meet other criteria to gain the right to practice nursing in your area. At this point, you will have to seek experience in a pediatric nursing environment. With this requirement complete, you may then have to pass another exam to become a certified pediatric nurse.

Most jurisdictions have educational requirements you'll have to meet to become a certified pediatric nurse. Some programs that are offered through hospitals last for as little as one year. In most cases, however, you will have to complete a two-year nurse education program at a community college or a four-year bachelor's degree program at a university to pursue this career. Generally, you may find more opportunities available to you if you opt for a bachelor's degree, though many aspiring nurses choose two-year programs instead.

Once your nurse education program is complete, you will typically have to seek licensing in your jurisdiction. To do this, you may have to pass a standardized nurse licensing exam and meet other requirements set by the licensing body. For instance, you might have to submit to a background check and pay a licensing fee as part of this process.

Often, the organizations that offer certification for pediatric nurses require aspiring certified nurses to have experience in the field. As such, you may have to work with children in a nursing setting for a significant amount of time. For example, you could gain the work experience you need for certification by working at a children's hospital or in a pediatrician's office. You could also secure the desired work experience in a school nurse's office. The amount of pediatric nursing experience you need typically depends on the organization through which you seek certification.

As with licensing, you will most likely have to pass an exam to gain certification to be qualified to work in this field. You may have to prove your eligibility for the exam by demonstrating that you have met all the requirements set by the certifying body. Once you've done so, your final steps include paying for the exam and passing it with a high enough score to become a certified pediatric nurse.