How Do I Become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner?

The path to becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner typically involves spending several years on education and training. The first step is usually earning a bachelor's degree in nursing before going on to become licensed as a registered nurse. Once you have earned registered nurse status in your jurisdiction, you will likely have to gain experience in nursing. For example, you may spend a year or two working as a pediatric nurse before you move forward with this career path. Finally, you'll return to school to earn a master's degree in nursing to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

To become a pediatric nurse practitioner, you will typically have to start with earning a high school diploma or an equivalent credential in your jurisdiction. A diploma is usually a requirement for admission to a nurse education program. All of the classes you take in high school may provide important preparation for pursuing this career, but some may prove more preparatory than others. For example, science and health classes may help you prepare for this career. Additionally, classes that help you build written and verbal communication skills may prove helpful as well.

After you graduate from high school or earn an equivalent diploma, you will have to become registered nurse. To accomplish this with the goal of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner, you will most likely enroll in a bachelor of nursing degree program. You can typically complete such a program in about four year's time. Achieving this level of education is usually enough to allow you to work as a pediatric nurse, though you will have to spend additional time working to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Most jurisdictions have specific requirements you'll have to meet to become a registered nurse. Typically, you will have to pay a fee, complete an application, and demonstrate that you have completed a jurisdiction-recognized nurse education program. After doing so, the next step is usually passing a nurse licensing examination. Upon passing this test, you will likely receive a license to practice as a registered nurse.

Once you are licensed to practice nursing, you will typically have to gain some experience in pediatric nursing before moving forward on this career path. You may do this by working in a hospital, urgent-care facility, outpatient clinic, school, or doctor's office. Essentially, any nursing experience you gain by working with children will likely help you toward your goal. The amount of experience you need will typically depend on the jurisdiction, but two years is often the norm.

When you've gained experienced as a pediatric nurse, it's time to go back to school to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. This time, you'll need to seek a master's degree in nursing, which may require about two to three years of study. Once you've graduated, you must then take a certification exam to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.