Pediatric NP - Acute Care Advanced Certificate

The Pediatric NP - Acute Care Advanced Certificate program prepares pediatric nurse practitioners trained in primary care to additionally care for children with acute, complex, critical and chronic illnesses, disabilities or injuries.

Students who pursue this two-semester advanced certificate program will be well-prepared to work in a variety of acute care settings, such as pediatric intensive care units, pediatric inpatient units, pediatric emergency rooms, pediatric urgent cares, pediatric trauma centers, and pediatric specialties such as cardiology, pulmonology, and neurology.

The program — the first of its kind in New York State — focuses on caring for children of all ages and prepares students to deliver high-quality advanced nursing care that restores health, prevents complications, and assists patients and families in navigating rapidly changing acute health care environments. Upon graduating from the program, students will be prepared to sit for the acute care pediatric nurse practitioner certification exam (CPNP-AC). 

All didactic content is delivered online, with two on-campus intensives per semester at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. Each semester is 6-9 credit hours (depending on the number of clinical hours the student needs).

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Pediatric NP - Acute Care Advanced Certificate program is composed of selected professional core and clinical courses. With faculty advisement, students are responsible for designing appropriate degree plans.

Professional core courses (typically transferred in from primary care program):

• NPG 404 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology 
• NPG 406 Advanced Pharmacology
• NPG 410 Advanced Health Assessment 

Clinical specialty courses:

• NUR 433 Pediatric Acute Care NP I (4 didactic credits, 1 lab credit, variable clinical credits)
• NUR 434 Pediatric Acute Care NP II (4 didactic credits, 1 lab credit, variable clinical credits)

Eligibility & Admissions

The Pediatric NP - Acute Care Advanced Certificate program accepts new students once a year in the fall semester. The application deadline has been extended to May 1 for Fall 2025 admission. Applicants must have completed a master’s degree as a pediatric nurse practitioner from an accredited school. See full eligibility and admissions requirements for the Advanced Certificate programs.