Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner 

The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) graduate certificate prepares Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to provide care in the primary pediatric care role.

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Program Overview

The Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate is designed to prepare practicing advanced practice nurses (APRNs) with the specialized knowledge and clinical skills needed to provide comprehensive, evidence-based care to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults across the primary care continuum. The program emphasizes health promotion, disease prevention, developmental surveillance, chronic disease management, and family-centered care while integrating resource management, interdisciplinary collaboration, technology, information systems, and clinical reasoning into practice.

Why pursue a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate?

Children require specialized providers who understand the unique physical, developmental, behavioral, and psychosocial needs of pediatric populations. This certificate allows practicing APRNs to expand their scope of practice and gain expertise in delivering preventive care, managing acute and chronic illnesses, and promoting optimal growth and development. With an increasing need for pediatric-focused providers in primary care settings, this program prepares APRNs to deliver high-quality, accessible care while building long-term relationships with children and families.

What can you do with a graduate certificate in Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner?

The Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate prepares APRNs to provide comprehensive pediatric care in outpatient and community-based settings. Graduates are prepared to assess, diagnose, treat, and manage common acute illnesses, chronic conditions, and developmental concerns while providing well-child care, immunizations, screenings, and anticipatory guidance. Practice settings may include pediatric primary care offices, school-based clinics, community health centers, urgent care centers, and some specialty outpatient clinics. This certificate also provides eligibility to sit for national certification as a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, expanding professional opportunities in pediatric health care.

Curriculum

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Graduate Certificate Program of Study (effective Spring 2026)

Admissions

Learn more about eligibility and applying for graduate school at UT Knoxville and the specific admission requirements for the Certificate programs.

Learn more about admission and aid

Tuition and Aid

Investing in your future through graduate education is a valuable step toward achieving your career goals.

Learn more about our tuition and fees for the program

Please note stand-alone Graduate Certificates do not qualify for federal financial aid. 

Prerequisites

Clinical Graduate Certificates must take the following prerequisite courses within the last 5 years or will need to be retaken prior to entering the concentration courses.

• N639 – Advanced Health/Physical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
• N648 – Advanced Clinical Pharmacology
• N649 – Advanced Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice

Completing Courses at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Students who need to complete prerequisites are welcome to complete them at UT. To enroll in the perquisite courses, applicants must apply as a Non-Degree seeking student and be accepted. Prospective students will need to apply for the Certificate Program during a different cycle in order to complete the prerequisites. 

If you would like to take one of the prerequisite courses above, please reach out to [email protected] for more information about course availability.

Completing Courses Externally 

If the prerequisite courses were taken outside of UT, transcripts must be reviewed, and courses verified to ensure compliance with prerequisite requirements. Prospective students can send the syllabi of the courses to [email protected] to be reviewed.

On Site Visits

The clinical graduate certificates at the College of Nursing have mandatory clinical on-site sessions consisting of full-day experiences such as clinical labs or simulations.

On-site requirements provide opportunities for networking with peers, formative learning, and summative assessments of advanced clinical skills within the College of Nursing’s high-fidelity simulation center. These days cannot be missed, made up, or substituted with other types of assignments.

Intensives

Intensive requirements provide opportunities for networking with peers, formative learning, and summative assessments of advanced clinical skills within the College of Nursing’s high-fidelity simulation center. These days cannot be missed, made up, or substituted with other types of assignments.

Clinical Practicum

Beginning Spring 2026 students will complete a minimum of 840 hours of direct patient care clinical hours. 

Identification of clinical sites and preceptors involves a collaboration between the student and college faculty and staff. Students are encouraged to identify potential clinical sites and preceptors. Concentration Coordinators have ultimate approval of all clinical placements. Students desiring to complete clinical rotations outside the state of Tennessee must be familiar with their state Board of Nursing requirements for graduate clinical placements. Questions should be directed to the assistant dean of graduate programs.

Residence and Licensure

Special note for prospective students with residence and licensure outside of Tennessee. Graduate students may only complete clinical hours in the state of their official residence and licensure. Students wishing to complete clinical hours in a state other than Tennessee are responsible for ensuring the University of Tennessee, Knoxville College of Nursing has a state authorization with the Board of Nursing in their state of residence. Additionally, Students who reside outside of Tennessee and plan to complete clinical hours in a state other than Tennessee, will need to take additional steps to comply with the requirements of that state.

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Should you have any questions about the application process or how our blended curriculum works, we’re here to support you every step of the way. We offer information sessions and cover frequently asked questions to ensure you learn everything you need to know about advancing your nursing career! 

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