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Whether you’re a pediatric nurse or pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP), you provide medical care and attention to the same group of people: infants, children and adolescents. The major differences arise in the amount of schooling required and the exams or boards you must pass.

Pediatric Nurse Programs and Requirements 
In order to work as a pediatric nurse, you’ll begin by building a broad base of knowledge, going to school to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing. These degree programs are offered at colleges and universities across the country – online and on campus. After completing your schooling, you’ll need to take an exam called the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in order to be a licensed registered nurse (RN).

Once these first two steps are completed, you’ll be able to specialize in pediatrics. As a nurse seeking to specialize in pediatrics, it’s a matter of looking for and finding those jobs that serve infants, children and adolescents.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs and Requirements 
First and foremost, it’s important to know that additional schooling is required in order to be a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). In addition to earning your bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to go to school to earn a master’s degree.

Once you have earned both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees – most likely in nursing – it’s time for your exams. In order to be a practicing PNP, you must take and pass the state board of nursing, which recognizes you as an advanced practice nurse, as well as a separate exam that entitles a pediatric nurse to practice as a PNP.

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNP) and the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) websites can offer additional information about pediatric nursing as a career and available online pediatric nurse practitioner programs.

Are You Marketable?
In today’s competitive job market, schooling and degrees are only half the battle. Preemptively securing any necessary certifications can make you that much more marketable when looking for a job. Especially relevant to pediatrics, courses in pediatric advanced life support (PALS) offer even more knowledge and confidence when actually on the job. No matter where you are, you can take courses online in PALS certification. New York, Texas, Washington, or elsewhere – if you have access to a computer, you can be PALS certified.

Health Ed Solutions, the leading provider of the PALS online course, is an expert source of information when it comes to pediatric nurse practitioner programs and requirements. The comprehensive website offers important resources from the healthcare field, details on necessary certifications, and information about when to recertify, what courses are available online and when a skills session is required. Also available through Health Ed Solutions are certifications in ACLS, BLS, CPR and AED.