Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC) Certification and Licensure
PNCB is the only body that certifies new PNP-ACs. Your state board then licenses you as an NP in the pediatrics population.
Do states license PNP-ACs differently?
- No separate PNP-AC license. Boards license NPs by role and population focus. The PNP-AC track covers children in acute care, under the "Pediatrics" focus in the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation.
- One certifying body. Only PNCB certifies new PNP-AC candidates, as CPNP-AC.
- Acute care is its own track. Your certification has to match your education, so an acute care program does not qualify you for CPNP-PC, the PNP-PC certification.
- Renewal: every year. 15 contact hours every year, plus module and pharmacology requirements over a 7-year cycle
PNP-AC certification options
Exams open to new candidates, from each body's own handbook and fee pages. Figures last checked October 12, 2026; fees change, so confirm before you pay.
| Certifying body | Credential | Exam fee | Questions / time | Min. clinical hours | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNCB Pediatric Nursing Certification Board | CPNP-AC | $407 | 175 questions, 3 hours | See PNCB | Every year 15 contact hours every year, plus module and pharmacology requirements over a 7-year cycle |
- CPNP-AC: PNCB's acute care eligibility page sets the clinical-hour rule. We have not verified its wording, so check it directly.
How state licensure works for PNP-ACs
The 2008 Consensus Model for APRN Regulation sets out six population foci. States that follow it issue an APRN license for a role (here, certified nurse practitioner) plus one of those foci. In its words: "APRNs are licensed at the role/population focus level and not at the specialty level."
For a PNP-AC, that focus is pediatrics. The model also requires that "Education, certification, and licensure of an individual must be congruent in terms of role and population foci. APRNs may specialize but they cannot be licensed solely within a specialty area." A clinical specialty such as dermatology or oncology is not a licensure category.
Acute and primary care are split within the pediatrics focus: " CNP certification in the acute care or primary care roles must match the educational preparation for CNPs in these roles." Compare the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC) page if you are choosing between them.
NCSBN notes that not every state has adopted every element of the Consensus Model. Your board decides what it requires, including whether it requires national certification. Practice authority and prescribing rules also come from the state where you practice: see the state guides below.
On clinical hours, the 2022 Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, 6th Edition (Criterion III.H) call for at least 750 direct patient care hours per population-focused track, and simulation does not count. The NTF document sets no compliance date. Each accreditor and certifier decides when to move from its current minimum.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a separate PNP-AC license?
No. States license nurse practitioners at the role and population-focus level, not by specialty. PNP-ACs fall under the "Pediatrics" population focus in the 2008 Consensus Model for APRN Regulation, and your education, certification, and license have to match that focus.
Which certification do I need for PNP-AC licensure?
Only PNCB certifies new PNP-AC candidates, through the CPNP-AC exam.
How many clinical hours do you need for PNP-AC certification?
PNCB sets the clinical-hour minimum for the CPNP-AC exam on its eligibility page; check it before you apply.
How often do you renew PNP-AC certification?
CPNP-AC renews every year: 15 contact hours every year, plus module and pharmacology requirements over a 7-year cycle.
What is the difference between PNP-AC and PNP-PC certification?
They are separate acute care and primary care tracks with separate exams. The Consensus Model for APRN Regulation requires acute care or primary care certification to match your educational preparation, so an acute care program leads to the CPNP-AC exam, not CPNP-PC.
Related NP specialties
Sources
- https://www.ncsbn.org/public-files/Consensus_Model_for_APRN_Regulation_July_2008.pdf
- https://www.ncsbn.org/nursing-regulation/practice/aprn/aprn-consensus.page
- https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/CCNE/NTFS-NP-Final.pdf
- https://www.pncb.org/cpnp-ac-exam-eligibility
- https://www.pncb.org/certifications
- https://www.pncb.org/cpnp-pc-recertification