Discover Leading Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs Near Bellevue, Washington

Last Updated/Verified: Sep 19, 2025
Leading Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs Near Bellevue, Washington

Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who specialize in providing comprehensive healthcare to infants, children, and adolescents. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 38 percent growth in nurse practitioner employment between 2022 and 2032, making this one of the fastest growing roles in healthcare. This rapid increase reflects a broader demand for providers focused on children who can deliver preventive, acute, and chronic care across diverse communities.

Bellevue, Washington, is uniquely positioned to meet this demand. Located just across Lake Washington from Seattle, Bellevue is part of the thriving Puget Sound healthcare corridor. The city combines strong family oriented communities with access to world class healthcare systems, creating an ideal setting for nurses seeking advanced pediatric practice education. With its growing population and cultural diversity, Bellevue offers both the training environment and career opportunities needed to excel as a pediatric nurse practitioner.

2026 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs Near Bellevue, Washington

If you're looking for pediatric nurse practitioner programs in Bellevue, Washington, nursepractitioneronline.com offers reliable rankings to help you choose the best options. Our team evaluates schools based on factors like accreditation, curriculum quality, and student outcomes to ensure you get accurate and helpful information. We aim to make your search easier by providing clear insights into top programs in the area. For details on how we rank these programs, check out our methodology page at https://www.nursepractitioneronline.com/rankings-methodology/.
#1

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Tacoma, WA - Public 4-Year - tacoma.uw.edu

Doctorate - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care

Concentration: Acute Care - Online & Campus Based - Visit Website

The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care DNP program at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus is a 9-quarter hybrid track focused on acute care for children from late preterm to young adulthood. It requires an entrance exam and prepares graduates for PNCB certification, with pre-arranged clinical placements and $3.8M in scholarships available. Students gain skills in diagnostic interpretation and patient-centered care in settings like ICUs and emergency departments.

  • 9-quarter DNP program
  • Full-time, in-person training
  • Pre-arranged clinical placements
  • Only WWAMI region PNP-AC track
  • $3.8M in DNP scholarships
  • Graduates eligible for PNCB certification
  • One year RN experience recommended

Doctorate - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care

Concentration: Primary Care - Online & Campus Based - Visit Website

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus offers a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care DNP program, emphasizing holistic care and disease prevention for pediatric patients. This 9-quarter hybrid program requires an entrance exam and includes pre-arranged clinicals, preparing graduates for national certification. With a #2 ranked public nursing school status, it focuses on comprehensive assessments and diverse practice environments.

  • 9-quarter Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Pre-arranged clinical placements
  • Full-time, in-person program
  • National certification eligibility
  • Comprehensive pediatric healthcare focus
  • Practice in diverse healthcare settings
Show 1 More Programs ˅
*Based on: NCES IPEDS 2023 data collection. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Why Bellevue Provides an Ideal Environment for Pediatric NP Education

Bellevue's healthcare system blends suburban convenience with access to advanced regional resources. Families in King County expect high quality pediatric care, creating steady demand for highly trained providers. The city's integration into the greater Seattle metropolitan area ensures access to a broad spectrum of clinical training environments, from large pediatric specialty centers to neighborhood community clinics.

The demographic profile of Bellevue emphasizes the importance of pediatric training. With a mix of young families, immigrant populations, and multilingual communities, pediatric NP students develop essential skills in culturally responsive care. This includes working with diverse family structures, addressing health disparities, and supporting preventive care for children across backgrounds. Research from the Health Resources and Services Administration highlights the importance of pediatric providers in regions experiencing rapid population growth.

What Pediatric NP Programs Cover

Graduate-level pediatric NP programs are designed to prepare nurses for advanced practice in child health. They combine rigorous academic coursework with immersive clinical experiences that strengthen clinical decision making and family care.

Core Learning Areas

  • Pediatric growth and development across age stages
  • Advanced pharmacology specific to children
  • Acute and chronic pediatric illness management
  • Preventive and wellness focused pediatric care
  • Family engagement and health education strategies

Students often complete clinical placements in outpatient pediatric clinics, school health programs, and hospital pediatric units. In Bellevue, these settings provide exposure to both routine well child visits and high acuity pediatric cases.

Approaches to Keeping Pediatric NP Education Affordable

The Seattle–Bellevue area is known for its higher cost of living, which makes affordability a major consideration for graduate nursing students. Nurses pursuing pediatric NP education in Bellevue can take advantage of several strategies to make the process financially manageable.

Cost Saving Strategies

  1. Employer Tuition Assistance: Many Puget Sound health systems provide tuition reimbursement for nurses pursuing high demand NP specialties. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners notes that employer supported funding is one of the most effective ways to offset tuition costs.
  2. Scholarships and Grants: National organizations such as the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and regional associations offer financial support.
  3. Hybrid or Online Coursework: Flexible formats help reduce commuting costs while keeping students connected to local clinical sites.
  4. Part-Time Enrollment: Spreading coursework over a longer timeline allows students to balance income with education.

These approaches allow nurses to pursue advanced education without compromising financial stability.

Bellevue's Pediatric NP Career Outlook

Graduates of pediatric NP programs near Bellevue benefit from a strong regional demand for child-focused providers. King County’s population growth, driven by the tech industry boom and international immigration, has created a particularly high need for pediatric services among diverse, highly-educated families. The region’s focus on preventive health services and high rates of health insurance coverage ensure a variety of career opportunities.

Pediatric NP Employment Settings

  • Outpatient Clinics: Delivering well-child visits, vaccinations, and chronic condition management at major healthcare systems like Seattle Children’s Hospital outpatient locations, Kaiser Permanente clinics, and UW Medicine facilities throughout the Eastside
  • Hospital Pediatric Units: Caring for children with complex and acute medical needs at Seattle Children’s Hospital (ranked among the nation’s top pediatric hospitals), Overlake Medical Center, and EvergreenHealth
  • School Programs: Providing preventive care and health education directly in educational settings within Bellevue School District (consistently ranked among Washington’s top districts), Lake Washington School District, and Issaquah School District
  • Community Health Centers: Serving diverse families with accessible, culturally sensitive pediatric care including significant Korean, Chinese, Indian, and other Asian populations that comprise over 40% of Bellevue’s demographics
  • Specialty Pediatric Practices: Working in subspecialty areas like pediatric cardiology, neurology, and developmental pediatrics at Seattle Children’s specialty clinics in Bellevue and throughout the Eastside
  • Tech Company Employee Health: Providing pediatric services through corporate wellness programs for families of Microsoft, Amazon, T-Mobile, and other major tech employers headquartered in the region

Pediatric providers are critical to addressing gaps in child health services particularly for multilingual families and children with complex medical needs requiring specialized care. In Bellevue, this translates into job stability and competitive salaries for graduates with median household incomes among the highest in the nation, supporting strong demand for premium pediatric healthcare services.

Balancing Program Quality with Accessibility

Affordability is important, but quality remains essential when evaluating pediatric NP programs. Prospective students should assess several key indicators to ensure their chosen program offers strong academic and clinical preparation.

Program Quality Indicators

  • Accreditation by nationally recognized nursing education bodies
  • Certification exam pass rates for pediatric NP graduates
  • Diversity of supervised pediatric clinical placements
  • Faculty expertise in child and family health

By considering these factors, students ensure they graduate fully prepared for advanced pediatric practice while also making sound financial decisions. The Washington State Board of Nursing provides guidance on accreditation and licensure standards.

Hypothetical Case Example: Advancing in Bellevue

Sarah, a registered nurse with five years of experience at Seattle Children’s Hospital Bellevue Clinic, chooses to enroll in a part-time hybrid pediatric NP program while continuing to work full-time. Coursework is completed online through the University of Washington’s highly-ranked nursing program, while local rotations provide practical experience with children and families at diverse clinical sites including Overlake Medical Center’s pediatric unit, Eastside community health centers serving multilingual families, and school-based health programs in the Lake Washington School District.

Sarah’s clinical rotations expose her to the unique healthcare needs of Bellevue’s demographics, including managing care for children from tech industry families with complex schedules, providing culturally competent care to Korean and Chinese-speaking families, and addressing developmental concerns in gifted children attending the area’s academically rigorous schools. With support from Seattle Children’s Hospital’s generous tuition reimbursement program (covering up to $8,000 annually) and scholarships from the Washington State Nurses Association and local pediatric associations, Sarah successfully completes her degree in 28 months and advances into a pediatric NP role specializing in developmental pediatrics without accumulating unmanageable debt.

Upon graduation, Sarah accepts a position at Seattle Children’s new Bellevue specialty clinic, earning a starting salary of $125,000 with comprehensive benefits, sign-on bonus, and loan forgiveness options. Her bilingual capabilities in Korean, developed through community engagement during her program, make her particularly valuable in serving Bellevue’s diverse Asian population.

This example underscores how Bellevue’s healthcare infrastructure including world-class pediatric facilities, diverse patient populations, and strong employer support for continuing education and professional resources support accessible and sustainable career advancement in one of the nation’s most competitive healthcare markets.

Steps Toward Enrollment

Nurses interested in pediatric NP programs near Bellevue can take several proactive steps to begin the process:

  • Research tuition costs and available financial aid packages
  • Explore hybrid or flexible course delivery options
  • Engage with admissions advisors to confirm local clinical placement opportunities
  • Seek mentorship and scholarship opportunities through pediatric professional associations
  • Verify accreditation and review certification exam pass rates

These steps give prospective students a clear path forward as they weigh program quality, financial considerations, and long-term career goals.

Strengthening Pediatric Care in the Puget Sound Region

Completing a nurse practitioner in Washington represents more than individual achievement. It contributes directly to the health of families across King County by expanding access to advanced pediatric providers. Local training ensures that graduates are prepared to meet the needs of diverse populations while supporting community health priorities.

Bellevue's balance of strong healthcare infrastructure, diverse populations, and communities focused on families makes it an ideal location for pediatric NP education. Pediatric nurse practitioners who choose to advance their careers here gain the opportunity to shape the future of child health while building sustainable and rewarding professional pathways.

Sources

Whitney Weingarten, FNP-C
Latest posts by Whitney Weingarten, FNP-C (see all)

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