What is the difference between a family nurse practitioner and a pediatrician?

A nurse practitioner does not have M.D. (medical doctor) degree and does not have the needed education to be a pediatrician which is a medical doctor.

Nurse practitioners (also referred to as advanced practice nurses, or APNs) have a master's degree in nursing (MS or MSN) and board certification in their specialty. For example, a pediatric NP has advanced education, skills, and training in caring for infants, children, and teens.

Licensed as nurse practitioners and registered nurses, NPs follow the rules and regulations of the Nurse Practice Act of the state where they work. If accredited through the national board exam, the NP will have an additional credential such as Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) or Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (CFNP).

In addition, they have different tracks of education. The physician is trained in the medical model, and the nurse practitioner in the nursing model.