The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners was founded in 1973 as a non-profit organization devoted to improving child health care and representing the interests of pediatric nurse practitioners/associates. In May of that year PNPs from around the country met in Columbus, Ohio to discuss affiliation with an existing nursing or medical professional group. They concluded that PNPs would best be served by their own specialty nursing organization, and scheduled a national meeting in October. At that meeting, with the unanimous vote of 400 PNPs, NAPNAP was born.

During the first few years NAPNAP focused on defining standards for PNP education and practice, on developing a certification process for PNPs, and on refining its organizational structure and goals. Early on, the organization also began to monitor health legislation and to actively marshal support among its constituents for specific legislative platforms. As NAPNAP matured, its activities expanded to include advising state boards of nursing, producing materials to educate consumers on childcare, and providing opportunities and funding for continuing education of PNPs. In 2002 NAPNAP serves over 6,500 members -- over 60% of PNPs nationally -- in 50 local chapters throughout the United States.