Before taking qualifications that provide the opportunity to learn specialist pediatric skills, it's necessary to become a qualified nurse. This can be done by obtaining an associated degree in nursing or a bachelor's degree in nursing. An associate degree is quicker and more flexible, meaning it's possible to enter the workforce earlier and train to become a pediatric nurse.
You can take pediatric courses from a number of organizations. The American Heart Association run a course called Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and the Emergency Nurses Association offer an Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course.
Alternatively, master's programs are available from a small number of universities that offer pediatric nursing, such as the University of California. However, it's necessary to have been practicing as a nurse for a minimum of one year or to have worked a certain amount of hours to be offered a place. Material covers classroom and clinical experiences encompassing advanced health assessment; physiology and pathophysiology; management of common and complex health/illness conditions; family, child and adolescent theory and development; nutrition; and advanced practice nursing role development.
A cheaper option is to gain experience of working with pediatric patients, where you can get on the job training. Some hospitals offer internships for nursing graduates which includes both classroom and clinical training.