The nurse anesthesia profession is known for its highly respected educational system and its strong commitment to quality education. As of August 2018, there were 121 accredited nurse anesthesia educational programs in the United States and Puerto Rico, all affiliated with or operated by academic institutions; and 80 nurse anesthesia programs are approved to award doctoral degrees for entry into practice. The programs range from 24 to 51 months in length, depending upon university requirements, and all are at the master’s degree level or higher. This sophisticated educational system provides a graduate level science foundation along with clinical anesthesia experience to prepare student registered nurse anesthetists to become competent nurse anesthesia professionals.
How do I become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist?
In order to be a CRNA one must:
- Licensure as a registered nurse as well as current critical care experience in the registered nurse role.
- Meet the requirements for admission to a nurse anesthesia educational program.
- Graduate from a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) or its predecessor.
- Pass the certification examination administered by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists or its predecessor.
