Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

CRNA Admissions Requirements

Admission requirements are consistent with current requirements for the BSN to DNP program and those set forth by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA). The requirements include:

• A baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing from a regionally or internationally accredited college or university. Official transcripts must be submitted through NursingCAS as part of the application process.
• A current, unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse (RN) and/or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in the United States, its territories, or protectorates.
• A minimum of one year of full-time experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) in a critical care setting within the three years preceding admission to the program. Two to three years of critical care experience is preferred. 
• Current Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification.
• Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). All must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA).
• A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
• Successful completion (grade of B or better) of one graduate-level chemistry course and a chemistry laboratory component. The graduate-level chemistry course must have been completed within five years prior to beginning the program. The laboratory component may be completed at the undergraduate or graduate level and is not subject to the five-year requirement. Organic chemistry or biochemistry is strongly preferred.
  • NURS 6301: Transition to Nurse Anesthesiology, offered by UIW, meets the program's chemistry lecture prerequisite. It does not include a lab component.
• Successful completion (grade of B or better) of one statistics course at the undergraduate or graduate level. There is no time limit on when the course was completed.
• Two professional references from healthcare providers who can speak to the applicant’s academic potential and clinical aptitude.
• Completion of a shadowing experience with a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), with documentation of the experience.
• Submission of a personal statement demonstrating the applicant’s understanding of the role and responsibilities of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
• Applicants selected by the Program Admissions Committee must participate in a personal interview.
• Attendance at the program’s mandatory orientation is required prior to enrollment.
• Accepted applicants must pay a non-refundable program fee to secure their seat in the program. This fee is separate from tuition and will not be applied toward tuition costs.
• Students must successfully complete all required background checks, fingerprinting, and drug screenings and maintain current certifications and licensure throughout the program.