Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

DNP with Specialization in Anesthesiology

This program will enroll its first cohort in Fall 2026.

The University of the Incarnate Word proudly introduces its Doctor of Nursing Practice–Nurse Anesthesia (DNP-CRNA) program, designed to prepare the next generation of highly skilled Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Rooted in UIW’s mission of education, service, and social justice, the program equips nurses with the advanced clinical expertise, leadership skills and compassion needed to provide safe, evidence-based anesthesia care across diverse patient populations and healthcare settings. With a focus on innovation, interprofessional collaboration, and excellence in practice, our CRNA program empowers graduates to meet the growing demand for anesthesia providers and to lead with purpose in a dynamic healthcare environment.

CRNA Admissions Requirements

• A baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing granted by a regionally or internationally accredited college or university. Official transcripts must be submitted.
• An unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse and/or an APRN in the United States or its territories or protectorates.
• A minimum of 1-year full-time work experience as a registered nurse in a critical care setting within the last three years. Two to three years of critical care is preferred. The applicant must have developed as an independent decision maker capable of using and interpreting advanced monitoring techniques based on knowledge of physiological and pharmacological principles.
• Critical Care Certification for Registered Nurses (CCRN)
• Current certification in Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support and Pediatric Life Support
• A minimum grade point (GPA) of 3.2 on a scale of 4.0. Deference is given to the last sixty hours of undergraduate work.
• Successful completion (Grade B or better) of one graduate-level chemistry course with a laboratory component. The course (not the laboratory component) must have been taken within the last five years of beginning the program. Organic chemistry or biochemistry is strongly preferred. NURS 6301: Transition to Nurse Anesthesiology, offered by UIW, meets the chemistry prerequisite for the program. A three-credit statistics course is also required.
• Two professional references from healthcare providers who are knowledgeable of the applicant's academic potential and clinical aptitude.
• Applicants are required to arrange an observation (shadowing) experience with a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and provide documentation of this experience.
• Documentation of the understanding of the role of a CRNA with an essay submission is required (personal statement).
• International applicants must meet all requirements for international applicants listed in the general admissions section of the graduate catalog.
• Attendance at a personal interview, invited by the Program's Admission Committee, is required.
• Attendance at the program's mandatory orientation is required for matriculation.
• Upon acceptance to the program, a non-refundable program fee is required to hold a seat in the program for enrollment (the program fee is separate from tuition fees and does not count toward tuition).
• Students will require a clear background check, fingerprinting, drug screening and all current certifications and licensures.

How to Apply for the CRNA

Applications will open in the spring for enrollment in the fall semester. The application process will include submitting an application through NursingCAS.

Inquire About the CRNA Program