Nurse Anesthetist Career and Degree Guide
Other Advanced Nursing Careers
Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Degrees and Program Requirements
If you’re looking to advance your nursing career, pursuing a graduate degree in nurse anesthesia can be a rewarding choice. Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) play a critical role in the healthcare field and need advanced-level education to meet the demands of the job.
Key Takeaways
- Becoming a CRNA requires completing both rigorous coursework and clinical practice hours in settings like critical care.
- Many universities offer online CRNA programs, providing flexibility for working professionals.
- To practice, CRNAs must pass the certification exam administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists.
In this Article
CRNA Education Overview
Becoming a CRNA requires more time and education than some other nursing specialties. In the past you could obtain a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in nursing anesthesia, but as of 2025, all nurse anesthesia programs are now doctoral degrees. According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), there are 155 accredited nurse anesthesia programs in the United States and Puerto Rico as of March 2026.
But the extra time and effort can pay off. This career is in high demand. CRNAs are a type of advanced practice nurses, a group that also includes certified nurse midwives, family nurse practitioners, and more. Projected job growth for CRNAs is strong—8.6% through 2034, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Becoming a CRNA requires more time and education than some other nursing specialties, but the effort can pay off. This career is in demand.
According to U.S. News and World Report, job market and salary contribute to the nurse anesthetist rank of #5 on their list of Best Healthcare Jobs. Among advanced registered nurse practitioners, CRNAs have the highest salaries—a median of $236,590 per year, according to the BLS.
If you’re considering pursuing a career as a CRNA, learn what it takes to enter a degree program and what you can expect to study while you’re there.
What Degree Do I Need to Become a CRNA?
All new CRNAs must obtain a doctoral degree in nurse anesthesiology in order to practice. This changed in 2025—before that, there were master’s and doctoral programs available. Now, all programs award doctoral degrees.
The path to this important transition began in 2004, when the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recommended adopting a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (DNP) as the standard for entering the field. Three years later, the AANA approved a recommendation to require doctoral degrees for new CRNAs by 2025.
“(AANA) empowered a commission to examine the subject of doctoral education for nurse anesthetists and charged them to provide recommendations regarding the move to doctoral education as the entry degree for nurse anesthesia practice,” says John C. Preston, DNSc, CRNA, FNAP, APRN, chief credentialing officer for the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). “One of the early stimuli for considering this move came from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, which took the position that going forward, all advanced practice nurses should be educated at the practice doctorate level, utilizing the additional and higher-level educational preparation to support nursing’s pivotal role in the Unites States healthcare system.”
Doctoral Degree Requirements
In a change supported by the AANA, all new CRNAs must hold a doctoral degree to enter the field. Under the change, all CRNA degree programs must include a doctoral degree as of January 1, 2021, and all students enrolled in master’s degree programs at that time will be required to transition to a doctoral program.
CRNA degree programs must have a doctoral degree available as of:
January 1, 2021
John C. Preston, DNSc, CRNA, FNAP, APRN, chief credentialing officer for the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), cites a doctoral degree’s evidence-based focus for the transition.
“The emphasis that the doctoral education places on the utilization of evidence as the basis of all decisions, coupled with the specific focus of the practice doctorate on the translation of existing evidence into actions that further and improve health care processes and outcomes, will provide added and ongoing benefits to the recipients of healthcare, as well as the systems that deliver that care,” says Preston.
Doctoral Choices
Of the degree choices available to prospective CRNAs, many choose to pursue a DNP. Other options include:
Your program must be accredited by the COA. This is a requirement for taking the national certification exam that you’ll need to pass to be licensed as a CRNA.
Typical Program Requirements
Nurse anesthetist programs are competitive and academically rigorous. The first major requirement for admission is an active RN license in good standing—meaning it’s valid in the state where your school is located.
While it’s currently possible to become an RN with only an associate degree in nursing, CRNA programs require that you enter with a bachelor’s degree. Beyond that, specific application requirements will vary by program, but you can expect to need:
Requirements for a DNP program include a BSN or MSN from a nursing school accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), along with:
Prerequisites
Before you can enter a CRNA program, you’ll also need at least one year of experience working as an RN in a critical care setting, though your school may require more time. According to the AANA, aspiring CRNAs enter graduate programs with an average of 2.9 years of experience in critical care.
Before you can enter a CRNA program, you’ll need at least one year of experience working as an RN in a critical care setting.
You’ll also need to meet specific academic prerequisites for admission. If you’re applying with a recent bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), you’ll likely already have taken the required courses. However, if you earned your BSN more than five years prior or in a non-nursing field, you might need to take additional classes before applying. Common prerequisites include:
GPA, GRE and Critical Care Certification
GPA
Most programs require a GPA of at least 3.0, with some requiring as high as a 3.5. It’s especially important that you earn a GPA of at least 3.0 in your health- and science-related courses for admission to most programs.
GRE
Many programs require the GRE, though there are exceptions. In some cases—for instance, if you hold a recent BSN with a strong GPA—this requirement might be waived. Other programs may ask you to take an exam specific to their school or not require testing at all.
For programs requiring the GRE, many do not publish a minimum score requirement, but 300 is generally considered to be the lower end of the range of acceptable scores.
Critical Care Certification
Some programs also require applicants to have Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification, which requires an exam. Even if this credential isn’t required, getting it can demonstrate your level of expertise and commitment and increase your chances of being accepted into a competitive program.
Coursework
Coursework in your CRNA program will prepare you to administer anesthesia prior to surgery and monitor patients during and after procedures. You’ll study advanced pharmacology and physiology to understand the components of anesthesia and how to safely deliver it. Other classes will include subjects such as:
- Healthcare ethics
- Advanced pharmacology
- Advanced physiology
- Technology use in advanced nursing practice
- Biostatistics
- Best nursing practices
- Advanced pathophysiology
- Principles of nurse anesthesia
You should also expect to do scholarly research culminating in a capstone project that translates evidence from your research into practice. For example, a project could present ways to improve medical processes or programs.
Internship Requirements
Your CRNA program will require you to complete clinical fieldwork or an internship, including working alongside a practicing CRNA to gain hands-on knowledge and experience. Most programs will help place you in a clinical internship or practicum.
Most CRNA programs require you to complete at least 2,000 clinical practice hours over the course of at least two years.
In addition to practicing anesthesia in a supervised environment, you’ll have the chance to work in specialty areas like cardiac care or pediatrics. Most CRNA programs require you to complete at least 2,000 clinical practice hours over the course of at least two years.
Are Online Programs Available?
Many universities offer online CRNA programs that have flexible scheduling, a feature that appeals to students who work while they go to school or need to juggle family responsibilities.
These programs allow you to complete coursework online, but you’ll still need to spend significant time in a medical setting to get your clinical hours and hands-on training.
How Long Does It Take to Earn a Degree?
The AANA states that nurse anesthesia programs range from 36 to 51 months, depending on university requirements
That said, the time it takes to complete your undergraduate education, gain experience as an RN, complete a CRNA program, and apply for licensure can make the total commitment much longer.
This timeline includes:
Step
Time
Completing a bachelor’s degree
Around four years
Earning your RN certification
Eligible upon graduation
Gaining critical care experience
At least one year
Earning a doctorate
Three to five years of school
Earning an accelerated BSN to DNP
Three to four years of school full time
How to Choose the Right School
You’ll want to find a nurse anesthetist program that aligns with your goals, lifestyle, and learning style, and meets certification requirements. Some important questions to ask:
Nurse Anesthetist Certification
After completing your nurse anesthetist program, you’ll be ready to take the certification exam administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). You’ll answer a minimum of 100 computerized questions related to advanced nursing and anesthesia, though the test may ask up to 170 questions as it determines with certainty whether you pass or fail.
You’ll receive preliminary results once you’ve completed the exam, and official results will be mailed to you within four weeks. If you’ve passed, verification of your certification will be sent to your state board of nursing, and you can then complete any additional state licensing requirements.
Continuing Education
The NBCRNA oversees continuing education and recertification for CRNAs under the Maintaining Anesthesia Certification (MAC) program, which replaced the Continued Professional Certification (CPC) program in 2024. This program sets the number of continuing education credits needed by nurse anesthetists every four years.
The MAC program contains three key components. You’ll need to complete all three every four years to maintain your certification.
MAC Components
What They Mean
MAC Ed
60 credits every four years
Continuing education coursework directly related to administering or improving anesthesia care; these credits must be from board-approved providers and must be documented appropriately to count for recertification.
MAC Ed is the same requirement as before (60 Class A credits), just under a new name.
MAC Dev
40 credits every four years
Courses or service work related to CRNA professional development, including life support renewal, conferences, or volunteer leadership roles.
MAC Dev is the same requirement as before (40 Class B credits), just under a new name.
MAC Check
Self-paced, online platform that uses a longitudinal assessment over the four-year cycle
CRNAs complete 25 multiple choice and multi-select questions in the first quarter and up to 30 questions in every subsequent quarter. CRNAs receive immediate, ongoing feedback so they can measure and solidify their knowledge over time.
MAC Check replaces the former Continued Professional Certification Assessment (CPCA).
A Growing Field
Working as a certified registered nurse anesthetist can advance your nursing career and provide you with many professional opportunities. CRNAs are in high demand, with job growth projected at 8.6% through 2034.
“Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists have a long and distinguished track record of high-quality care provision. The movement to doctoral education for CRNAs is not about better care … that’s already part of the ‘DNA’ of the CRNA,” says Preston. “Rather, this move is more about boosting the scientific foundation and furthering the beneficial reach of nurse anesthesia beyond the bedside and into the structure and sources of health care policy, health care economics, and health care delivery.”
There are many educational pathways to this sought-after, rewarding career that can be tailored to your lifestyle, family responsibilities, budget, and professional goals.