1. Attend college and earn a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. It is strongly suggested to maintain a strong grade point average (GPA) while working toward your degree, a 3.0 should be the minimum level that you acheive.

Experience as a RN

1. First and foremost you must get licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) before you can build up your experience.
2. Work for a minimum of 1-3 years as a RN (different CRNA programs have different requirements). Also, many programs require at least one year of ICU nursing experience as a RN. Again, check the requirements for programs that you are considering.

Getting into a CRNA Program

1. Make sure you meet the minimum requirements for the nurse anesthesia programs that you are thinking about applying to.
2. Study for and take the Graduate Record Exam or GRE. This test is a requirement for most if not all nurse anesthesia programs. Since competition to get into nurse anesthesia programs can be tough, a high score on the GRE is ideal.
3. Apply to programs (if possible apply to more than one programs to increase your chances of getting into at least one school) and interview with those that ask you in for an interview.
4. Choose the program that is the best fit for you based on the program’s length, location, reputation, etc.

School and Certification for a Nurse Anesthetist

1. While in a nurse anesthesia program try to get as much experience as possible. Work & study hard and don’t be afraid of new challenges, there will be many.
2. After graduating, get certified as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. The Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists or CCNA is responsible for administering the exam. With you education completed, you’ll still want to spend a bit of time studying for the exam.
3. After passing the exam you’re officially a certified registered nurse anesthetist, now go find a great job and enjoy your new career.

In 2005, the reported average annual salary for certified registered nurse anesthetists was $160,000.

For more certified registered nurse anesthetist salary info, visit the following website for nurse anesthetist salary information.

The study guide walks through a number of sample questions for the CRNA exam and reveals tried and tested strategies to help ensure that passing the exam is no problem. The study guide also offers a review on all of the most common test topics to help you brush up a bit before taking the exam.

Read more about the CRNA Exam Prep guide…

CRNA’s administer 30 million anesthetics in the United States each year in all surgical specialties and every setting where anesthesia is delivered. This profession is very committed to having a strong educational background and strict standards for accreditation. A nurse interested in becoming a CRNA must be dedicated to furthering their education, learning new clinical skills and honing their physical assessment abilities. However, this dedication is not without reward. CRNAs tend to be very satisfied with their jobs and are one of the best paid nursing specialties. The reported average annual salary in 2005 was approximately $160,000. This salary is reflective of the great responsibility of CRNAs. Some of these responsibilities include performing a pre-operative assessment of the patient, developing an anesthetic plan, selecting the appropriate monitors, administering the anesthetic drugs, managing the patients pulmonary and cardiovascular status, emerging the patient from the anesthesia, managing the recovery of the patient, providing post-operative pain control and responding to emergency situations. All of these responsibilities make for a challenging and rewarding career.

Alabama Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Nurse Anesthesia Program
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL

Samford University
Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing
Birmingham, AL

Arkansas Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Arkansas State University
College of Nursing and Health Professions
State University, AR

Arizona Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Midwestern University
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Glendale, AZ

Connecticut Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Fairfield University & Bridgeport Hospital
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Bridgeport, CT

Hospital of St. Raphael
School of Nurse Anesthesia
New Haven, CT

California Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

University of Southern California (USC)
Program of Nurse Anesthesia
Los Angeles, CA

Samuel Merritt College
Oakland, CA

Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia/California State University Fullerton
Department of Nursing
Pasadena, CA

Connecticut Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

New Britain School of Nurse Anesthesia
New Britain, CT

District of Columbia Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Georgetown University School of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Washington, DC

Florida Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

University of Miami
School of Nursing and Health Studies Nurse Anesthesia Program
Coral Gables, FL

University of South Florida
College of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Tampa, FL

Wolford College
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Naples, FL

University of North Florida
Nurse Anesthetist Program
Jacksonville, FL

Barry University
Master of Science Program in Anesthesiology
Miami Shores, FL

Florida Gulf Coast University
MSN Nurse Anesthesia Program
Fort Myers, FL

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Orlando, FL

Florida International University
Anesthesiology Nursing Program
Miami, FL

Gooding Institute of Nurse Anesthesia
Bay Medical Center
Panama City, FL

Georgia Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Medical College of Georgia
Nursing Anesthesia Program
Augusta, GA

Mercer University School of Medicine
Program in Nurse Anesthesia
Macon, GA

Illinois Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Decatur Memorial Hospital’s Nurse Anesthesia Program/Bradley University
Decatur, IL

NorthShore University HealthSystem
School of Nurse Anesthesia/DePaul University
Evanston, IL

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
North Chicago, IL

Rush University, College of Nursing
Chicago, IL

Iowa Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

The University of Iowa
College of Nursing
Anesthesia Nursing Program
Iowa City, IA

Kansas Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

University of Kansas Medical Center
Program of Nurse Anesthesia Education
Kansas City, KS

Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Wichita, KS

Kentucky Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Trover Health System/Murray State University
Program of Anesthesia
Madisonville, KY

Louisiana Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Our Lady of the Lake College
Baton Rouge, LA

Louisiana State University Health Sciences
Center (LSUHSC) School of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Option
New Orleans, LA

Maine Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

University of New England
School of Nurse Anesthesia
Portland, ME

Maryland Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

University of Maryland School of Nursing
Graduate Programs Nurse Anesthesia
Baltimore, MD

Navy Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program
Bethesda, MD

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Graduate School of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Bethesda, MD

Massachusetts Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Northeastern University
Bouve College of Health Sciences
Boston, MA

Boston College
William F. Connell School of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Chestnut Hill, MA

Michigan Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Oakland University Beaumont Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia
Royal Oak, MI

The University of Michigan-Flint/Hurley Medical Center
Master of Science in Anesthesia Program
Flint, MI

Michigan State University Nurse Anesthesia Program
College of Nursing
East Lansing, MI

University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesiology
Detroit, MI

Wayne State University, Eugene Applebaum
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Detroit, MI

Minnesota Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

University of Minnesota School of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Area of Study
Minneapolis, MN

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis School of Anesthesia
St. Louis Park, MN

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine,
School of Health Sciences
Master of Nurse Anesthesia Program
Rochester, MN

Missouri Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Webster University
Nurse Anesthesia Program
St. Louis, MO

Truman Medical Center
School of Nurse Anesthesia
Kansas City, MO

Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Saint Louis, MO

St. John’s School of Nurse Anesthesia at Missouri State University
Springfield, MO

Nebraska Jersey Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Bryan LGH Medical Center
School of Nurse Anesthesia
Lincoln, NE

New Jersey Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
School of Nursing/University Hospital
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Newark, NJ

Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center
Camden, NJ

New York Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Albany Medical College Nurse Anesthesiology Program
Albany, New York

Columbia University School of Nursing
Program in Nurse Anesthesia
New York, NY

SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn
Nurse Anesthesia Program with Harlem Hospital Center
Kings County Hospital Center
Brooklyn, NY

University at Buffalo
State University of New York
Nurse Anesthetist Program
Buffalo, NY

North Carolina Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Winston-Salem, NC

Duke University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Durham, NC

East Carolina University College of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Greenville, NC

Western Carolina University
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Candler, NC

Raleigh School of Nurse Anesthesia/University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Raleigh, NC

Carolinas Medical Center
Nurse Anesthesia Program/UNCC
Charlotte, NC

North Dakota Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

University of North Dakota
Nurse Anesthesia Specialization
Grand Forks, ND

Ohio Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

University of Cincinnati, College of Nursing
Masters Program-Nurse Anesthesia Major
Cincinnati, OH

Cleveland Clinic Foundation/Frances Payne Bolton
School of Nursing/Case Western Reserve University
School of Nurse Anesthesia
Cleveland, OH

Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Program of Nurse Anesthesia
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH

The University of Akron
College of Nursing – Graduate Anesthesia Program
Akron, OH

St. Elizabeth Health Center
Youngstown, OH

Oregon Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Oregon Health & Science University
School of Nursing
Portland, OR

Pennsylvania Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Wyoming Valley Health Care System/University of Scranton School of Nurse Anesthesia
Wilkes-Barre, PA

York College of Pennsylvania/WellSpan Health
Nurse Anesthetist Program
York, PA

Crozer Chester Medical Center/Villanova University
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Upland, PA

Allegheny Valley Hospital/La Roche College
School of Nurse Anesthesia
Natrona Heights, PA

University of Pennsylvania
School of Nursing – Nurse Anesthesia Program
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pittsburgh
School of Nursing – Nurse Anesthesia Program
Pittsburgh, PA

Thomas Jefferson University
Jefferson School of Nursing – Nurse Anesthesia Program
Philadelphia, PA

Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia at Montgomery Hospital/La Salle University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Norristown, PA

Hamot Medical Center School of Anesthesia/
Gannon University
Erie, PA

Nazareth Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesiology
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Philadelphia, PA

Excela Health School of Anesthesia
Latrobe, PA

Rhode Island Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs
St. Joseph Hospital
School of Anesthesia for Nurses
North Providence, RI

Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island
School of Nurse Anesthesia
Pawtucket, RI

South Carolina Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

USC/PRMH Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia
Columbia, SC

Medical University of South Carolina
Anesthesia for Nurses Program
Charleston, SC

South Dakota Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Mount Marty College Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesiology
Sioux Falls, SD

Tennessee Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga/Erlanger Health System
Nurse Anesthesia Concentration
Chattanooga, TN

The University of Tennessee
College of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Concentration
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
College of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Option
Memphis, TN

Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia
Madison, TN

Union University School of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Track
Jackson, TN

Lincoln Memorial University,
Caylor School of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Concentration
Harrogate, TN

Texas Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Texas Wesleyan University
Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia
Fort Worth, TX

U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing
Fort Sam Houston, TX

University of Texas at Houston Health Science
Center, School of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Division
Houston, TX

Texas Christian University
School of Nurse Anesthesia
Fort Worth, TX

Baylor College of Medicine
Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia
Houston, TX

Utah Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Westminster College
School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Salt Lake City, UT

Virginia Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Old Dominion University, School of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Norfolk, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University
Department of Nurse Anesthesia
Richmond, VA

Washington Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Sacred Heart Medical Center/Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA

West Virginia Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Mountain State University
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Beckley, WV

Charleston Area Medical Center
School of Nurse Anesthesia
Charleston, WV

Wisconsin Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs
Franciscan Skemp Healthcare School of Anesthesia
La Crosse, WI