CRNA School Requirements

To apply to CRNA school you need a bachelor's degree, an unencumbered RN license and at least one year of full-time critical care nursing. Those are the accreditation minimums, and most programs add their own requirements on top, such as a GPA floor, science prerequisites, CCRN certification and shadowing.

This guide covers each requirement in turn. Requirements change from cycle to cycle, so always confirm the details on each program's own website before you apply.

The three accreditation minimums

Every accredited nurse anesthesia program follows the standards of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). The COA's admission standard lists three requirements:

1. A baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing or an appropriate major. Most applicants hold a BSN. The "appropriate major" wording leaves room for other degrees, so check whether a program accepts a non-nursing bachelor's.
2. An unencumbered RN and/or APRN license in the United States or its territories or protectorates. Some programs, such as the University of Maryland, also require a license in the state or district where you will train. See our board of nursing and nursing compact states pages.
3. At least one year of full-time critical care experience as an RN, or the part-time equivalent.

One year is the floor. Many programs ask for more, and accepted applicants often have well over the minimum. Wake Forest reports an average of about 3 years of ICU experience in its recent classes, and Edgewood reports about 4.

Critical care experience: what counts

The COA defines a critical care area as one where the RN routinely manages one or more of these:

• invasive hemodynamic monitors (pulmonary artery, central venous pressure and arterial catheters)
• cardiac assist devices
• mechanical ventilation
• vasoactive infusions

The experience must be in the US, its territories or a US military hospital abroad. The COA's examples include surgical, cardiothoracic, coronary, medical, pediatric and neonatal ICUs. Experience in other areas "may be considered" if you can show the same skills, but each program decides what it accepts.

Units programs usually accept

• Surgical ICU, medical ICU and cardiothoracic or cardiovascular ICU
• Coronary care, neuro ICU, trauma ICU and burn ICU
• Pediatric ICU at many programs

Units programs usually do not accept

• Emergency department
• PACU (recovery room)
• Operating room
• Step-down, telemetry and cardiac cath lab

Neonatal ICU is the split case. Some programs accept it (Louisville and Michigan State say so). Others exclude it, including Northern Kentucky and Newman.

A few programs consider emergency department nurses who can show critical care skills. Midwestern University's Glendale program lists the emergency room as acceptable, while the University of Mobile and Emory say ED experience does not count.

This is why you must read each program's policy. If you are not yet in an ICU, read CRNA schools without ICU experience.

GPA and science GPA

Most programs set a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Many also look at a separate science GPA and the GPA from your last 60 credits. Accepted students usually sit well above the minimum.

Programs that publish averages for admitted students include:

If your GPA is low, recent graduate-level science courses with strong grades are the usual way to show you can handle the work.

Prerequisite courses

Prerequisites vary widely. Common ones are:

• Chemistry, often general chemistry with a lab. Some programs want organic chemistry or biochemistry, sometimes taken within the last five years (Rocky Vista asks for this).
• Statistics, often a graduate or undergraduate course taken within a set number of years.
• Anatomy, physiology and microbiology, usually covered by your BSN.

Northern Kentucky, for example, lists statistics, anatomy, physiology, chemistry with lab and microbiology for its BSN to DNP track. Check how recent each course must be.

CCRN certification

The CCRN is a critical care nursing certification from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). Some programs require it before you apply or interview, including Northern Kentucky, UNC Greensboro, York College and New Mexico State. Others list it as preferred, and Samford says it is "encouraged" but not required.

A few programs ask for your CCRN score report. Even when it is optional, the CCRN is a common way to show your critical care knowledge.

The GRE

Fewer programs require the GRE than in the past. Some have dropped it, some require it only below a GPA threshold, and some still require it for everyone. In Everything CRNA's School Finder data (October 2026), 83 of 154 accredited programs don't require it, 32 require it, and 16 waive or recommend it depending on the applicant. The rest don't say.

See our list of CRNA schools that do not require the GRE and confirm on each program's site before you book a test date.

Shadowing

Many programs require or strongly recommend shadowing a CRNA. Typical asks range from one shadow day to 16 or 20 documented hours, often on the program's own form. Northeastern asks for at least 20 hours, and Rocky Vista asks for at least 16.

Shadowing shows the admissions committee you understand the role. It also gives you real material for your essay and interview.

References, essay and interview

Expect to provide:

• Two or three references, often from a current nurse manager or supervisor, a colleague and sometimes a CRNA.
• A personal statement or essay about why you want to be a CRNA, what you saw while shadowing and what will help you succeed.
• A resume or CV showing your ICU experience, certifications and leadership roles such as charge nurse or preceptor.
• Life support certifications: BLS and ACLS, and usually PALS by the start of the program.
• An interview, often with clinical and pharmacology questions. See our CRNA interview questions guide.

Some programs also use the Casper situational judgment test.

Quick checklist

• BSN (or appropriate bachelor's) and an unencumbered RN license
• At least one year in an adult, pediatric or (where accepted) neonatal ICU
• GPA and science GPA at or above the program's minimum
• Chemistry, statistics and any other listed prerequisites, within the time limits
• CCRN, if required or preferred
• GRE, if required
• Shadowing hours and form
• References, essay, resume and certifications

Start with our full list of accredited programs and application deadlines. Then read our guide on how long it takes to become a CRNA.

FAQ

Can I apply with an associate degree in nursing?

No accredited program accepts an ADN alone. The COA requires a baccalaureate or graduate degree, so ADN nurses usually complete an RN to BSN program first.

Does travel nursing in the ICU count?

Often, yes, if it is in a qualifying ICU. Some programs prefer experience in a single unit or a high-acuity tertiary center, so ask the program.

Does my ICU orientation count toward the year?

It depends on the program. Emory, for example, says orientation is not part of its one-year requirement.

Is one year of ICU experience enough?

It meets the minimum. Most accepted applicants have more, so look at each program's published averages.

Sources

• COA Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs, Practice Doctorate (revised May 2025, effective January 2026)
• AANA: Become a CRNA
• Wake Forest University School of Medicine nurse anesthesia program
• Edgewood University DNP nurse anesthesia
• Augusta University nurse anesthesia
• Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia DNAP
• Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University nurse anesthesia
• Northern Kentucky University nurse anesthesia DNP
• Midwestern University DNAP, Glendale
• University of Mobile DNAP
• Emory University nurse anesthesia
• University of Louisville nurse anesthesia
• Michigan State University nurse anesthesiology
• Newman University DNAP
• University of Maryland DNP nurse anesthesia
• Rocky Vista University DNAP
• Northeastern University DNP nurse anesthesia
• UNC Greensboro nurse anesthesia
• York College of Pennsylvania DNP nurse anesthetist
• New Mexico State University DNP
• Samford University nurse anesthesia
• Marquette University nurse anesthesia FAQ