CRNA school takes 36 months at almost every accredited program. AANA says programs range from 36 to 51 months, and the old 24 to 27 month master's programs no longer exist.
Counting a BSN and ICU experience, the whole path to becoming a CRNA usually takes about 8 years or more. Below is how the time breaks down and what shapes your own timeline.
Program length in 2026
Every entry-level nurse anesthesia program now awards a doctorate: either a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP). The COA's accreditation standards set the curriculum at a minimum of 3 years of full-time study, or longer if a program includes part-time periods.
On the COA's July 2026 list of accredited programs, the entry-level lengths look like this:
| Program length | Number of programs |
|---|---|
| 36 months | 150 |
| 38 months | 1 (UT Knoxville) |
| 39 months | 3 (Loma Linda, Mayo Clinic, Drexel) |
| 41 months | 1 (La Salle) |
| 51 months | 1 (Tornetta School, closing December 31, 2026) |
So for practical planning, assume 36 months. If a program you like runs longer, the extra months are usually built into the program design.
What happened to 24-month programs?
Nurse anesthesia programs used to award master's degrees and often ran about 24 to 27 months. Programs then moved to the doctorate for entry into practice. In 2025, 99.9% of first-time certification exam takers came from doctoral programs, according to the NBCRNA.
If you see a "24-month CRNA program" advertised, it is out of date or it is a completion degree for people who are already CRNAs. Our 24-month CRNA programs page explains this in more detail.
How long the whole path takes
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| BSN | About 4 years |
| RN licensing exam | A few months after graduation |
| Critical care experience | At least 1 year, often 2 to 4 |
| Applications and waiting for a start date | Several months to a year |
| Nurse anesthesia program | 36 to 51 months |
| Certification exam and state licensing | A few weeks to a few months |
| Total from starting a BSN | About 8 years or more |
Most applicants have more than the one-year ICU minimum. Programs that publish data show this: Wake Forest's recent admitted classes averaged about 3 years of ICU experience, and Edgewood's about 4.
The NBCRNA reports that the average age of first-time certification exam takers in 2025 was 30.6. For the full step-by-step plan, see how to become a CRNA.
Front-loaded vs integrated programs
Programs organise their 36 months in two main ways.
Front-loaded
You spend roughly the first year to 18 months on classroom and simulation work, then move into full-time clinical rotations. Georgetown, for example, describes 12 months of front-loaded coursework followed by two years of clinical focus. Rosalind Franklin describes 18 months of didactic study, then 18 months of clinicals.
Some front-loaded programs start with online semesters. Samford's first two semesters are online, and its site says students "may be able to continue to work" during them.
Integrated
You start clinical time earlier and take classes and clinicals together for most of the program. Vanderbilt says its clinical experience begins in semester 3. Integrated programs can feel more varied, but there is less time when you are only in class.
Neither model is better for everyone. Ask each program how many days a week you will be in clinicals each semester.
What the 36 months involve
- Didactic courses in advanced physiology, pharmacology, chemistry and physics, and anesthesia principles.
- Doctoral courses in research, leadership and health policy, plus a scholarly project.
- Simulation, which the COA requires programs to include.
- Clinical residency: the COA sets a minimum of 2,000 clinical hours. Students who started in 2026 or later must also log at least 700 cases. AANA reports graduates average 9,432 clinical hours.
The COA also caps student time at 64 hours per week, averaged over four weeks, counting class and clinical hours together. Expect school to be your full-time job. See part-time CRNA programs for why most students do not work.
Ways your timeline can change
- More ICU time. Many people spend 2 to 4 years in the ICU before they are competitive.
- Reapplying. Seats are limited, and many strong applicants apply more than once. See CRNA school acceptance rates.
- Start dates. Programs start in different months, and most take one class a year. Check application deadlines so you don't lose a year.
- Prerequisites. Missing chemistry or statistics can add a semester. See CRNA school requirements.
- Leave or remediation. A leave of absence or repeating a course can extend school.
FAQ
Can you finish CRNA school in 2 years?
No. Accredited entry programs now take at least 36 months. Two-year programs ended with the move to doctoral degrees.
How long is CRNA school if I already have an MSN?
You still complete the full entry program, which is 36 months at most schools. Ask each program whether it accepts any transfer credit.
How long does it take a practicing CRNA to get a doctorate?
Completion degrees for CRNAs with a master's run about 12 to 30 months on the COA list. See post-master's DNP programs.
Sources
- AANA: CRNA fact sheet
- AANA: Become a CRNA
- COA: List of accredited educational programs (July 8, 2026)
- COA Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs, Practice Doctorate (effective January 2026)
- NBCRNA: Annual NCE and SEE report 2025
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine nurse anesthesia program
- Edgewood University DNP nurse anesthesia
- Georgetown University nurse anesthesia
- Rosalind Franklin University entry DNP
- Samford University nurse anesthesia
- Vanderbilt University nurse anesthesia DNP