Top RN to CRNA Programs

What is an RN-CRNA Program?

An RN to CRNA program is for registered nurses who want to jump straight into a CRNA program without having to earn an MSN before doing so. Many of these programs offer hybrid approaches with online classes available.

Acceptance to a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program requires that students have a minimum of a BSN from a school accredited by the:

•  Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or the 
• The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

All CRNA programs must be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).

As of August 2022, there were 130 accredited nurse anesthesia programs in the United States and Puerto Rico. In addition, there are currently more than 2,300 active clinical rotation sites for students to practice their skills. 

Top RN to CRNA Programs 

1. Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University accepts baccalaureate-prepared nurses and post-master's degree-trained nurses who wish to become doctorally-trained CRNAs. 

The entry-to-practice program offers BSN students a hybrid schedule format with on and off-campus learning methods. The third and fourth semesters are a traditional format, and students are strongly encouraged not to work during that time.

• Application Deadline: March 1st

• Program Length: 9 semesters full-time

• Track Offered: Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)

  • Entry-to-Practice DNAP

• Location: 

  • Hybrid for the first two semesters, on campus for the remainder of the program

• Program Cost: 

  • In-state: $9,418.50 (per semester total)

  • Out-of-State: $16,810 (per semester total)

• Accreditation: 

  • Council on Accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs 

•  Contact Info: 

  • Phone: (804) 828-9808

  • Email: nrsa@vcu.edu

2. Duke University, Durham, NC

Duke University, accepts BSN-trained nurses and prepares them with skills in anesthetics administration in various types of clinical settings. Graduates from this program have an overall CRNA National Certification Examination pass rate of 100 percent!

• Application Deadline:  August 15th

• Program Length: 36 months full-time 

• Track Offered: Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia (NA-DNP)

• Location: Hybrid program (on-campus and online; nurse anesthesia courses are primarily on-campus; DNP courses are primarily online)

• Program Cost: $2,075 per credit (44 credits) = $91,300 tuition for first year

•  Accreditation: COA of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

•  Contact Info: 

  • Phone: (919) 684-3786

  • Email: Contact page

3. Baylor University, Houston, TX

The United States Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing (USAGPAN) program at Baylor College prepares students to become independent and doctorally-trained CRNAs. One huge advantage of this program is that all students are guaranteed job placement at an Army medical facility upon graduation.

• Application Deadline:

  • Civilians: Mid-June

  • Active Duty Army Nurses: April 1st

  • Veterans Administrations Nurses: May 1st

• Program Length: 36 months full-time 

• Track Offered: US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing  (USAGPAN)

• Location: On Campus

• Program Cost: After completing their education, Army CRNAs will dedicate five years of service, with the possibility of extending their commitment and advancing in rank and salary.

• Accreditation: COA of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

•  Contact Info: 

  • Phone: (972) 576-9128

  • Email: jana_johns@baylor.edu

4. Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia - California State University, Fullerton

In conjunction with Cal State Fullerton, Kaiser Permanente’s three-year CRNA program prepares students with the skills and knowledge to ensure success as a graduate CRNA. This program has maintained an impressive 100% job placement rate every year since 2012!

• Application Deadline: August 31st

• Program Length: Three years full-time

• Track Offered: DNP 

• Location: On-campus, all nurse anesthesia concentration courses are held at Kaiser Permanente in Pasadena, California

• Program Cost: $8,303.17 per semester

• Accreditation: 

  • COA of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

•  Contact Info: 

  • Phone: (626) 564-3016

  • Email: info@kpsan.org

>> Related: Top CRNA Schools in California

5. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

The University of Pittsburg’s DNP program aims to prepare students through coursework that develops knowledge and anesthesia skills, as well as leadership and organizational skills.  The university offers a BSN to CRNA program and an MSN to DNP program for CRNAs who hold a master’s degree.

• Application Deadline: May 1st

• Program Length: 

  • BSN to DNP: 36 months (full-time)

• Track Offered:

  • BSN to DNP

• Location:

  • On-site for BSN to DNP program

• Program Cost:

  • BSN to DNP in-state: $29,266 (per year)

  • BSN to DNP out-of-state: $34,950 (per year)

• Accreditation: COA of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

•  Contact Info: 

  • Phone: (888) 747-0794

  • Email: sao50@pitt.edu 

6. Rush University, Chicago, IL

According to the university’s website, 100% of Rush University’s CRNA graduates earn employment within 6 months of graduation. In addition, this program has a 95% certification examination first-time pass rate over the past 30 years!

• Application Deadline: May 1st

• Program Length: 36 months (full-time)

• Track Offered:  DNP

• Location: On-site

• Program Cost: $1,286 per credit

• Accreditation: COA of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

•  Contact Info: 

  • Phone: (312) 942-7100

  • Email: con_admissions@rush.edu

7. Georgetown University*, Washington, DC

Georgetown* attracts and admits qualified BSN-trained students from various institutions throughout the country. 

• Application Deadline: October 15th

• Program Length: 3 years full-time (64 credits)

• Track Offered: DNP

• Location: on-site

• Program Cost: $163,833 (total cost)

• Accreditation:  COA of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

• Contact Info: 

  • Phone: (202) 687-3912

  • Email: dnapadmissions@georgetown.edu

8. University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX

Cizik School of Nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center is the first and only public university in the State of Texas to offer the BSN-DNP in Nurse Anesthesia. It's also one of the top CRNA schools in Texas.

• Application Deadline: 

  • Summer 2024: July 1st 

  • Fall 2024: TBD

• Program Length: Three years, full-time (9 semesters)

• Track Offered: DNP

• Location: on-campus

• Program Cost: $54, 832 (total cost)

• Accreditation: COA of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

•  Contact Info: 

  • Phone: (713) 500-2025

  • Email: student-admissions@uth.tmc.edu.

9. University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Graduates of the University of Iowa’s  DNP-CRNA  program are prepared to practice as nurse anesthetists and become leaders within the profession. According to the university’s website, since Iowa and other rural environments have a shortage of anesthesia practitioners, students participate in mandatory clinical rotations in rural and critical access hospitals. 

• Application Deadline: June 1st

• Program Length: 36 months full-time

• Track Offered: DNP

• Location: on-campus

• Program Cost: $159,206 (total cost)

• Accreditation: COA of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

•  Contact Info: 

  • Phone: (319) 335-7018

  • Email: collegeofnursing@uiowa.edu

10. University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

During the second and third years of the University of Maryland’s CRNA program, students have the opportunity to attend clinical rotations in several renowned hospitals throughout the region. The majority of the didactic instruction takes place during the first year of the program.

• Application Deadline: 

  • Fall: December 15th

  • Spring: September 1st

• Program Length: Three years

• Track Offered: DNP

• Location: on-campus, some classes are web-based

• Program Cost: 

  • In State: $856.00/credit

  • Out of State: $1,519.00/credit

• Accreditation: COA of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

•  Contact Info: 

  • Phone: (410) 706-0501

  • Email: admissions.nursing@umaryland.edu

RN to CRNA Classes 

CRNA programs vary between universities. Nearly all of them are fully in-person, but a few schools have hybrid online CRNA programs that offer a little more flexibility. These courses provide some distance coursework alongside in-person classes.

CRNA programs often include coursework in the following topics:

• Epidemiology
• Health system management
• Evidence-based practice
• Biomedical statistics
• Organizational leadership in nursing 
• Advanced pharmacology
• Advanced physiology
• Advanced pathophysiology
• Advanced health assessment
• Advanced health assessment for advanced practice nursing across the lifespan
• Healthcare economics and policy
• Neuroscience coursework
• Chemistry & physics in anesthesia 
• Anesthesia pharmacology

According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), graduates of nurse anesthesia programs earn an average of 9,369 hours of clinical work during their CRNA program.

Why Become a CRNA?

1. Generous compensation

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median Nurse Anesthetist salary is $203,090 annually or $97.64 per hour, which is double the national median salary for registered nurses.

2. Autonomy and responsibility

CRNAs are able to work with a high degree of independence. Many rural communities receive all of their anesthesia care from CRNAs, and even in major metropolitan acute care settings, they assume responsibility for much of patient anesthesia care. 

3. Wide range of practice environments

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists can work in any practice setting where anesthesia is delivered.

4. High level of job satisfaction

CRNAs have a high level of job satisfaction, which is attributed to their many opportunities for advancement, the relatively low stress of the job, and their ability to provide one-on-one patient care.

Is an RN-CRNA Program Right for Me?

A CRNA degree gives you the ability to advance your career, provide one-on-one patient care, and experience one of the highest degrees of job satisfaction of any nursing career. With a CRNA degree, you’ll enjoy 

• A high degree of autonomy
• New challenges
• Increased responsibility
• The professional respect of your colleagues
• A much higher salary

CRNA-degreed nurses have nearly unlimited career opportunities, as they are in demand everywhere that anesthesia is administered. Nurse anesthetists are the primary providers of anesthesia in America’s rural areas, as well as in the military.

CRNAs are known for their leadership, dependability, competence, collaboration, and adherence to the principles of scientific research in order to advance patient outcomes. Being situationally aware and engaged is a hallmark of their profession. 

If these characteristics describe you and you are interested in significantly increasing your earnings capacity, then a CRNA degree may be right for you.