How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist

Nursing is an exciting field with countless areas of medicine to explore, from cardiology and nutrition to pediatrics and neurology. There are dozens of different nursing careers, such as registered nurse (RN), critical care nurse (CCN), and licensed vocational nurse (LVN), but among all the types of nurses that you could train to become, one of the most in-demand (and most highly paid) is nurse anesthetist. 

Another term for a nurse anesthetist is “CRNA,” an acronym for “certified registered nurse anesthetist.” But whether you call them CRNAs or nurse anesthetists, they’re part of a category known as “advanced practice registered nurses” (APRNs), and, as the word “advanced” suggests, highly specialized training and education are required to hold this title.

Table of Contents

• What Does a Nurse Anesthetist Do?
• Educational Requirements
• Gaining Clinical Experience
• Certification and Licensure
• Continuing Education and Professional Development
• Skills and Qualities
• Steps to Becoming a Certified Nurse Anesthetist
• How Can I Become a Nurse Anesthetist?
• CRNA Job Outlook and Salary
• Anesthesiologists vs. Nurse Anesthetists
• Technological Advances in Anesthesia
• Apply to the DNAP Program at National University

If you’ve ever considered becoming a nurse anesthetist or CRNA, this guide covers everything you should know before you start applying to nursing programs, including: 

• Nurse anesthetist role and responsibilities
• Degree requirements to become a CRNA, which are changing in 2025 
• CRNA certification and licensing requirements
• Essential skills for a nurse anesthetist 
• Steps to becoming a CRNA
• Nurse anesthetist job outlook and salary data 

What Does a Nurse Anesthetist Do?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), some typical nurse anesthetist job responsibilities are to “administer anesthesia, monitor [the] patient’s vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia.” According to Cleveland Clinic, other examples of typical CRNA responsibilities include educating patients about anesthesia, determining precise dosages, and “identifying possible risks to the person undergoing anesthesia.” These tasks reflect the critical role that CRNAs play in both surgical procedures and patient pain management.

Nurse anesthetists work in a wide range of healthcare settings for various employer types, including, the BLS explains, “anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists.” BLS data indicates that most CRNAs, about 47%, work in physicians’ offices, with smaller numbers employed by hospitals (25%), outpatient care centers (9%), and educational facilities (3%). 

Educational Requirements

Unlike some other nursing roles, such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), becoming a Nurse Anesthetist is not an entry-level position. CRNAs are advanced practice nurses, meaning the educational requirements are extensive and go beyond basic RN training.

To become a CRNA, you must first become a Registered Nurse (RN). This involves earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program. For example, in California, National University offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Generic Entry (BSN) (California) program. It’s important to note that this program is specific to California.

While obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is not strictly required to become an RN, it can help distinguish your resume when applying for advanced positions. National University also offers the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) program, which is ideal for registered nurses who hold an active license and want to earn their BSN in less than a year. The RN-BSN program is offered nationally and can also accelerate the process of obtaining an MSN, a useful credential for aspiring CRNAs.

All of these programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which ensures the quality of education. This includes the BSN (Generic Entry), BSN (Second Degree), RN-BSN, MSN, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The Doctorate of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP), specific to CRNAs, is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). Accreditation is essential for prospective students to consider, as it reflects the caliber of their education with National University.

While earning a degree such as an associate’s, bachelor’s, or even a master’s can help you meet the qualifications to become an RN, further education is required to become a CRNA. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlights, CRNAs must have “specialized graduate education,” which has traditionally meant a master’s degree. However, starting in 2025, a doctorate will be required for all new CRNAs, as a master’s degree will no longer suffice.

For students who are just beginning their careers, it’s important to plan for this transition and pursue the necessary graduate education. According to AMN Healthcare, “Current CRNAs are not required to return to school to obtain a doctorate, but early career CRNAs may want to pursue a doctorate to stay competitive and meet potential future regulatory requirements.”

Aspiring CRNAs can choose between two types of doctoral degrees:

• Doctorate of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) 
• Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership (DNP)

Both of these programs will equip you with the advanced training necessary to succeed as a Nurse Anesthetist, preparing you for the demanding responsibilities of the role.

Gaining Clinical Experience 

In addition to meeting educational requirements by earning a DNP or DNAP, CRNAs are also required to obtain clinical experience prior to becoming licensed. This essential hands-on experience can be gained by working as a registered nurse in critical care settings, which is one of the prerequisites for becoming a CRNA. Some examples of critical care settings include: 

• Intensive care units (ICUs) 
• Medical-surgical units
• Trauma centers

While most programs require students to acquire at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience, the average nursing anesthesia program graduate possesses closer to 9,000 hours, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. 

Certification and Licensure

Along with meeting degree and clinical experience requirements, CRNAs must also complete two critical tasks: 

1. Become board-certified through the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
2. Earn and maintain a license to practice 

To become board-certified by the NBCRNA, aspiring CRNAs must pass a comprehensive test known as the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX. RNs who pass the NCLEX also receive 31.5 upper division quarter unit credits if they go on to get their BSN and choose our RN-BSN program. 

While the NBCRNA is a national certification organization, licensure is managed at the state level. For example, in California, aspiring CRNAs must meet the licensing standards set by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). National University’s BSN (Generic), BSN (Second Degree), RN-BSN, and MSN programs are all approved by the California BRN and meet the state’s licensing requirements.

Once licensed, CRNAs must complete Continuing Education (CE) credits to maintain their credentials. More details on continuing education are covered in the next section of this guide.

Continuing Education and Professional Development 

Healthcare and medicine are always advancing with new technologies. To stay updated and maintain your expertise, it’s important to continue learning even after you complete your degree.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) must complete mandatory continuing education to maintain their licenses. According to the NBCRNA, CRNAs renew their credentials every four years by earning a mix of Class A and Class B credits, completing four core modules, and, during the second four-year cycle, passing a Continued Professional Certification (CPC) assessment. 

As the NBCRNA explains, “The CPC Program protects your ability to continue practicing as a CRNA and is designed to meet the APRN regulatory requirements of every state Board of Nursing.” APRN, or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, includes CRNAs, Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), and several other advanced nursing roles.

Here are some ways you can continue your education and advance your professional development: 

• Attend conferences and participate in workshops 
• Complete the mandatory 40 to 60 hours of CE every four years as required by the NBCRNA
• Join professional organizations, such as the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)

While its most obvious benefit is helping you maintain your license, continuing your nursing education also has a variety of other advantages, such as: 

• Keeping you informed about the newest developments, trends, innovations, and challenges in your field
• Ensuring you’re aware of and compliant with the latest state and federal regulations
• Giving you more opportunities for professional networking
  • National University’s programs offer industry partnerships and alumni connections, providing an advantage in the job market after graduation.

Skills and Qualities 

To excel as a nurse anesthetist and provide your patients with quality care, you’ll need to possess certain skills and traits that will help you perform your tasks. Some of these skills and qualities include: 

• The ability to remain focused and calm in stressful, unpredictable environments 
• Exceptional communication skills, whether speaking with doctors and patients or writing medical notes and documents  
• Sharp critical thinking skills and meticulous attention to detail 

Here are some tips and strategies for cultivating essential nursing skills: 

• Continue to practice and repeat tasks, even after you feel you’ve mastered them
• Request feedback from your supervisors 
• Seek out opportunities for continuing education

Steps to Becoming a Certified Nurse Anesthetist 

When it comes to becoming a nurse anesthetist, there are three major requirements:

1. Become a Registered Nurse

Before stepping into an advanced practice role, you must first become a registered nurse. This involves graduating from an approved nursing program and passing the National Council Licensure Examination.

While you can meet RN academic requirements by completing an associate degree in nursing or graduating from certain nursing certificate programs, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree either on-campus or online is increasingly becoming the preferred route. After earning RN certification, nurses typically choose to gain hands-on experience working in the field before attempting to qualify as a CRNA.

2. Complete a CRNA Program

To work as an advanced practice nurse in any specialty, including certified nurse anesthetist, you will also need to complete a higher degree. To enroll in a nurse anesthetist program, you generally must already hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. However, some schools offer options for nurses with an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing health science subject.

While a master’s degree is usually the minimum requirement to work in advanced practice nursing and often pursued through a nurse practitioner program, many professionals choose to go a step further and earn a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree. In addition to setting you apart from the competition when applying for jobs, the DNAP is an opportunity to dive deeper into important nursing topics, such as policy and organizational analysis, quality improvement and assessment, and evidence-based practice initiatives — providing knowledge and strategies that will empower you to pursue a leadership role after graduation.

3. Earn CRNA Certification

After finishing a nurse anesthetist program, your final step is to complete national certification. Nurse anesthetists qualify for practice through the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists.

How Can I Become a Nurse Anesthetist?

If you are interested in becoming a CRNA, you must complete the following steps to qualify to practice in the U.S.

1. Complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a related field.
2. Earn a registered nursing license that is valid in the U.S.
3. Complete at least one year of nursing practice in the critical care setting. (According to the AANA, the average RN entering a nurse anesthesia program has completed 2.9 years of experience in this area of nursing.)
4. Earn a graduate level nurse anesthesia degree in a program certified by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
5. Pass the National Certification Examination.

In order to practice anesthesia in the U.S., a critical care registered nurse must attend an accredited nurse anesthesiology program or a school of medicine. Potential applicants should seek a program in which they will be trained to practice at the full scope of their licensure and training.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a related field, your next step is to enroll in a graduate-level program. Currently, certified nurse anesthetists are required to graduate with a minimum of a master’s degree from a nurse anesthesiology training program. However, that requirement is changing, Tune reports. As of the year 2022, all new nurse anesthesiology residents must graduate from a doctoral-level program.

The entry into practice degree has shifted to the clinical practice doctorate. Applicants to nurse anesthesiology programs must have a minimum of one year of critical care experience, a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a physical science, a strong science background, and a stellar academic record. The profession of nurse anesthesiology consistently recruits the top 1% of ICU and critical care nurses.

In a doctoral degree program, you will have the opportunity to take a deeper dive into the study of anesthesiology and develop critical leadership skills. While the Nursing program focuses more on research, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, or Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, in the case of nurse anesthetics, emphasizes the clinical aspect of the field and typically includes a practicum or other hands-on portion.

CRNA Job Outlook and Salary 

Nurse anesthetists have an extremely promising job outlook. According to the BLS, which defines “job outlook” as the “projected percent change in employment from 2022 to 2032,” the CRNA profession is expected to grow by an astounding 38% in the coming decade. To put that number into context, the “average growth rate for all occupations” nationally is only 3%. 

This illustrates how in-demand CRNAs are becoming, and so is the typical salary. 

BLS data shows that the median pay for a nurse anesthetist was approximately $212,650 in 2023 significantly higher than the median salary for nurse midwives ($129,650), nurse practitioners ($126,260), registered nurses ($86,070), licensed practical nurses ($59,730), or nursing assistants ($38,200). The BLS ranks outpatient care centers as the highest-paying employers for CRNAs, followed by hospitals, physicians’ offices, and educational services. 

Per BLS records, the top five U.S. states with the most CRNA jobs are Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, and, in the #1 spot, Texas. The top five highest-paying states for CRNAs are Vermont, New York, Montana, Massachusetts, and, #1, Illinois. 

Anesthesiologists vs. Nurse Anesthetists

Anesthesiologist versus nurse anesthetist: what’s the difference? While they might sound like similar job roles, there are some important distinctions between these two careers. 

The role of a nurse anesthetist involves calculating and administering anesthesia, monitoring patients under anesthesia, and discussing aftercare and other important matters with patients. To become a nurse anesthetist, you must first become a registered nurse (RN), earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) degree, meet national and state licensing requirements, and complete the required hours of clinical experience.

An anesthesiologist also provides anesthesia to patients. However, while CRNAs are nurses, anesthesiologists are physicians who specialize in pain management. While anesthesiologists can practice independently in any U.S. state, regulations limit where CRNAs can practice independently. 

CRNAs generally hold a BSN and, starting in 2025, a DNP or DNAP degree. On the other hand, anesthesiologists attend medical school and earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) or Medical Doctor (MD) degree after completing their bachelor’s degree. 

Technological Advances in Anesthesia

AI and other technology are constantly changing the field of anesthesia and the role that nurse anesthetists play within it. For example, some of the most impactful advancements in recent years have been innovations in anesthesia delivery systems and automated, AI-powered patient monitoring technologies. 

Nurse anesthetists are developing and refining new ways of implementing and integrating these tools into their practices. National University’s DNAP program prepares students with fast-paced, cutting-edge training, starting with simulation courses followed by clinical courses that provide hands-on hospital experience administering anesthesia to patients. 

Apply to the DNAP Program at National University  

While the requirements to become a CRNA are demanding, the rewards of a career saving lives are immense. If you’re interested in becoming a licensed and certified nurse anesthetist, you will need to prepare by passing the NCLEX, gaining clinical experience, and meeting state licensure requirements. Additionally, starting in 2025, you’ll need to earn a doctoral degree from an accredited nursing program, such as those offered by National University.

The Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice program at National University combines challenging, fast-paced clinical courses with a flexible, convenient structure that offers evening, weekend, and online classes ideal for busy students who need to accommodate military service or other obligations. Learn how you can apply online today.