How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist

Today, nursing careers report strong demand. Advanced practice registered nurses provide primary and specialty care for patients. And among these well-paid nurses, nurse anesthetists report the highest salary.

Becoming a nurse anesthetist takes several years. These highly trained nurses complete a focused graduate program of nurse anesthetist schooling. And the average graduate from a nurse anesthesia program brings over 9,300 hours of clinical experience, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA). Discover how to become a nurse anesthetist in our following guide.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Nurse anesthetists specialize in pain management. They administer anesthesia during a surgical or obstetric procedure. Nurse anesthetists administer general anesthesia and local anesthesia, depending on the medical procedure.

If you’re a current RN seeking a career change, you can become a nurse anesthetist with 1-3 years of critical care experience and a graduate degree from a nurse anesthesia program. This route typically takes 2-3 years if you don’t yet have a BSN or 3-4 years if you’re an RN without your BSN. If you have no prior healthcare experience, it can take about 7-10 years to become a nurse anesthetist.

You must attend an accredited nursing school to earn your certification. As a result, it’s especially important to pay attention to accreditation status. In addition to programmatic accreditation, you should also look for accredited schools. You can also earn your degree from an accredited online nursing program.

The total cost of an online program to become a nurse anesthetist can easily exceed $100,000. First, you need a BSN degree, which costs about $10,000 in tuition and fees per year, on average, if you attend a public school.

Then, you must earn your DNP degree, which costs about $61,000 per year, on average. This figure includes tuition, housing, and fees. You can save by comparing online and on-campus programs and paying attention to the hidden costs of education.

Nurse anesthetists reported a median salary of $212,650 per year in May 2023, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That makes nurse anesthetists the highest paid nurses. But salaries vary by location, industry, and education. For example, the states with the highest nurse anesthetist salaries include Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, and West Virginia.

To become a nurse anesthetist, you need a graduate degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia program. However, before applying to graduate programs, you typically need a registered nursing license, a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and 1-3 years of experience in a critical care setting.

After meeting these requirements, you can apply to a DNP program in nurse anesthesiology. These programs often include a heavy clinical component. At the end of these programs, you apply for certification through the NBCRNA, which requires passing scores on a national certification exam. Once you pass the exam, you can officially become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Most nurse anesthetists spend around 7-10 years in training. First, you need a bachelor’s in nursing and a registered nursing license. This typically takes four years. Then, you gain 1-3 years of experience as an RN in a critical care setting, such as an ICU or emergency room.

After gaining professional experience, you can apply to nurse anesthesia programs. These programs typically take 2-3 years, depending on the degree level and nursing school. At the end of a nurse anesthesia program, you take a national certification exam to become a CRNA.

Yes, it is challenging to become a nurse anesthetist. These highly trained nurses bring years of specialized training. First, you need an RN license and experience in an acute care setting. Most nurses meet this requirement by working in an ICU, ER, or medical-surgical role.

Then, you apply to an accredited doctoral program. These programs generally include over 2,500 hours of clinical training, according to the AANA. After graduating with a doctorate degree, you study for a national certification exam. In 2023, around 83% of test-takers passed the exam, according to the NBCRNA.

Yes, there are a many online nurse anesthesia programs. In these programs, you complete coursework in a virtual format while meeting clinical requirements locally. Most nurse anesthetist schooling operates in a traditional format where you attend classes in person.

Online programs appeal most to working nurses, and you can often meet clinical requirements at your current workplace.

According to BLS data from May 2023, the median nurse anesthetist salary exceeded $200,000. Salaries vary by location and industry. Nurse anesthetists in outpatient care centers, specialty hospitals, and medical and surgical hospitals report salaries above the median.

The top-paying states for nurse anesthetists include Connecticut, New Jersey, and Illinois. All of these states report average nurse anesthetist salaries of over $250,000 per year. Nurse anesthetists also see salary increases with experience, like other healthcare professionals.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed 2023.