Steps To CRN

If you want you can start out earning your Associate's Degree to get your RN license, then get working for a facility that will pay tuition assistance to help you complete your BSN. You will need your BSN (or a bachelor's in another field - but you're better off with the BSN) to get into a graduate degree nurse anesthesia program. You also are required to have at least 1-3 years of work experience in a critical care / ICU unit. All anesthesia schools require this.

The CRNA program itself is about 2-3 years in length. It's a very very very competitive program to get into, some schools get hundreds of applicants for only 10-20 spots, so you have to keep a high GPA, do volunteer work, and other things that show you're a stand out, a super star. They only take leaders.

Education and experience required to become a CRNA include:

	A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or other appropriate baccalaureate degree.
	A current license as a registered nurse.
	At least one year of experience as a registered nurse in an acute care setting.
	Graduation with a master’s degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia program. As of February 1, 2004, there are 92 nurse anesthesia programs with more than 1,000 affiliated clinical sites in the United States. They range from 24-36 months, depending upon university requirements.
	All programs include clinical training in university-based or large community hospitals.
	Pass a national certification examination following graduation.