Programs

5 Mistakes I Made Choosing a CRNA Program (and How You Can Avoid Them!)

S

Sachi, CRNA

CRNA

· Updated · 3 min read
5 Mistakes I Made Choosing a CRNA Program (and How You Can Avoid Them!)
In This Article (6 sections)

Choosing a CRNA program? Here’s the honest answer: you’ve got to look way beyond the shiny website. Your sanity (and future paychecks) kind of depend on it. We learned a LOT the hard way. Don’t repeat our mistakes. 1000%.

Quick Answer

With 154 CRNA programs to choose from, the most common selection mistakes are not vetting faculty expertise, overlooking sim and cadaver lab access, and trusting brochure descriptions of clinical sites, according to The CRNA Club. Ask current students where they actually rotate and how accessible faculty are.

What We Totally Missed About Faculty (And Why It Matters)

Okay, real talk. most of us just peek at faculty names and move on. But after a 12-hour shift, you start realizing who actually teaches you matters. A lot. Like, are these professors published rockstars? Are they supportive or totally MIA? Who’s into your dream subspecialty?

🏫
School Database

Stop Googling CRNA schools one by one.

Browse Programs Free

SimLabs, Cadaver Labs, and the Pain of FOMO

You know those Instagram reels of students intubating manikins? We thought, cute. But it hits different when you’re actually there, hands shaking at 3am during practice. Our old program barely had a SimLab. Regret. If you can swing a place with a legit lab, do it.

The Big Clinical Sites Blindside (And How to Avoid It)

Coffee-fueled rant: we picked our clinicals basically blind. Some of us lucked out. Others got stuck driving hours to random sites. Would not recommend. You’ve got to know where you’ll actually be doing cases, not just what’s on the fancy brochure.

  • Ask where core clinicals are (not just electives. those get shuffled last minute all the time)
  • Will you be living in a city you hate? Or paying double rent? It happens
  • Our Free School Database lets you scope this out without doomscrolling for three hours

Minimum Grades: Don’t Get Blindsided

You think you’re a solid B+/A- student.. until you realize your program requires an 83% to pass. The stress. The tears. The cold pizza at 2am because you bombed an exam (worst semester ever, honestly). We didn’t check this. Please do.

Location, Location, (Job Offer) Location

Here’s the thing. where you go to school lowkey determines where you might work. We thought we’d move anywhere post-grad. Laughed at that at our first interview. Reality: location matters for networking, clinical sites, and actual job offers. Think long-term.

  • A lot of CRNA students say location changed their job search. (Yep, us included)
  • If you want to stay in a certain area, pick a program with strong hospital ties there
  • Ep 6: "5 signs CRNA school is right for YOU" is a must-listen on this topic

For more information, check these trusted resources: Council on Accreditation (COA), NBCRNA.

Our Final Thoughts

No one tells you all this stuff up front. That’s why we created The CRNA Club. So you can skip some of our late-night stress eating and actually feel good about your decision. Do the research, ask the messy questions, and use every tool you can. Our Free School Database is honestly the easiest way to compare. Want the full roadmap? Hit up How to Become a CRNA and CRNA School Requirements too. You’ve got this. We’ve got you. Text us in the break room if you need backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many CRNA programs are there in the US?

There are approximately 140 accredited nurse anesthesia programs in the United States, offering either DNP or DNAP degrees. You can compare all of them in our free CRNA School Database.

How do I choose the right CRNA program?

Consider location, tuition, NCE pass rates, class size, clinical rotation sites, and admission requirements. Our School Database lets you filter and compare all 140+ programs by these criteria.

Keep Reading

Key Features of CRNA Programs that I Wish I Knew When I Was Applying

Key Features of CRNA Programs that I Wish I Knew When I Was Applying

The way a school looks on paper can be far from your in-person experience. I always advise people to speak to local students, nurses, even CRNAs, of their perceptions of the program and students currently attend. A school could look amazing through the website and even through their national rankings and people could have not so favorable experiences with them in real life. Word of mouth, of course, has to always be taken with a grain of salt but fielding firsthand experiences of a program can prove to be invaluable. Speaking to current students could give you more insight into what a program is like outside of just the numbers which are often not influenced by student experience. 1. Student Expectations & Support The capacity of a school and class numbers relative to faculty are important to consider. Is there mentorship between classes available? I’ve found that some of the best advice about making it through my specific program has come from upperclassmen. They have insight specific to a professor or class that you can not find on social media. Mastering the knowledge is one thing but also performing well is another that is better suited with a more direct counsel. Do students have advisors available or how are student concerns addressed? These are questions that you may want to ask to figure out the kind of support you will have through school from faculty. Programs will expect you to know what supports you have outside of school whether that be it family or friends but knowing the academic support you have is another thing. 2. Consider the Academic Calendar This is something I wish I would have considered early on. Is your program on a quarter, trimester, or semester system? How many classes do students take per academic block? Considering the amount of work, you’ll need to juggle is important and will impact your day to day scheduling in school. Taking 5 classes on a quarter system is much different than 5 classes on a semester schedule. It’s worth understanding this before committing to a program at least to anticipate what will be asked of you. Understanding the academic calendar and whether there are any breaks built in will also help you plan your time to rest and recharge. As you become a SRNA so much of your life becomes revolved around school, so any insight to plan your non-school related activities beforehand, the better! 3. Type & Quality of Clinical Placements How are clinical placements decided? What kinds of practice models are at these sites? How far do students on average travel for clinical? Commuting to clinical will become a huge part of your life once you start clinical rotations. Seeing as students are the first to arrive and last to leave, understanding how these placements are made could largely impact your experience to come. Our school tracks the number of miles we must commute and on our next rotation we get to travel closer to home. Also considering that the financial aspect of moving for clinical or commuting is often the sole responsibility of the student this could add another expense to your already sinking funds. Important to consider, to some people that matters more than to others, you just don’t want to be blindsided by the cost when the time comes. Are they mostly large academic centers or is there room for seeing CRNA independent practice? When it comes to the clinical portion of school this is building the foundation for your career. Not only are these learning opportunities, but as you get more familiar with sites, you’ll learn that the anesthesia culture varies per location and practice model. If your training only exposes, you to one practice model it will be hard to have the foundation to be a versatile CRNA once you graduate. The goal of anesthesia training is to give you enough exposure so you can learn where you’d like to work once you graduate. To build that self-concept adequate exposure to all varieties of cases, practice models and healthcare settings is needed. As a nurse anesthesia resident, you are constantly challenged and fully expected to rise to the opportunity. When you’re interviewing for schools, they are trying to sell you an education as well as you are trying to decide what is the right fit. To come to that conclusion, it is important to consider all things and be able to make a sound and educated decision. You would never want to regret such a large investment in your future. Knowing and being able to map out some of the unknowns of school will also help to ease your anxiety and make sure you have the right fit school for you. Good luck out there!

September 26, 2025
Study Methods That Helped Me Thrive in CRNA School

Study Methods That Helped Me Thrive in CRNA School

From spaced repetition to the Pomodoro technique, discover four research-backed CRNA study strategies that will help you master complex concepts, avoid burnout, and stay ahead in anesthesia school.

August 13, 2025
What’s in My Clinical Bag

What’s in My Clinical Bag

Starting CRNA clinicals? You’re going to need more than caffeine and courage. From pen recommendations that won’t smudge mid-charting to the anesthesia apps that’ll save your sanity, here are the clinical bag must-haves every SRNA should know about. Bonus: snack hacks, badge tips, and why I’ll never bring an expensive stethoscope again.

July 24, 2025

Overwhelmed by 140+ CRNA programs?

Stop scrolling through program websites one by one. Filter by GPA, tuition, location, GRE policy, and more in seconds.

Search Programs Free Start 7-Day Free Trial

$37/mo after trial. Cancel anytime. Free tools require no credit card.

Browse CRNA Programs Free