Programs

From Overwhelmed to Focused: How to Choose the Right CRNA Program

A

Ashley, CRNA

CRNA

· Updated · 4 min read
From Overwhelmed to Focused: How to Choose the Right CRNA Program
In This Article (5 sections)

Choosing the right CRNA program involves considering factors like location, program structure, and clinical sites to find the best fit for your goals and lifestyle. If you're just starting out and want the full roadmap, our How to Become a CRNA guide breaks down every step.

When I first started my CRNA journey, I was completely overwhelmed with all of the different programs across the US! I am from California originally, but I was open to attending school in a different state, so long as the program was a good fit. While each person’s situation is highly unique, here are the top 3 factors I looked at when narrowing down the list of programs I wanted to apply to and questions to ask yourself (and the program) as you are doing your research. If you're wondering what CRNA schools are actually looking for in an applicant, we actually talked about this on the podcast (Ep 1: "What CRNA Schools are REALLY looking for in an applicant" on Apple Podcasts).

Quick Answer

With 154 CRNA programs tracked in The CRNA Club's school database, narrowing your list starts with three filters: location and willingness to relocate, program structure (front-loaded vs. integrated), and clinical site variety. Rank these by personal priority, then eliminate programs that fail your top two criteria.

What Location Factors Matter When Choosing a CRNA Program?

  • Decide if you want to stay close to home or are able explore/relocate to a new city and/or state
  • Consider how being away from home might affect you (e.g., housing, support system)
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Which Is Better for You: Front-Loaded or Integrated CRNA Program?

  • Front-loaded: Academics first, clinicals later
  • Integrated: Academics and clinicals mixed throughout the program
  • Think about what learning style suits you best. Do you need a lot of hands-on work to tie concepts together? Or are you the type who needs to know all the details before trying to do something?
  • Note: not all integrated programs are seamless in the sense that what you are currently going over in didactic may not match up with what you are doing in clinical practice
  • Online vs. in-person: Is the program primarily one or the other? How do you fare with online classes, are you able to stay self-motivated? Determine if you learn better in a classroom or prefer the flexibility of online courses. Consider how the format aligns with your lifestyle and responsibilities outside of school

If you're still unsure which type of program fits your personality, check out our podcast episode on this exact topic (Ep 6: "5 signs CRNA school is right for YOU" on Apple Podcasts).

What Should You Know About CRNA Clinical Sites?

  • Independent practice sites as a major factor for me
  • What is the volume like at the programs’ clinical sites? How do the programs’ clinical numbers match against the COA minimum requirements? Learn more about COA requirements.
  • Does the program have specific sites for specialty rotations? (e.g., pediatrics, OB, cardiovascular, thoracic, etc). Or are these “specialty” cases sprinkled in into overall “general” rotations?
  • Does the program have “away” clinical sites? If so, is housing included?
  • Will you be competing for cases with SRNAs or MD anesthesia residents at your sites?
  • How much exposure will you have to ultrasound and regional anesthesia? This is a HUGE sector of anesthesia today! Explore more about anesthesia practices.

To see how different programs stack up in terms of clinical experiences and requirements, our Free School Database lets you compare details side by side.

How Important Is the Cost When Choosing a CRNA Program?

While important, don’t let cost hold you back. Explore scholarships, loans, and financial aid options. If you want to see what I wish I had done differently before applying, give a listen to Ep 2: "3 things I would have done differently BEFORE applying to CRNA school" (Apple Podcasts).

For more information on CRNA programs, visit CRNA School Requirements. If you're curious about the best schools, check out Free School Database. To understand the differences between DNP and DNAP, our Learning Library has a full lesson on this called DNP vs. DNAP vs. PhD.

Additionally, use our School Comparison Tool and Application Planning Timeline to aid your decision-making process. If you're looking for a deep dive into what programs require, the Program Requirements lesson is a great place to start.

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

Our Final Thoughts

Choosing the right CRNA program is a personal journey that depends on your learning style, clinical preferences, and life situation. Take your time researching and reflecting on these factors to find the best fit for you. Remember, The CRNA Club is here to support you every step of the way.

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!

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