What are the prerequisites for CRNA?

First, you must be a Registered Nurse, and you must have a bachelor’s degree. Not all programs require a BSN. In many cases, being an RN with an unrelated bachelor’s degree is sufficient for admission. Check with programs where you intend to apply for this information.

Next, most schools require an undergraduate degree GPA of 3.0 or higher. If your GPA is below this, check with the school that granted your degree about the possibility of taking more classes, or retaking classes to raise your GPA.

Most programs will look at applicants’ GPA from a few different angles. The first consideration is the overall GPA, which must be at least greater than 3.0. Next, the applications committee will consider grades applicants received in the science courses, such as chemistry, microbiology, etc. Finally, the committee will look at grades received in nursing school. There is a lesson in this. If you have a 3.5 GPA, but your science and/or nursing school grades are lower grades, this may hurt you.

Many schools will require you to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and will have a requirement for a minimum score on this test. The test is administered at most Sylvan Learning Centers. There are a number of books and computer programs available to prepare you to take this test. Taking the test “cold” is probably not a good idea. You can retake it if you do poorly, but both scores will be reported to schools where you are applying. Also, the test is fairly expensive, so if you can avoid taking it twice, you should.

Nearly all schools require one year of experience in an ICU before an applicant will be admitted to the program. Most will not accept ER, OR, or other experience (though a few programs are a bit more lenient). There is a good reason for this requirement. You will need experience with vasoactive drips, ventilators, and other things that you can only get in an ICU. Larger hospital ICU’s are generally preferable to smaller ones. The Best bet is to call the schools and find out what is acceptable to them.

Many students wonder whether one year’s experience is sufficient. Generally, the answer is yes. However, some may feel more comfortable applying after two or three years experience in an ICU. The bottom line is one year meets the requirement. After that, it is up to the prospective student to decide when they feel comfortable.
It is important to note that the average CRNA applicant has 5-7 years of experience as an RN before admission.