In a Gallup poll of public opinion of healthcare workers, nurses rank first, with 82% of Americans believing they provide excellent or good medical care over doctors with only 69%. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, including Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, have built up this trust from the public thanks to upholding rigorous standards of excellence in the profession. CRNAs are on the front lines administering anesthesia to patients in every traditional surgical setting, but also in delivery rooms, critical care hospitals, ambulatory surgical settings, and in the offices of dentists, podiatrists, plastic surgeons, and ophthalmologists. The profession is expected to grow 40% between 2021 and 2031 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and this influx in new CRNAs demands fidelity to a high standard of care, as evidenced by thorough credentialing. You can’t just go by word of mouth when hiring in a medical setting - an up-to-date license to certify a CRNA’s education and experience is necessary.
Let’s go over the essentials of obtaining and maintaining your CRNA credentials, and detail how MBM can support you in this process.
Initial CRNA Credentialing
CRNAs are a type of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who require 8-10 years of education and experience before licensure. As of right now, CRNAs are required to obtain a master’s degree and a national certification before practicing, but in 2025, CRNAs will also be required to gain a doctoral degree in nursing before entering the field. This extended schooling is one thing that distinguishes CRNAs as unique in the medical field. To practice as a CRNA, you must:
- Get your bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited college or university.
- All of your university transcripts will be a part of the documents you need to obtain your CRNA license.
- Obtain licensure as an RN and gain experience.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam.
- Earn a master’s degree in nursing.
- You must show proof of clinical experience of at least one year working as an acute care nurse.
- Earn a doctoral degree in Nursing (starting 2025).
- Your program must be accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
- Get certified by the NBCRNA - the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists.
- Take (and pass!) the national certifying exam.
- Apply for Alabama state CRNA licensure.
- This will require a background check in addition to all your transcripts, tests, and proof of clinical experience.
Congrats, you can now practice as a CRNA! …Simple, right?
Staying Current on CRNA Credentials
As a medical professional, education never stops! CRNAs are required to log 100 hours of Continuing Education Units every four years with the Continuing Certification Program (CPC) in order to recertify, with an assessment taken at the end of the eight-year cycle. In addition, there are check-in points every two years. Your CEUs aren’t just random classes, either, but cover specific areas of study for CRNAs. Every four years, you must complete:
- 60 Class A Credits, which includes online courses, webinars, and workshops.
- 40 Class B Credits, which includes teaching, publishing, and research.
- 4 Core Modules are focused on the four main areas of anesthesia practice knowledge:
- Airway Management
- Applied Clinical Pharmacology
- Human Physiology and Pathophysiology
- Anesthesia Equipment, Technology, and Safety
- CPC Assessment, which is a performance standard assessment that is required every 8 years to identify any areas in need of additional study.
Not only is staying up-to-date on CEUs important to maintain your license, but it also shows to your patients and physician partners that you are dedicated to their health and safety and maintaining a high standard of practice. Documentation and record-keeping are essential when completing CEUs and participating in professional development activities for recertification. There are some professional organizations that offer portals or other ways to track your CEUs, like the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, but it’s always important to make sure the organization is accredited by the COA.
Why It’s Important and How MBM Can Help
It can all be a great deal to keep track of on top of your normal workload! Don’t let it slide - let MBM help. We offer comprehensive credentialing services for CRNAs. We can walk you through all the steps:
- Completing your initial license application and renewals.
- Ensuring you meet your NBCRNA compliance.
- Finding, tracking, and documenting your CEUs.
- Safely storing your documentation
- Monitoring regulatory changes and updating accordingly.
With advanced data management systems, we keep your information updated and secure. Don’t worry about keeping track of a manila folder of important documents for eight years! You’ve got more important things to worry about.
As a CRNA professional, credentialing not only keeps you on top of the constantly changing healthcare environment to deliver high-quality patient care, but it also enhances your trustworthiness and reputation. Ultimately, this will foster future career opportunities. Anesthesia groups and hospitals only want the best of the best, and your license and education are proof that you fit the bill.
Call us! No matter what stage of the process you are in, we can help keep your path to licensure on track.
