Nurse Anesthetists
Special Requirements
While individual programs may have additional requirements, the general entrance requirements for nurse anesthesia programs are the following:
· A BSN or another appropriate baccalaureate degree. (Each program determines "appropriate" degrees.)
· A license as a registered nurse (RN).
· A minimum of one year of acute care nursing experience. (Each program determines what constitutes "acute care" nursing.)
Requirements for Certification
The NBCRNA Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists has established the following requirements for certification. The candidate must:
1. Fulfill all eligibility requirements for admission to the NCE; and
2. Pass the NCE.
Eligibility Requirements for Admission to the National Certification Examination (NCE)
In order to be eligible to apply to take the NCE for registered nurse anesthetists and to receive a certification eligibility notification, a candidate must:
1. Comply with all state requirements for current and unrestricted licensure as a registered professional nurse;
2. Complete a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (“accredited program”) within the previous two (2) calendar years;
3. Submit:
a. A complete and accurate examination application form signed by the candidate which includes the NBCRNA Waiver of Liability and Agreement of Authorization, Confidentiality, and Nondisclosure Statement.
b. An official non-handwritten notarized transcript of the candidate’s record of performance in an accredited program, on a transcript form prescribed by the NBCRNA Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists, signed by the program director and by the candidate, which accurately documents the candidate’s academic and clinical experiences, and his or her completion of the accredited program.
If transcripts are submitted prior to completion of the program, a Program Completion Verification Form verifying that the candidate has in fact completed the program must be signed and submitted by the candidate’s program director after the program has been completed;
c. A copy of the candidate’s valid license to practice as a registered professional nurse that is current on the candidate’s requested examination date in at least one state. If the state board of nursing issues a paper license or wallet card, then a copy of that RN license must be submitted. If state law prohibits the copying of a nursing license, the candidate must submit a written statement from the state nursing board verifying current licensure and providing the license number and date of expiration. If the state board of nursing no longer issues a paper license or wallet card, a web verification will be accepted;
d. A cashier’s check or money order made payable to the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) for the current application fee and any other applicable fees;
e. A signed, notarized Authentication of Applicant Identity Form with a passport photo or digitalized photo taken within the previous six (6) months attached;
4. Make the following eligibility certifications:
a. that his or her license has never been revoked, restricted, suspended or limited by any state, has never been surrendered, and is not the subject of a pending action or investigation;
b. that he or she does not currently suffer from a mental or physical condition which might interfere with the practice of nurse anesthesia;
c. that he or she does not currently suffer from drug or alcohol addiction or abuse;
d. that he or she has not been convicted of and is not currently under indictment for any felony;
e. that, except for incidents occurring during the nurse anesthesia educational program which were thereafter satisfactorily resolved, he or she has not been the subject of any documented allegations of misconduct, incompetent practice, or unethical behavior;
f. that he or she has never been the subject of disciplinary action, been placed on probation, suspended, or dismissed from a nurse anesthesia educational program for unethical behavior, questions of academic integrity or documented evidence of cheating.
If the candidate does not so certify, he or she must provide full documentation of the reasons therefore with sufficient specificity to allow the NBCRNA to evaluate the possible impact of the problem on the candidate’s current ability to take the NCE or practice nurse anesthesia and to resolve the issue to the NBCRNA’s satisfaction; and
5. Sign the Waiver of Liability and Agreement of Authorization, Confidentiality, and Nondisclosure Statement clarifying that the individual has read, understands, and intends to be legally bound by the following statements:
a. that he or she understands that the content of the NCE, and each of its items, is proprietary, is copyrighted and strictly confidential, and that the unauthorized retention, possession, copying, distribution, disclosure, discussion, or receipt of any NCE question, in whole or in part, by written, electronic, oral or other form of communication, including but not limited to e-mailing, copying or printing of electronic files, and reconstruction through memorization and/or dictation, before, during, or after the NCE, is strictly prohibited, and that, in addition to constituting irregular behavior subject to disciplinary action such as denial of eligibility to take the NCE now or in the future or revocation of certification, such activities violate the NBCRNA’s proprietary rights, including copyrights, and may subject him or her to legal action resulting in monetary damages;
b. that he or she understands that he or she can be disqualified from taking or continuing to sit for the NCE, or from receiving NCE scores, and may be required to retake the NCE, if the NBCRNA determines, at its discretion, through proctor observation, statistical analysis or any other means, that he or she was engaged in collaborative, disruptive, or other irregular behavior before, during the administration of, or following the NCE, or that the integrity or validity of the NCE is in question;
c. that he or she has not been the recipient of any NCE questions, that he or she has not been involved in any disclosure, distribution or discussion of any NCE questions, and that, following this examination, he or she will not disclose, distribute, or discuss any NCE questions;
d. that he or she will inform the NBCRNA if he or she is aware of anyone who discloses any NCE question(s) or asks them to disclose any NCE question(s); and
e. that he or she understands that evidence of unethical or inappropriate behavior may result in revocation or permanent denial of certification.
For more information, please see the NBCRNA Candidate Handbook.
Required Fees:
http://www.nbcrna.com/
NCE Application Fee: $725.00
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Career VIEW Research. (Using onet28)
