3 Best CRNA Schools in Alabama – 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Are you a nurse in Alabama who enjoys solving complex problems and working autonomously? Then becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) may be the right career choice for you. Graduates of CRNA programs in Alabama make $191,200 a year on average, and demand for their services throughout the Yellowhammer State is projected to increase by 13 percent over the next decade. You’ll be able to work in every practice setting where surgical anesthesia is required, from ambulatory surgical centers to hospitals and obstetric delivery rooms in rural and urban parts of the state. Interested in learning more? This list of the 3 best CRNA schools in Alabama for 2025 is a good place to start.
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WHAT ARE THE BEST CRNA SCHOOLS IN ALABAMA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
((Based on our
ranking methodology, the following are the 3 Best Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs in Alabama (Online & Campus).)
1. Samford University - Birmingham
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP
About the School: Counted among the best CRNA schools in Alabama, Samford University is a Christian university that offers faith-based CRNA education. Established in 1922, the school has ever since shaped the careers of thousands of nurses who are providing compassionate care to patients in Alabama and throughout the nation.
Program Overview: Samford’s CRNA program in Alabama is a 36-month program that comprises 94 credits. The program is divided into three phases. The first phase is 100% online and allows students to continue working while taking CRNA classes. The second phase entails completing didactic courses through online and on-campus classes. During the third phase of the program, you’ll mainly complete your clinical training. During this final phase of the program, you’ll also complete a DNP project.
Samford’s CRNA curriculum is comprehensive, covering all aspects of nursing anesthesia. Some of the topics covered include informatics, theory & philosophy, population health, biostatistics, anatomy and advanced physical assessment, and leadership & economics in healthcare. The program also includes rigorous clinical training in general and regional anesthesia and also in various types of healthcare settings. The clinical training that you receive provides you the opportunity of working on more than 800 cases, including geriatric, pediatric, vascular, obstetrics, and intrathoracic.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for Samford’s CRNA program, you must have a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Also, you must have an unencumbered RN license in Alabama. The school also requires you to have a minimum of one year of critical care experience. To complete the application requirements, you must make submissions of your transcripts, GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a professional resume.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Samford University CRNA Students
• Among all the other CRNA programs in Alabama, Samford University’s CRNA stands out for offering an excellent educational experience. In fact, with a 0% attrition rate, 100% percent of graduates report a satisfying learning experience at Samford.
• Samford University’s CRNA program offers a personalized learning experience in its small-sized classes.
• Samford University CRNA students are provided with exceptional clinical opportunities in rural and urban areas. Students also benefit from gaining practical experience in some of the most unique anesthesia cases.
• Samford University CRNA students who intend to become preceptors in the future can apply for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program where they can have a large part of their student loan forgiven.
2. The University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham
Programs Offered: Post BSN-to-DNP
About the School: To complete your nurse anesthesia training in AL, if you searching for a highly-ranked doctorate, then applying to the University of Alabama at Birmingham will be an excellent idea. Among the well-known CRNA schools in Alabama, here you can achieve the terminal nursing degree in nursing anesthesia. What’s more, the U.S. News & World Report recognizes its doctorate as one of the best in the nation. Known to have produced innovative leaders, the school has transformed health and healing in the state of Alabama and beyond.
Program Overview: UAB’s certified registered nurse anesthetist program in Alabama combines online and on-campus courses to offer a well-rounded CRNA education. The BSN-DNP-CRNA program spans three years and requires the completion of 114 credits. During the first year, you’ll complete online and in-person courses in anesthesia pharmacology, anesthesia pathophysiology, anesthesia principles, clinical data management, health policy & politics, clinical data management, and population health. In the second year of this CRNA, students learn about concepts in evidence-based practice design & translation, professional aspects of nursing anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and program evaluation methods. The third year mainly emphasizes clinical training in various areas of anesthesia. In addition to the clinical training, the third year also entails taking online didactic classes in critical concepts.
Admission Requirements: To gain admission into UAB’s BSN-DNP-CRNA program, you must foremost have a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Also, your RN license must be active and valid in your intended state of practice. The school also requires you to have completed prerequisite courses in human anatomy, microbiology, human physiology, and chemistry. To qualify, you must also have at least one year of critical care experience. To complete the admission requirements, you must be prepared to submit three letters of recommendation and a GRE score.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential The University of Alabama at Birmingham CRNA Students
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham CRNA program stands out in offering a wide range of clinical experiences, having more than 5000 clinical affiliates and preceptors spread across the nation.
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham CRNA program reports an excellent pass rate on the CRNA certification. Further, the program also records a 0% attrition rate, having all of its students highly satisfied with their educational experience at UAB.
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham CRNA program offers excellent scholarship and financial aid opportunities. Aside from this, the CRNA program also provides an opportunity to apply for the Nurse Faculty Loan program.
3. University of Mobile - Mobile
Programs Offered: DNAP
About the School: To become a CRNA, if you are seeking a Christ-centric learning environment, then the University of Mobile can be a befitting choice. A close-knit community where everyone knows everyone, this is one of the sought-after CRNA schools in Alabama. The school enrolls a diverse student population that not only comes from all over the nation but also from various parts of the world.
Program Overview: UMobile’s CRNA program is a 36-month DNAP that leads to the CRNA certification. The program offers a blended learning format of online and on-campus classes. The rigorous curriculum requires the completion of 88 credits.
The CRNA coursework covers various nursing anesthesia topics such as healthcare systems, ethics & economics, evidence-based decision-making, organizational leadership, and health information systems. The program also includes topics such as research methods, health policy, advanced pharmacology, advanced physiology, advanced pathophysiology, and the principles of anesthesia. You’ll also learn about advanced health assessment and project development. In addition to rigorous didactic training, this CRNA program also includes anesthesia practicum and immersion. Toward the end of the program, you’ll complete CRNA certification exam review courses.
Admission Requirements: To gain admission into UMobile’s CRNA program in Alabama, you must have a BSN with a competitive GPA. The program also requires you to have at least one year of critical care experience. To fulfill the admission requirements, you must be prepared to submit a copy of your RN license, a personal statement, and three references.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential University of Mobile CRNA Students
• The University of Mobile enjoys the distinction of being the first and the only DNAP program in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia.
• The University of Mobile CRNA students gain plenty of clinical training at the school’s state-of-art simulation center which is equipped with high-fidelity simulators.
• University of Mobile's CRNA program also includes a two-credit course in faith & science. The course incorporates science with the values of faith, emphasizing a humanist approach to nursing anesthesia practice.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the Total Number of Accredited CRNA Schools in Alabama?
As per the
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), currently there are 3 accredited CRNA schools in Alabama that offer a total of 3 Nurse Anesthesia programs.
Program Type | # |
MSNA | 0 |
DNAP | 3 |
Post-Master's Certificate | 0 |
DNAP Completion | 0 |
Total | 3 |
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