6 Best CRNA Schools in North Carolina – 2025


Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

Thinking of becoming a nurse anesthetist in the Tar Heel State? As a graduate of one of the many CRNA programs in North Carolina, you’ll earn $214,740 on average, and the demand for your services will soar by more than 16 percent within the next 10 years. Nurse anesthetists enjoy more autonomy than practically any other advanced practice RN specialty and are among the most highly respected nursing professionals. The key to professional success will be finding a nurse anesthesia program that meets your educational goals. This list of the 6 best CRNA schools in North Carolina for 2025 will supply you with the necessary information.



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WHAT ARE THE BEST CRNA SCHOOLS IN NORTH CAROLINA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?

(Based on our ranking methodology, the following are the 6 Best Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs in North Carolina (Online & Campus).)

1. Duke University - Durham


Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP


About the School: Have you desired a nurse anesthesia degree from one of the best CRNA schools in North Carolina? If so, you must learn about Duke University. This CRNA school has earned consistent recognition from the U.S. News & World Report for its excellent nurse anesthesia education. Moreover, the college’s faculty comprises leaders who are committed to the academic success of each CRNA student. Little surprise, the college proudly reports that 100% of its graduates pass the CRNA certification exam, after which they move on to take up pivotal positions in nurse anesthesia practice all over the country.

Program Overview: This CRNA program in North Carolina is open to registered nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level. The program is a 36-month program that requires completing 83 credits. Along with well-designed didactic courses, this CRNA program provides students with a variety of clinical experiences at its wide network of affiliate sites. The program is offered in a hybrid format, with nurse anesthesia courses in-person, and the DNP core courses, online. The program comprises core courses, nurse anesthesia courses, and DNP core courses.

Admission Requirements: Duke employs a holistic admission process. This means that you must highlight every accomplishment to prove your capability as a promising nurse anesthesia candidate. Foremost, you must have a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Also, certifications in ACLS, and PALS are required. The CCRN certification is not compulsory, however, it is strongly recommended. Additionally, the college requires at least one to two years of full-time work experience in acute care. Other admission requirements include submission of transcripts, three letters of reference, and a resume.


2. Wake Forest University - Winston-Salem


Programs Offered: DNP


About the School: When counting the best CRNA schools in North Carolina, you cannot overlook Wake Forest University. A CRNA school that boasts a rich history of more than 80 years, its CRNA program enjoys the unique advantage of being housed in a medical school. Moreover, the program partners with the department of anesthesiology to offer education that meets the evolving needs of the nursing anesthesia practice.

The school continues to earn acclaim for its excellent education and understandably ranks in the U.S. News & World Report’s list of the nation’s best CRNA schools. Here, practical training is emphasized and so, as a student you can expect almost 25% more clinical learning opportunities than the minimum required for graduation.

Program Overview: A 36-month coursework, this CRNA program in North Carolina is divided into one year of didactic courses offered online, after which you complete the remaining two years of the program in person. During the course of the program, you will master concepts in the principles of nurse anesthesia, biostatistics & epidemiology, research analysis, healthcare policy, advocacy & ethics, informatics, and healthcare management. You will take a course in leadership & interprofessional collaboration.

In addition, you will be provided with ample clinical training opportunities that include more than 800 cases and over 2500 clinical hours. The experiences are diverse, including various specialties such as pediatrics, geriatrics, neurology, plastic surgery and other important areas of specialization. Also, you will benefit from interprofessional learning opportunities by collaborating with the medical school and physician assistant departments.

Admission Requirements: The admission process at this nurse anesthesia program in North Carolina entails the submission of an application, uploading the required documents, and an interview. To be eligible you must have an active RN licensure and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. However, a GPA of 3.5 and above will enhance your chances of admission. Also, you are required to have at least one year of nursing experience in an ICU.


3. East Carolina University - Greenville


Programs Offered: DNP


About the School: Another one of the featured CRNA schools in North Carolina is East Carolina University. This CRNA school has been offering nurse anesthesia education since 2003 and ever since, the college has had an excellent performance of its CRNA graduates on the national certification exam.

Here, you will practice clinical skills in its state-of-art simulation center which provides you with a close-to-real learning environment without jeopardizing the life of a patient. In fact, as the program progresses, simulation experiences are very thoughtfully integrated with didactic courses to allow the immediate application of knowledge in case-based scenarios.

Program Overview: This CRNA program takes you straight from a baccalaureate-prepared RN to the position of a doctorally prepared nurse anesthetist. By completing a 90 credit-coursework, you will gain the highest level of nurse anesthesia skills and knowledge. Similar to most other CRNA programs in North Carolina this program also takes 36 months to complete.

Offered on a full-time basis, during the first year, you will gain a strong foundation in interprofessional leadership, population health, health assessment, healthcare finance, and design & statistical methods for advanced nursing practice.

During the second year, you will mainly master the basic principles of anesthesia. Also, you will begin the clinical training, starting the second year.

The third year mainly entails completing the clinical practicums while also completing a few didactic courses in nurse anesthesia.

Admission Requirements: To fulfill the admission requirements for this nurse anesthesia program in North Carolina, you must first have a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited university. Your undergraduate GPA must be at least 3.0. The college also requires you to have an active RN licensure in NC. Additionally, you must prepare to submit official transcripts, a GRE score, four letters of reference, and a course with a minimum grade of C. Furthermore, it is required of you have one year of critical care experience besides holding the PALS and ACLS certification. The college accepts applications throughout the year, so it is preferred that you submit your application early to enhance your odds of admission.


4. UNC Greensboro School of Nursing - Greensboro, NC


Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP


About the School: One of the other well-known CRNA schools in North Carolina is UNC Greensboro School of Nursing. At this school, you will complete your CRNA education without breaking the bank as the school offers an affordable tuition cost along with scholarship opportunities for eligible students.

Also, here the school’s small-sized classes ensure you receive individualized attention under the mentorship of its nationally recognized faculty. Furthermore, the college reports a zero percent attrition rate and an above-average pass rate on the certification exam which not only testifies a satisfying student experience but also a successful academic outcome.

Program Overview: This BSN to DNP program is meant to be completed within three years of full-time study. Offered through a combination of online and on-campus classes, the program is designed to enhance learning while also providing the flexibility of completing courses through the web.

During the nine semesters of study, you are required to complete 107 credit hours, including the simulation and clinical training. The clinical sites are diverse and include training in regional and general anesthesia. Additionally, you will go through various specialty anesthesia rotations, thereby preparing yourself for practice in all kinds of anesthesia situations.

Some of the courses that you take include basic principles of nurse anesthesia practice, informatics in healthcare, evidence-based practice, and law policy & economics. To be able to complete this program successfully, you must be ready to commit over 60 hours each week to study, classes, and clinical training.

Admission Requirements: Similar to most other CRNA schools in North Carolina, to be eligible for admission, you must have a BSN and a minimum GPA of 3.2. Also, you must have certification in BLS, ACLS, and PALS. Besides, you must have at least one year of experience in critical care and a minimum of 2 shadowing experiences with a nurse anesthetist.


5. Carolinas Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia Program/UNCC – Charlotte


Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP


About the School: Whether you desire a career advancement in a promising advanced practice field of nursing or simply want to take up a fulfilling job position, by completing a DNP-CRNA program, you can achieve both of these goals.

Carolinas Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia Program/UNCC’s CRNA training prepares you with the highest level of nurse anesthesia skills to achieve success in this in-demand field. Offered as a collaborative effort between Carolinas Medical Center and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, you will benefit from the combined expertise of the faculty of these two schools. Known among the best CRNA schools in North Carolina, the Carolina Medical Centre is a level one trauma center, where students complete most of their clinical experiences. What’s more, UNC Charlotte also offers an excellent environment for research and community engagement.

Program Overview: This BSN to DNP program requires a total of nine semesters of full-time study. While the first five semesters mainly focus on didactic courses, the clinical training begins only in the fourth semester. The last four semesters consist of full-time clinical experiences with a few didactic courses that continue throughout the program.

During the first year of this CRNA program in North Carolina, you will take courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, applied physics & chemistry, physiology, health assessment, and principles of nurse anesthesia.

In the second year of the program, in addition to strengthening the concepts of the first year, you also master concepts in the economic and financial aspects of the healthcare system, leadership & planning and the application of evidence-based practice.

The third year mainly entails completing the clinical residency and the DNP project. In total, you must complete 89 credits to earn your DNP-CRNA degree.

Admission Requirements: To secure admission into this nurse anesthesia program in North Carolina, you must apply to both, UNC Charlotte Graduate School as well as Carolinas Medical Center.

To fulfill the admission requirements of UNC, you must submit an application for the DNP-CRNA program. Also, you must submit your transcripts, GRE scores, a statement of purpose, and three letters of reference.

The Carlina Medical Center’s application checklist consists of an application, RN licensure, a copy of ACLS, BCLS and PALS certification, and the prescribed minimum GPA.


6. Western Carolina University - Cullowhee


Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP


About the School: When shortlisting CRNA schools in North Carolina, the main factor to keep in mind is the quality of education. Well, Western Carolina University is a CRNA school that offers excellent education in its close-knit classroom of not more than 17 students. Also, its open-door policy with faculty facilitates working closely with instructors to help students reach their academic and career goals.

Moreover, here, the clinical training that you receive is diverse and extensive, even exceeding the prescribed number of cases required for graduation. Also, the school is equipped with a state-of-art simulation lab where students practice skills on METI human patient simulators. If you are someone who cherishes international learning experiences, then this CRNA school offers students opportunities for service trips to several other countries across the globe.

Program Overview: As one of the CRNA programs in North Carolina that takes pride in all graduates passing the national certification, this program strives towards producing competent CRNAs. The program is a 36-month curriculum that allows a transfer of up to nine credits from your previous education, provided you meet the criteria. To graduate, you are required to complete around 87 credits.

Starting with concepts in financial aspects of healthcare systems, leadership & healthcare systems and the application of evidence-based knowledge, the coursework progresses to more complex topics of advanced anesthesia. As a CRNA student, you will be made well-versed with basic and advanced principles of anesthesia. Clinical experiences begin in the third semester and go on throughout the remaining duration of the program. Towards the end, you complete a DNP project by synthesizing your nurse anesthesia study.

Admission Requirements: To apply to this BSN-to-DNP, you must have a BSN from an accredited university. Also, You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. To complete your application, you must submit unofficial copies of your transcripts, a GRE score, three letters of reference and an active RN license. In addition, you are required to have at least one year of critical care.


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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


What are the Total Number of Accredited CRNA Schools in North Carolina?

As per the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), currently there are 6 accredited CRNA schools in North Carolina that offer a total of 6 Nurse Anesthesia programs.

Program Type #
MSNA 0
DNAP 6
Post-Master's Certificate 0
DNAP Completion 0
Total 6



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