CRNA certification after DNP?

Specialties CRNA

Updated:   Published

Hi there,

I am currently working towards my BSN and am interested in the CRNA route. My nursing school has a great DNP program though, but there are sadly no CRNA schools in Colorado. I was wondering if anyone had heard of getting your CRNA certification after getting your DNP? I was considering using my school's BSN-DNP program, then going into CRNA afterwards. Is that possible? Are there CRNA programs that offer post-DNP certification? Or do you have to get a second DNP? I've found plenty of post-Master's CRNA/DNP programs, but not really much info on post-DNP CRNA certification. I'm very new to the world of human nursing, I've been a Certified Veterinary Technician for over 6 years though, so the human side of medicine is new to me. Forgive me if I sound naive. I've been trying to do as much research as possible while I'm still in my BSN, so as to be best prepared for my career track afterwards.

Thanks for any advice!

As a side note, I'm definitely not opposed to going out of state for a CRNA program, as that is my ultimate career goal; I am just wondering if a post-DNP certification was actually an option.

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Specializes in NICU.

What would be your goal with getting the DNP? Do you also want to be a nurse practitioner? You might as well just get your CRNA after your BSN.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

There are CRNA programs that offer a post Masters/DNP certification. You will take nearly the same amount of courses with the certification program as the traditional program and spend nearly twice as long getting your CRNA.

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While there are some Post-Masters Certificate programs that lead to CRNA, there are no Post-DNP Certificate programs that lead to CRNA. Don't spend years and thousands of dollars to get a non-CRNA DNP and then turn around and have to earn another DNP or DNAP.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
While there are some Post-Masters Certificate programs that lead to CRNA, there are no Post-DNP Certificate programs that lead to CRNA. Don't spend years and thousands of dollars to get a non-CRNA DNP and then turn around and have to earn another DNP or DNAP.

I would assume that if the school accepted an MSN they should accept the DNP for the certificate programs. I could be wrong but it wouldn't make sense to me to accept one and not the other.

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Welcome to taking care of humans!

You are right. There are no CRNA programs in CO. So if you truly want to become a CRNA- you will HAVE to move out of state, not just be open to moving out of state. CO is traditionally a state that was controlled by Anesthesiologists meaning they owned the anesthesia practices and only hired other MDAs. They only recently converted their practices to include CRNAs (MDA only practice models are very difficult for hospitals/practices to afford). My point is that the practice of CRNAs in CO is still considered to be in its early stages- so even if a program was created today- I would think it would be difficult to get good clinical experiences...but you never know. Perhaps there are CO CRNAs that have better insight?

By 2025 the entry level for CRNAs will be DNP. This means that most CRNA programs are working on converting or have already converted into DNP programs and soon there won't be any BSN to MSN CRNA Programs. You haven't earned your BSN quite yet so that means you still have at least 2-3 more years before you apply or are accepted- gotta get that ICU experience and get into a program as you know!

There aren't any post-DNP CRNA Programs because right now the MSN part is the Nurse Anesthesia Speciality and the DNP part is often generic and related to research. Although there are rumors that DNP's are or will become available with specialities in anesthesia related issues- meaning in the future you could earn your DNP in say...pediatric anesthesia or regional anesthesia instead of research!

So technically you could earn your DNP at your current program, but you would have to go back and get a second masters in Nurse Anesthesia. Seems pointless and a waste of time...especially because those MSN programs are becoming more scarce. Hopefully that makes sense and helps!

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Thank you everyone for your advice. I was thinking that was the case, but I appreciate the input to confirm it. There's a small chance we may actually end up moving to Texas this year, and I know there are a few CRNA schools down there too.

Thank you all for your sound advice!

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