What majors/courses to take to become a CRNA

liamy · Oct 13, 2011

You will need to be a BSN RN. I'm sure that to get into any CRNA program, you will need a certain number of years experience as a working nurse, I would think critical care preferred. Then apply and get into a CRNA program. Where I live, they are extremely competitive, only taking 13 and 8 students per year.

Good luck!

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Oct 13, 2011

You will need an RN license, and more than likely a BSN degree. Which means a four-year bachelor's of science in nursing program. After you graduate, you apply for a sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Once you pass that exam you are licensed as an RN. Then you need to work for at least two years in an ICU setting. Then you need to enroll in a CRNA program, which is usually 2-3 years of classwork and clinical training. Then you need to sit for the CRNA certification exam. Then you'll be a CRNA. So the whole process takes about 8-9 years after high school. By the way, there is a forum here dedicated to CRNAs.

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Oct 13, 2011

Yeah seriously there are about 2 or 3 threads asking the same thing every month. I'll say the same thing I say in the others. Worry about graduating High School first.

jts22 · Oct 13, 2011

ScottE, I'm not worried about graduating high school...I AM going to graduate. My gpa is 4.2, I'm concerned about my future and knowing what courses to take.

But thank you to those above, I appreciate it and it has helped me a lot!

DizzyLizzyNurse · Oct 14, 2011

Keep up that 4.2 through nursing school. Get your BSN. You probably will have to work at least one or two years of med surge to get into ICU. Then at least 2-3 years of ICU before you can even start applying. Then 3 (?) years of full time school. And I know at the school near me you aren't allowed to work during the school year because it's so intense.

At least that's what I've read on this site. It's a long journey. Does your school offer LPN or CNA classes? My high school had a program that offered those for free. (Of course I graduated 11 years ago, might be different now.) You might want to start there. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Oct 14, 2011

You'll be in your early to mid 30's by the time you'll realistically be considered a candidate for admission to a CRNA program. Most successful candidates have a BSN, 5+ years of Critical Care experience, and numerous nursing certifications (CCRN, ect). It's fine to have goals and plans, but it's important to understand as Robert Burns points out in his poem To a Mouse, "The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray." Never is that more true than within nursing.