Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice

CRNAs practice in the hospital, nonoperating room anesthetizing areas, ambulatory surgical centers, and office-based settings. They provide all types of anesthesia-related care for surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures. CRNAs provide anesthesia for all specialties including, but not limited to, general, obstetrics, trauma, cardiac, orthopedic, gastrointestinal, dental, and plastic surgeries. CRNAs administer anesthesia care to patients in urban, suburban, and rural locations in the US, and are often the sole anesthesia professionals delivering care to the military, rural, and medically underserved populations. CRNAs serve as leaders, clinicians, researchers, educators, mentors, advocates, and administrators.

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree prepares students to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), licensed to administer anesthesia and other medications in surgical and other medical situations. The 36-month program runs through nine semesters (including summers) and involves extensive classroom and clinical training.

The DNAP program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The COA is accredited by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Accreditation

The University of Charleston Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program is accredited by:

The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
10275 W. Higgins Rd.
Suite 906
Rosemont, IL 60018-5603

Phone 224-275-9130
www.coacrna.org
Recognized by the USDE and CHEA

Licensure and Certification Requirements

Whereas accreditation applies to educational programs, licensure and certification applies to individuals. Our program prepares students for and makes them eligible to take the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) National Certification Exam. Passing the NCE is required for employment as a CRNA and may also be required by each state to obtain licensure. Information regarding each state’s nurse practice act and regulatory requirements may be found here: https://www.aana.com/practice/practice-in-your-state/

Application Deadline: Applications for the cohort that will begin in the Fall 2025 semester must be received by Monday, December 16, 2024, for full consideration.

To apply to the program, students must:

• Complete the UC admissions application and submit the application fee.
• All of the following materials must be submitted via email to dnap@ucwv.edu.
  • Have a BSN from an accredited institution with a minimum final GPA of 3.0. Applicants who have earned a BSN through an RN to BSN program will have their associates and bachelor degree GPAs combined for a cumulative GPA that must be 3.0 or higher. Applicants must provide copies of transcripts from all higher education institutions attended. Unofficial copies may be submitted for initial review, but official copies will be required for on-campus interviews.
  • Have a current, active, unencumbered US registered nurse (RN) license. Applicants will be required to provide documentation of active licensure.
  • Applicants must hold active certifications in ACLS, BLS, and PALS and provide proof of each.
  • Submit a current CV in the required format
  • Have three (3) professional references (one must be a current direct supervisor) complete the reference form and send to dnap@ucwv.edu. The form must be sent from the reference. Reference forms emailed by the applicant will not be accepted.
  • Complete and submit the program experience form to dnap@ucwv.edu. Applicants must demonstrate a minimum of one year of ICU (intensive care unit) experience to qualify for admission.
  • Applicants must be currently working in an intensive/critical care unit as defined by the COA in their Programmatic Accreditation FAQs with a minimum of one year total experience. Applicants will be provided an experience form to confirm appropriate experience.

Applications will be reviewed by the DNAP Admissions Committee. Applicants will be notified in February 2025 if they are being invited to campus for an in-person interview. Interviews will take place in March/April 2025. Applicants will be notified of status (admitted, wait listed, or denied) no later than May 1, 2025. Admitted students will have to submit a $1,000 enrollment deposit or will forfeit their admissions offer.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to actively shadow a CRNA to ensure their interest in the field. Shadowing hours are not required for the initial application review, but all applicants invited to interview will be required to submit confirmation of 8 shadowing hours (can be across multiple dates) prior to their interview date. Shadowing hours must be documented on this form.