CRNA Schools in Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania offers a hybrid BSN to DNP CRNA program in partnership with Geisinger. Students will do a combination of online courses and in-person training. 

The program has recently switched to a DNP CRNA program, per new guidelines, so the school doesn’t have specific pass rates for the DNP program, but first-time pass rates for the MSN program were between 80% and 100%, with 100% employment rates. New program applicants must include documentation of at least 8 hours of shadow time with a current practicing CRNA.

Cedar Crest College is the only CRNA program in the Lehigh Valley. It offers a hybrid online CRNA program with all core classes occurring online and all nurse anesthesia classes in the simulation lab or the classroom. Students practice clinically through the tri-state area and graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

Drexel’s DNP-NA is a 39-month, full-time program that starts annually in the spring. The first three-quarters of the program runs through spring, summer, and fall and takes place full-time online. However, after those first nine months, students must complete the rest of the program on-site at Drexel University's campus in Philadelphia. 

To graduate from the CRNA program, students must complete a DNP Scholarly Project. Clinical sites are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Like other schools, the DNP program is new, but the attrition rate for the MSN program was 11%. 

La Roche College has two DNAP programs: an entry-level program designed to equip graduates for leadership positions. It also has a DNAP Completion Program, which is designed specifically for part-time students who are still working. 

The DNAP Completion Program lasts six consecutive semesters, with each class offered in 15-week formats. It starts in the early fall and requires a week-long residency on campus to kick it off.

La Roche offers online options to CRNAs with advanced standing who are enrolled in the DNAP Completion Program. These students can attend most classes online, with just three in-person residency requirements.

La Salle’s CRNA program offers a BSN to DNP program that allows students to ease into the program if they are still working full-time. The first 22 months of the program can be completed fully online to fulfill the DNP core courses. The last 29 months are clinically based and require a full-time commitment to the program.

The program utilizes various clinical sites, ranging from a few miles away from the school to up to 64 miles from the campus. 

30 students are admitted to Excela Health’s DNAP program every year. The program takes a total of 36 months to complete. Students have to complete a minimum of 600 anesthesia cases by graduation, and the school says its graduates average over 750 cases. The entry-level program is 91 credits total and is considered to be highly competitive.

Thomas Jefferson University’s DNP program takes 36 months and 9 semesters for 85 credits. The program is full-time only and requires at least 2,000 clinical practice hours. On average, students complete more than 650 cases.  The program also focuses on leadership, reflective practice, health policy, and implementation science. 

The University of Pennsylvania’s CRNA program is full-time and in-person. It starts in the fall and takes 3 years to complete. The curriculum encompasses four conceptual areas: core courses, area courses, research into practice application, and leadership and management. 

The program's clinical rotations include pediatric, cardiac, and non-cardiac thoracic specialties. A minimum of two years of recent and relevant acute care experience is required. Still, the school notes that the most competitive applicants typically have more than two years of experience. 

The University of Pittsburgh offers both an MSN-DNAP and a BSN-DNAP program. Nurses with an MS can also apply. The program is robustly prepared, and students have access to over 25 clinical sites, including Level 1 trauma centers, cardiothoracic, transplants, pediatrics, obstetrics, dental, community, surgery centers, and office-based practices. 

Students also exceed the AANA COA requirements of 600 anesthetic administration cases by administering 800 and averaging more than 2,500 clinical hours, even though the minimum requirement is only 2,000.

Entry to practice students do not get online options for this program. However, the MSN to DNP nurse anesthesia program is fully online, according to the university's website.

The University of Scranton requires one year of recent acute care experience and a BSN, among other admissions requirements. Applicants must apply by October 1 of the previous year when they wish to begin the program. The program is full-time and takes 36 months.

By graduation, students receive 2,000 clinical experience hours and participate in over 750 cases. The University of Scranton is one of only 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S.

With an average of 20 students per class, UPMC’s Hamot School of Anesthesia offers an individualized education and a heavy emphasis on hands-on experience. Students receive an average of 1,000 cases each, which is higher than many other programs. This is primarily because the program is hospital-owned, so it allows easy access to available cases. 

Students must apply by October 1st of the preceding year before enrollment. The program begins in the summer, and the first two semesters—summer and fall—can be completed online.

Applications for Villanova’s University must be received around two years in advance, so interested students are encouraged to apply early for the next enrollment round. 

Applicants must have one year of recent ICU experience before applying. Anyone whose application is denied cannot reapply. The program is 36 months and comprises 73 credits. Students begin an “on-call” clinical experience in the spring semester after the second year of courses. 

York College offers a full-time, campus-based BSN-DNAP program that takes 36 months to complete. Students receive 102 credits and 2,000 clinical hours. The program begins in May, and applicants must complete an application by April of the preceding year. Only 16-18 students are admitted each year, and unsuccessful applicants are allowed to reapply in the future.