Graduate Programs

Overview

Become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

You've built a strong foundation in nursing. Now master the art and science of nurse anesthesia care.

At The University of Toledo, we turn experienced registered nurses (RNs) into Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) — among the most trusted, respected and highly compensated experts in healthcare. Our rigorous, full-time doctoral program fuses advanced science, evidence-based practice and immersive clinical training over nine semesters, so you graduate ready to practice safely and independently in any setting.

Why Ambitious Nurses Choose UToledo

1. Reach the pinnacle of clinical practice.

   Master the knowledge and technical artistry to deliver anesthesia care across the lifespan, in a wide range of clinical settings and cases.
2. Train in real clinical environments.

   Learn hands-on alongside seasoned CRNAs and anesthesiologists, with progressively challenging experiences that build genuine independent-practice confidence.
3. Rehearse in a world-class simulation center.

   The Lloyd A. Jacobs Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center is one of just 96 centers worldwide accredited by the American College of Surgeons as a level one comprehensive simulation center and it also holds full Society for Simulation in Healthcare research accreditation, making UToledo the first program in Ohio to hold both.
4. Learn inside your own health system.

   UToledo operates its own academic health system, UToledo Health, anchored by the University of Toledo Medical Center, giving you daily access to university-affiliated clinical sites and complex cases most programs can only visit.
5. Earn the degree that opens every door.

   Graduate with nursing's terminal degree while preparing for national CRNA certification — the credential that commands respect, salary and autonomy.
6. Lead the future of healthcare.

   Build the evidence-based practice, quality improvement and systems-thinking skills that turn clinicians into the leaders healthcare is counting on.

Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

• Summer 2027: Applications open Aug. 17, 2026, and close Sept. 30, 2026.
• Summer 2028: Applications open March 1, 2027, and close June 1, 2027.

Applicants must have graduated from a nationally accredited nursing program with a baccalaureate degree in nursing and earned a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, including coursework in Anatomy & Physiology I & II (with lab), inorganic and organic chemistry and undergraduate statistics, each completed with a 3.0 or above. No advanced standing or transfer credit is accepted from a previous nurse anesthesia program.

Applicants must hold a current, unrestricted registered nurse license in any state and must obtain an unrestricted, unencumbered Ohio license before starting the program and maintain it throughout. Applicants also need a minimum of one year of full-time experience as a registered nurse in a critical care area (MICU, SICU, CVICU, PICU, CCU, neonatal ICU or neuro ICU); time in orientation does not count. If admitted, candidates must remain employed in their critical care role, providing direct patient care, until four weeks prior to matriculation.

How to Apply

1. Applications are completed through the Graduate application portal.
2.  A complete application includes:
   • UToledo application
   • Official transcripts
   • BSN from an accredited college/university that is accredited by a nationally recognized body for nursing education accreditation and have earned a minimum of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including coursework in Anatomy and Physiology I & II with a lab, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, and undergraduate Statistics with a 3.0 or above in these courses. Courses cannot be more than 7 years old at the time of application.
   • Graduate admission fee
   • Personal statement (APA formatted)
   • Resume or CV
   • Three professional recommendations from people who can speak to your work in a clinical setting (a peer, manager, or charge nurse)
   • Current certification documentation with CCRN scores, ACLS, BLS, PALS, and evidence of shadowing experience with a CRNA or anesthesiologist, as well as critical care experience; a minimum of one year is required (MICU, SICU, CVICU, PICU, CCU, Neonatal ICU, and Neuro ICU), excluding orientation/residency.
3. Current unrestricted, unencumbered RN license. An unrestricted, unencumbered Ohio RN license is required prior to starting the program and must be maintained for the duration of the program.
4. Selected DNP applicants will be invited for an interview. Applicants with a prior UToledo degree will have their application fee waived.
5. No advanced standing or transfer credit from a previous NA program is accepted.
6. If admitted, candidates must remain employed in their critical care area, providing direct patient care until 4 weeks prior to matriculation into the program.