Working as a CRNA in Alabama: Jobs, Autonomy & Practice Overview

• Practice Model: Alabama does not permit independent CRNA practice. A physician (anesthesiologist, surgeon, or other qualified provider) must be involved in collaboration or medical direction.
• Where Jobs Are: Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Dothan, and numerous rural hospitals in southern and central Alabama.
• Clinical Settings: Hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, critical access facilities, pain management practices, and anesthesia care team (ACT) environments.
• Compensation Environment: Alabama CRNA pay is competitive relative to cost of living, with strong demand in rural and medically underserved areas. For detailed data, see our CRNA Salary & Compensation Dataset.

Licensure & Credentials for CRNA Jobs in Alabama

• Education: Completion of a doctoral degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia program (DNAP/DNP).
• Certification: Active NBCRNA certification after passing the National Certification Examination (NCE).
• State Licensure: Alabama RN license plus Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) designation with CRNA specialization.
• Maintenance: Ongoing NBCRNA recertification and continuing education. See our guide to NBCRNA Recertification for Practicing CRNAs.

Practice Environment & Autonomy

• Independent Practice: Not permitted. CRNAs must practice under physician collaboration or direction.
• Care Models: ACT and collaborative models dominate, especially within large hospital systems and surgical centers.

Major Hospitals & Healthcare Systems Employing CRNAs in Alabama

These are the primary employers and anesthesia practice environments for CRNAs across the state:

• UAB Medicine (Birmingham): The state’s largest academic medical center with high-acuity and subspecialty case exposure.
• Huntsville Hospital Health System (Huntsville): A major employer offering a wide range of surgical services within an ACT model.
• Ascension St. Vincent’s (Birmingham & Statewide): Multiple campuses providing OR, OB, cardiac, and general anesthesia needs.
• Mobile Infirmary / Infirmary Health (Mobile): Large Gulf Coast hospital network with OR, trauma, and specialty anesthesia settings.
• Baptist Health (Montgomery Region): Regional system with growing CRNA demand and steady surgical volume.
• East Alabama Medical Center (Opelika): Full-service hospital recruiting CRNAs across multiple specialties.
• Critical Access & Rural Hospitals (Statewide): High-need areas throughout central, western, and southern Alabama with consistent CRNA opportunities.
• Outpatient Surgery Centers (Major Cities): GI, ortho, ENT, and same-day surgery centers with stable Monday–Friday schedules.

Staying Current on Alabama CRNA Practice

Practice regulations and licensure requirements can change. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, refer to:

• Alabama Board of Nursing
• Alabama Association of Nurse Anesthetists