CRNA Continuing Education Credits

As you know, staying on top of our continuing education (CE) is a big part of maintaining certification and keeping our clinical skills sharp. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need, where to get it, and how to make sure it counts.

How Many Credits Do We Need?

To recertify through the NBCRNA, we need a total of 100 CE credits every four years. You can knock them all out at once or spread them out over time — totally up to you.

• 60 Class A credits — structured, AANA-approved, with an assessment
• 40 Class B credits — more flexible, no test required

If you earn extra Class A credits, you can apply them toward your Class B requirement. But you can’t use Class B credits in place of Class A.

Class A Credits

Class A credits come from formal CE activities with an assessment. Webinars, online courses, in-person conferences, or the CPC Core Modules. These are all approved by AANA and designed to improve your clinical anesthesia practice.

Examples:

• Online courses
• Live or recorded webinars
• Workshops and national conferences
• CPC Core Modules

Class B Credits

Class B credits are a little more open-ended. No preapproval. No assessment. These cover a wide range of professional activities — and yes, some can be earned while working!

Examples:

• Teaching or precepting.
• Publishing articles or research.
• Participating in morbidity and mortality conferences.
• Engaging in mission trips or volunteer work.
• Attending non-assessed CE courses.
• Listening to educational podcasts related to anesthesia.
• Completing life support courses like BLS, ACLS, or PALS (if not already counted as Class A).
• Serving on professional committees or boards.
• Conducting quality improvement initiatives.
• Participating in research projects or data collection.

There are over 20 recognized Class B activities, so it’s worth checking what you’re already doing that may count.

For a comprehensive list and details on documentation requirements, refer to the NBCRNA's Class B Activities Table.

Documentation and Submission

• AANA Members: Can utilize the AANA's online portal to submit and track Class B credits.
• Non-AANA Members: Should maintain personal records of Class B activities and submit them during the CPC renewal process.
• Audit Preparedness: It's essential to retain documentation for each activity in case of an audit by the NBCRNA.

Core Modules Are Being Phased Out — Here's What’s Next

The NBCRNA is phasing out traditional Core Modules and replacing them with the new Maintenance of Certification Assessment (MAC). This change is part of their updated CPC framework, designed to streamline certification while still supporting lifelong learning and clinical relevance.

If you're currently in a CPC cycle that still requires Core Modules, you will need to complete them as planned. But if you're entering a new cycle or certifying after the transition, your focus will shift toward MAC instead of Core Modules.

The MAC will assess your knowledge across key domains like airway, pharmacology, physiology, and equipment — similar to Core Modules — but in a more integrated and modern format. No prep courses or modules will be required, but NBCRNA will provide study resources to help you succeed.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• If you’re mid-cycle, complete your Core Modules as usual.
• If you're starting a new CPC cycle soon, check the NBCRNA MAC Overview for your next steps.
• The AANA CE Portal will still help track and manage your requirements, even as the program evolves.

We’ll keep this section updated as more details roll out. For now, keep an eye on your cycle dates and stay in the loop with the latest guidance from NBCRNA and AANA.

What About Core Modules?

If you're recertifying through the CPC Program, Core Modules are non-negotiable. Every four-year cycle, we're required to complete four Core Modules — one in each of these critical areas:

• Airway Management
• Pharmacology
• Physiology & Pathophysiology
• Anesthesia Equipment & Technology

These modules are designed to reinforce our knowledge in high-priority areas and help us stay aligned with evolving best practices. They're not just check-the-box credits — they’re targeted refreshers meant to prepare us for the CPC Assessment and real-world clinical scenarios.

Here’s what to expect:

• Each module includes self-paced educational content, often with video, case studies, or interactive elements.
• You’ll take a short assessment at the end — it's required for it to count as Class A credit.
• You can take them online on your own schedule or through a live course.

Some CE providers even bundle all four modules together, which is a convenient option if you want to knock them out at once. You don’t have to take all four at once though — you can space them out anytime during your CPC cycle.

If you’re ever unsure whether a course meets the CPC Core Module requirements, just double-check that it’s labeled as AANA-approved Core Module content. The AANA CE Portal also helps keep everything organized and trackable.

Tracking Your Credits

It's recommended to use the AANA CE Portal to manage your credits. It’s simple to track what you’ve earned and make sure you’re on pace for recertification.

For official CPC info, always check the NBCRNA CPC Program page.

You can bookmark our CRNA CE Credits & Core Modules Database and use the filters above to find Class A, Core Modules, Free CE, and more — all in one place.