Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a 36-month, full-time doctoral program designed to prepare registered nurses for advanced practice in anesthesia. Students gain extensive didactic and clinical training that equips them to safely and effectively provide anesthesia care across diverse patient populations and clinical environments.

Program Length

• Duration: 36 months, full-time.

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: Not specified.

Starting Month

Not specified

Applicants should contact the Graduate Nursing Admissions Office for details on the next available cohort start date.

Application Deadlines

Application Period: Not specified. Applicants are encouraged to submit all materials well before the deadline to allow time for verification and review.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Licensure:
  • Current, unencumbered active RN or APRN license in any U.S. state at the time of application.
  • Nevada RN license required before beginning the clinical practicum phase.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of one year of full-time ICU experience as a registered nurse within the last three years (by program start date).
  • NICU and PICU experience qualify but are not preferred over adult ICU experience.
  • Emergency Department (ED) experience does not qualify as critical care but will count as one year of RN employment.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Applicants from pass/fail programs are assigned a GPA of 3.0 and must complete additional science coursework to raise the GPA to 3.2.
  • Applicants with a GPA below 3.5 are encouraged to submit GRE scores with a combined total above 300.
• Certifications:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications required.
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification optional.
  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification highly recommended.
• Health and Safety Requirements:
  • Negative drug screen and background check required prior to program admission (not required at the time of application).
  • Applicants must be physically and mentally capable of performing all required clinical duties safely.
• Prerequisites:
  • No prerequisite courses are required for admission.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
• Curriculum Focus: Combines advanced anesthesia science, evidence-based practice, and clinical leadership training to prepare graduates for independent anesthesia practice.
• Clinical Practicum: Provides supervised clinical experience across diverse settings to ensure competency in general, regional, and specialty anesthesia techniques.

Contact

University of Nevada, Las Vegas — School of Nursing

Address: 4505 S. Maryland Parkway,
Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA

Phone: (702) 895-3360

Email: gradnursingadmissions@unlv.edu