Nurse Anesthesia Admissions
Our mission is to provide an academic environment that allows students to master the intellectual and technical skills necessary to become competent in the safe conduct of anesthesia. It does this by providing a select group of experienced, graduate-level nurses with the highest level of didactic, simulation lab, and clinical site experiences. Our graduates develop the lifelong scholarship, critical thinking skills, and professionalism needed to become compassionate, patient-centered anesthesia providers in solo practice or within anesthesia care teams.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education through the fall of 2031. The program received the maximum 10-year accreditation length in the fall of 2021.
Contact information for the Council on Accreditation:
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
10275 W. Higgins Rd
Suite 906
Rosemont, IL 60018-5603
Phone: (224) 275-9130
http://coacrna.org
D.N.P. Admissions Details
Important Application Dates
- Anticipated Start Term for the D.N.P. in Nurse Anesthesia: Fall 2025
- All applicants should apply through Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS)
- NursingCAS Application Portal for Fall 2025 admission cycle open date: August 2024
- Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
*All prerequisite courses must be completed no later than the final application deadline, with a minimum grade of B or better in Biochemistry, and a minimum grade of C or better in Statistics.
Application Process and Requirements and Admissions Requirements
application process
- All applicants are required to apply online through Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS).
- All verified applications received on or before the application deadline will receive full admission consideration.
- All verified applications undergo preliminary review for minimum admissions requirements and documentation.
- Qualified applicants will move on to full admission review with the faculty admissions committee.
- Highly qualified applicants will be invited to interview. Interviews are done by invitation only.
- UNE communicates all status updates, notifications, and admission decisions via email.
For specific academic dates, please view the UNE academic calendar.
Application Requirements
Items to submit to NursingCAS:
- Application with application fee
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Proof of current unencumbered RN license
- Copies of required certifications/score reports: ACLS & PALS
- Proof of satisfactory completion of Statistics prerequisite course.
- Proof of satisfactory completion of Biochemistry Prerequisite*
*If you are unsure whether or not a specific biochemistry course will count towards our prerequisite requirement, please submit the UNE Biochemistry Prerequisite Equivalency Form. Your submission will be reviewed and a reply will be sent to you via email within five (5) to seven (7) business days.
Degree Requirement
Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) in Nursing or completion of an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science degree in a science-related field of study.
All degrees must have been completed at a U.S. regionally accredited college/university or international equivalent, and all nursing degrees must have been completed at an accredited nursing program, before starting the Nurse Anesthesia program.
Licensure and Certifications
- Proof of current unencumbered RN licensure in your home state at the time of application; licensure in the state where clinical experience occurs is obtained after enrollment
- Upload copies of all licenses and certifications in NursingCAS
- Certifications Required:
- Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Certifications highly recommended:
- CCRN and/or other specialty certification (i.e., CEN)
- Upload copy of certification in NursingCAS
- Upload score report in NursingCAS
- CCRN and/or other specialty certification (i.e., CEN)
GPA Requirement
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required, with additional emphasis on science courses.
- Coursework in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology specifically is recommended and will be reviewed closely.
- Due to the program’s competitive nature, meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee an interview or acceptance.
Experience Hours/Clinical Experience
All applicants are encouraged to shadow a nurse anesthetist for at least one (1) day in the operating room prior to application to more fully understand the commitment involved in studying to become a nurse anesthetist.
- Minimum of eighteen (18) months experience as a critical care nurse. Two (2) or more years is recommended.
- All experience hours must be completed prior to application submission.
- All experience hours must be completed within the United States.
Acceptable areas: ICU, CCU, CVICU, SICU, MICU, NICU, PICU and Neuro ICU*
*Important Note: Emergency Room, Critical Care Transport, Cath Lab, PACU, and OR experiences do not fulfill the critical care experience required to apply.
Prerequisite Coursework Requirements
Biochemistry (3-4 semester credits)
- Must be an upper-division course (300-level or above).
- Community College courses are not acceptable.
- Biochemistry must be completed with a grade of “B” or better (“B minus” grade is not acceptable).
- Biochemistry course must have been completed no more than five (5) years prior to the application deadline for the UNE Nurse Anesthesia program.
Statistics (3 semester credits)
- Must be successfully completed with a grade of “C” or better ("C minus" grade is not acceptable).
All planned or in-progress coursework should be listed on the NursingCAS application at the time of application submission. Not doing so may result in the applicant not meeting all admissions requirements and therefore may not be eligible for admission review.
All prerequisite coursework must be successfully completed, with an official transcript submitted to NursingCAS no later than the final application deadline.
Online courses offered through UNE’s Online Science Prerequisites as well as online courses from other regionally accredited U.S. colleges or universities are acceptable.
Letters of Evaluation
Three (3) letters of evaluation are required, submitted via NursingCAS:
- One letter must be from the immediate acute care nursing supervisor or manager attesting to the total length of time, in years and months that an applicant has worked in the acute care setting as a registered nurse.
- It is recommended that the remaining two (2) letters come from those who can attest to the clinical and professional skills of the applicant.
- Letters from friends or family members are not acceptable.
Interviews
Interviews are a required part of the application process:
- Qualified applicants will be contacted and invited to interview during the winter/spring months, prior to the fall start of the Nurse Anesthesia program.
- Interviews are done by invitation only.
- Alternate interview modalities may be instituted at the discretion of the Nurse Anesthesia program, as deemed necessary. Applicants will be notified immediately if changes to the format or timing of interviews occur at any point during the application cycle.
International Applicants
International applicants and those with foreign degrees and coursework are required to satisfy the following additional requirements:
- Official credential evaluation by World Education Service (WES), confirming degree and grade equivalency to that of a U.S. Bachelor's Degree. Please refer to the International Admissions section of the UNE website for more information on the type of credential evaluation required for admission review.
- Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of an English language proficiency test.
- Applicants should refer to the English Language Proficiency webpage on the UNE website for specific information and minimum score requirements.
- Minimum eighteen (18) months of Critical Care experience must be completed in the United States.
Other Requirements
Prior to matriculation, accepted and deposited students will be required to complete the following additional compliance requirements:
- Completion of physical examination with proof of up-to-date immunization status. Please refer to UNE’s Student Health Center for detailed information.
- Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen prior to matriculation, as well as periodically throughout the program (as required by clinical affiliations).
- All students must have the ability to meet the Academic and Technical Standards of the Nurse Anesthesia profession.
All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of UNE and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.
Policy Exceptions
- Policies are established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs.
- All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements.
- Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates.
D.N.P. Admissions FAQ
You will receive an email confirming receipt of your verified application from the Office of Graduate Admissions. All communication from Graduate Admissions will be sent to the email address listed on your NursingCAS application. If you wish to check the status of your application please email the Office of Graduate Admissions.
There are no quotas for Maine or New England students. Prospective students from all geographic regions are encouraged to apply for admission.
Yes, updates can be made post-submission. Experiences can be added, but edits of previously submitted information is not allowed. Coursework can be updated; however, updates are not verified and will not affect any GPA calculations. See more information on updating your NursingCAS application
Applicants reapplying to the UNE Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia program need to resubmit all application materials for any new cycle in which they apply, including: primary CAS application, transcripts, letters of recommendation, written statements and responses, fees and payments, and any additional required documentation. Applicants should also actively update their experiences, extracurricular activities, clinical involvement, and volunteering each cycle as well, to reflect the most up-to-date engagement.