The program is designed for registered nurses with critical care experience who are ready for full-time doctoral study. The complete academic and experience criteria are on the ASU Degree Search program page.

Admission requires a minimum of one year of full-time critical care experience, defined as at least 1,800 hours or the part-time equivalent, completed prior to application. Orientation and training time does not count toward the minimum. Qualifying experience includes ongoing management of critically ill patients with independent clinical judgment and should reflect responsibility for mechanical ventilation management, invasive hemodynamic monitoring and vasoactive infusion titration. Acceptable settings include medical, surgical, cardiovascular, neuro, trauma, coronary, burn and pediatric intensive care units. Flight nursing experience may be considered when it reflects comparable responsibilities. Experience must be recent, generally within the three years preceding application. The admissions committee determines whether an applicant's experience meets program requirements.

Through NursingCAS. Applicants complete the Arizona State University graduate application only after the program notifies them of selection. An ASU graduate application submitted outside the prescribed admission process will not be considered.

Your NursingCAS application, official transcripts, a resume, proof of your current unencumbered registered nurse license and the program supplemental application in Kira, which you reach through a link in your NursingCAS application.

Applications for the first cohort open no later than Nov. 1, 2026 through NursingCAS, with an application deadline of Jan. 15, 2027.

The concentration is seeking initial accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. The program will enroll nurse anesthesia residents only after COA accreditation is granted. Accreditation status, COA contact information and program outcomes are published on this page.

Shadowing is strongly recommended. Record it on the program's Shadow Experience Verification form and upload it with your NursingCAS application.

No. The GRE is not required for admission.

The program is a full-time course of study whose combined didactic and clinical time commitment may reach 64 hours per week, and the program highly discourages outside employment during enrollment. Program, course and clinical schedules are not adjusted to accommodate outside work, and outside employment is never an acceptable explanation for fatigue, absence, tardiness or diminished performance. Employment as a nurse anesthetist by title or function is prohibited throughout enrollment.

Yes. Nurse anesthesia residents live in Arizona during the didactic phase of the program. Clinical education begins in the second year, and some clinical placements may require relocation depending on the assigned site.

The program is 92 credit hours completed in 36 months across nine consecutive semesters on a single full-time plan of study. Nurse anesthesia residents complete 2,000+ supervised clinical hours.

Tuition is set by the Arizona Board of Regents and varies by residency. Use the ASU tuition and fee calculator for current tuition and mandatory university fees. Program-specific costs are listed under Additional fees on this page.

Yes. Applicants must disclose any prior enrollment in or dismissal from a nurse anesthesia program.