Alabama Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational
Programs/Schools or its predecessor, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. [Alabama Board of Nursing Admin. Code, sec. 610-X-9-.01(1)(b)]
Alaska Yes Yes A nationally recognized accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education and the board of nursing. [Professional Regulations, Board of Nursing, ch. 44, art. 5, sec. 12 AAC 44.500(a)(1)]
Arizona Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs or another national accrediting body recognized by the board of nursing. [Arizona Rev. Stat. Ann., Title 32, sec. 32-1634.03(A)(2)]
Arkansas Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs or another nationally recognized
sec. 17-87-302(a)(2)(A)]
California Yes Yes The statute defines an "accredited program" as a program for the
education of nurse anesthetists which has received approval from the board of nursing. The board of nursing shall consider standards of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs and Schools and may develop new standards if public safety requires standards more stringent than the Council's. [Business and
Professions Code, div. 2, ch. 6, art. 7, sec. 2826(b)]
Colorado Yes Yes The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' (AANA) Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Program (sic). [Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations, ch. XIV, sec. II, subsec. 2.3]
Connecticut Yes No explicit requirement, but completion of an accredited program is implied since
Connecticut requires nurse anesthetists to be certified.1
Delaware Yes Yes A national accrediting body. [24 Del. Code, subsection 1902(b)(1)]
The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational
Programs. [Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations, sec. 8.4]
District of Columbia Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs or any other nationally recognized accrediting body as deemed appropriate by the Board. [DCMR, Title 17, § 5704.1] Florida Yes Yes, under certain
circumstances2
No reference.
1
A prerequisite of certification by the AANA's Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists is completion of a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the AANA's Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Requiring certification, therefore, necessarily implies requiring completion of an accredited program.
2
"The nurse practitioner certificate program which prepares the registered nurse for advanced or specialized nursing practice as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner [includes CRNAs] shall meet the following criteria . . . . The program shall be conducted by one of the following: (a)
Georgia Yes No explicit requirement, but completion of an accredited program is implied since Georgia requires nurse
anesthetists to be certified.
Hawaii Yes Yes No reference; the program must be an “an accredited graduate-level education program” [Hawaii Rev. Stat., ch. 457, §457-8.5(4)]
Idaho Yes Yes A national organization recognized by the Board of Nursing. [Administrative Rules of the Board of Nursing, IDAPA 23.01.01, sec. 285.02]
Illinois Yes No explicit requirement, but completion of an accredited program is implied since Illinois requires nurse anesthetists to be
An accredited school of nursing that offers a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing. (b) An accredited school of medicine. (c) An institution or health care agency approved by the Board." [Rules of the Agency for Health Care Administration, Board of Nursing, sec. 64B9-4.003(1)(d)(5)]
certified.
Indiana Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs or its predecessor. [Indiana Code Ann. sec. 25-23-1-1.4(1)]
Iowa Yes No explicit requirement, but completion of an accredited program is implied since Iowa requires nurse anesthetists to be certified.
Kansas Yes Yes The board of nursing. [Kansas Nurse Practice Act, sec. 65-1152(a)(2)]3 Kentucky Yes Yes A recognized accreditation or approval
body. [201 KAR 20:056, sec. 2(1)(b)] Louisiana Yes Yes A nationally recognized accrediting
agency approved by the United States
3
"In order for a school of nurse anesthesia to be approved by the board of nursing, consideration shall be given as to whether the school meets the standards contained in the accreditation policies and procedures of the council of accreditation of the american association of nurse
anesthetists [sic], April 1983, which is hereby adopted by reference. If the program does not meet the standards . . ." the rules list other criteria considered by the board of nursing in evaluating nurse anesthesia programs. [Kansas State Board of Nursing Rules sec. 60-13-103(a) and (b)]
Department of Health, Education and Welfare. [La. Rev. Stat. 37:930(A)(1)] “National Nursing Accrediting Body - the National League for Nursing
Accreditation Commission (NLNAC), the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), or the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational
Programs (COA).” [LAC 46:XLVII.4505} Maine Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse
Anesthesia Educational Programs. [Rules and Regulations of the Maine State Board of Nursing, ch. 8, sec. 1(1)(D)]
Maryland No explicit requirement, but completion of an accredited program is implied since Maryland requires nurse anesthetists to be certified.
Massachusetts Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs. [244 CMR
4.13(4)(a)(1)] Michigan No reference
Minnesota Yes Yes A nursing or nursing-related accrediting body that is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education or the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation as acceptable to the board. [Minnesota Statutes, sec. 148.211(1a)(a)(3)]
Mississippi Yes Yes A board [of nursing]-approved national accrediting body. [Rules and
Regulations of the Mississippi Board of Nursing, ch. IV, sec. 2.1(a)(3)(b)] Missouri Yes Yes The appropriate regional accreditation
body for higher education certified by the Council on Post Secondary Accreditation to conduct such
accreditations. [20 CSR 2200-4.100, subsec. (1)(A)]
Montana Yes No explicit requirement, but completion of an accredited program is
implied since Montana requires nurse
anesthetists to be certified.
Nebraska Yes Yes The Nebraska Department of Health or the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia and Educational Programs. [Neb. Rev. Stat., 38-707(1)(b)]
Nevada Yes Yes A national organization recognized by the Nevada Board of Nursing.
[Regulations of the Board of Nursing, NAC 632.515(1)(b)]
New Hampshire Yes Yes A national accrediting body. [New Hampshire Rev. Stat. sec. 326-B:18(I)(b)]
New Jersey Yes Yes “An applicant for certification as an advanced practice nurse shall possess; 1. A masters degree in nursing from a school accredited by a nursing
accrediting association recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; or 2. A masters degree in nursing and
shall have completed a post-masters program that focuses on an advanced practice nursing specialty from a school accredited by a nursing accrediting association recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.” [N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.2(a)]
New Mexico Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs. [Nursing Practice Act, 61-3-23.3(A)(2)] New York Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse
Anesthesia Education
Programs/Schools or other accrediting body which the commissioner finds to be substantially equivalent. [10 NYCRR sec. 700.2(22)(i)] (NOTE: This
provision is found in the state hospital code, not in the nurse practice act or the board of nursing rules.)
North Carolina Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. [North Carolina Administrative Code, T21:36, sec. .0226 (b)(1)]
North Dakota Yes Yes Program must be accredited. [North Dakota Board of Nursing Administrative Rules, sec. 54-05-03.1-04(2)]
Ohio Yes No explicit requirement, but completion of an accredited program is implied since Ohio requires nurse anesthetists to be certified.
Oklahoma Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. [Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act sec. 567.12a]
Oregon Yes Yes An approved accrediting body. [Oregon State Board of Nursing Rules, OAR sec. 851-052-0020(2)(b)]
Pennsylvania Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Education Programs of Nurse
Anesthesia of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. [State Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations, Title 49,
Section 21.17(a)(1)]
Puerto Rico Yes Yes The Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico. [Act to Regulate the Practice of Nursing, sec. 2(e)(1) and 18(a)]
Rhode Island Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs or its predecessors or successors. [Rhode Island General Laws, sec. 5-34.2-3(b)] South Carolina Yes Yes The national accrediting organization of
this specialty area [nurse anesthesia] that is recognized by the board of nursing. [Code of Laws of South Carolina, sec. 40-33-20(20)(a)]
South Dakota Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational
Programs/Schools. [South Dakota Board of Nursing Administrative Rules 20:48:05:01]
Tennessee Yes No explicit requirement, but completion of an accredited program is
implied since
Tennessee requires nurse anesthetists to be certified.
Texas Yes Yes Programs of study in Texas must be accredited by the board of nursing or a national accrediting body recognized by the board. Programs of study in states other than Texas must be accredited by the appropriate licensing body in that state or be accredited by a national accrediting body recognized by the board. [Board of Nurse Examiners Rules and Regulations, sec. 221.3(2) and (3)]
Utah Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. [Utah Code Annotated, sec. 58-31b-302(4)(f)(ii)]
Vermont Yes Yes The board of nursing or a state or national accrediting agency. [Board of Nursing Administrative Rules, Chapter 4, Subch. 8(II)(A)(1)]
Virginia Yes Yes The boards of nursing and medicine or the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational
Programs/Schools. [Nurse Practitioner Regulations, 18 VAC 90-30-80 subd. (A)(2) and 18 VAC 90-30-10]
Virgin Islands Yes Yes The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education and/or
recognized by the Virgin Islands Board of Nurse Licensure. [Virgin Islands Nurse Anesthetist Rules]
Washington Yes Yes “For new graduates of advanced nursing education programs in the United States, the program must be accredited by a nursing or nursing-related accrediting organization recognized by the United States
Department of Education (USDE) or the Council of Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA)” [WAC 246-840-340(1)(b)(i)]
West Virginia Yes Yes A “nurse accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of
Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or its successor organization as acceptable by the board.” [19 CSR 7-3(3.1.a.1)] Wisconsin Yes, under certain circumstances4 Yes, under certain
circumstances
A regional accrediting agency approved by the board of education in the state in which the college or university is
located. [Wisconsin Admin. Code, ch. N 8, sec. N 8.02 (1)(c)]
Wyoming Yes Yes No reference. “A nationally pre- accredited or accredited educational program which offers a formal post-graduate program in a role and population focus area of advanced practice registered nursing or which confers a master's degree or doctorate with a major in a role and population focus area of advanced nursing practice, may be accepted by the
board.” [WY Dept. of Administration and Information/Board of Nursing rules, Ch.
4
Advanced practice nurse applicants "who receive national certification as a . . . certified registered nurse anesthetist . . . after July 1, 1998 . . . [must hold] a master's degree in nursing or a related health field granted by a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting agency approved by the board of education in the state in which the college or university is located." [Wisconsin Admin. Code, ch. N 8, sec. N 8.02 (1)(c)]
6, sec. 8(a)]
TOTAL: 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands require completion of an accredited nurse anesthetist program. (This number includes those states that imply requiring completion of an accredited program by requiring nurse anesthetists to be certified.)
