You’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone.
CRNA School is competitive. Every program is different. Your path is unique. The amount of information and conflicting advice is overwhelming.
Even though you have a burning desire to pursue this dream, you feel unsure about your capability to handle all the aspects of education and the profession.
I do not have what it takes to become a CRNA.
I am not smart enough to do this.
My GPA is too low.
I am too old to go back to school now.
I can’t become a CRNA and start a family.
I can’t afford not to work so that I can become a CRNA.
I got into school but I am fearful of the responsibility that lies ahead of me.
You’re in the right place if you find yourself wondering, “How am I supposed to do all of this?”
Introducing CRNA School Prep Academy
A powerful community membership where you will find the answers you’re looking for, support through the wins and setbacks, and accredited guidance you need to tackle your dream of becoming a CRNA- all in one place.
Whether you are still in nursing school, working as an ICU Nurse, or accepted into your program, CRNA School Prep Academy will be the revolutionary resource that you need to help you navigate the challenges and prepare for your unique journey.
CRNA School Prep Academy provides you with:
As a CRNA of 7 years with a wide variety of experience including precepting current nurse anesthesia residents. I remember what it was like pursuing CRNA with what felt like little to no guidance. I had to address and overcome the same challenges and fears that you have been or will be facing. Time and time again, I hear stories about excellent candidates losing hope and giving up. Lack of guidance, misinformation, overwhelm, frustration, fear, and burnout are all too common among CRNA hopefuls.
Over the past 3 years, I have been fortunate enough to combine my passion and expertise for anesthesia and my love of helping students into a comprehensive, ongoing supportive mentoring program. CRNA School Prep Academy is specifically designed with you and your journey in mind.
This academy was created to help aspiring students navigate the challenges around becoming highly qualified candidates. Inside the academy, you will gain clarity on planning your journey, the application process, the interview process, as well as an academic and clinical foundation for Nurse Anesthesia Residents.
CRNA School Prep Academy has mentored over 1,000 aspiring CRNA’s, with many going on to be successful students in programs across the country!
You’ve decided to become a CRNA, but the goal seems far away, and the best path is uncertain. The variables you have for building your resume are numerous, but how do you best use your time and efforts? The school options are plentiful, but which ones do you prefer? Which ones give you the best odds? The choices you have are overwhelming; which path is the quickest? The one that identifies which options will waste your time and energy and which decisions move you closer; the one guided by knowledge and experience, and proven results. And the one shared with your fellow Future-CRNAs.
Planning is where you save yourself time, money, and stress. Your success in the Application phase and Interview starts here. Creating the right plan will get you there faster, saving you months to years in your CRNA journey.
With CSPA, you’ll formulate that plan.
We’ve heard it all. We’ve felt it all. The CSPA contributors and your fellow Future-CRNAs know what it's like. We’re conquering those obstacles, doubts, and pitfalls together.
There are about 25,000 applicants, and you need to stand out. There are about 14,000 interviewees; you need to stand out. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to be perfect. Instead, you need to stack the deck in your favor.
Now you’re ready to send in applications. You have worked towards this phase for several years; how do you capture the moment? How do you know how your application compares to the other applicants? After meeting the requirements, what else would impress the application committee? Do you need to meet every requirement? What about their recommendations? With insider insight and expert guidance, you’ll know how to use your application to get the interview and make the interview committee excited to meet you. Learn how to connect with the school before you even meet them.
Once you get an invite to interview, it’s showtime. What are the CRNA programs looking for in an interview? Are they looking for the correct answers to every question? When are they more concerned about how you answer? What if you get something wrong? How do you respond? What’s the interview style, and how do you prepare? What’s the best way to follow up? And if you don’t get accepted immediately, how do you get feedback on your performance? How do you learn enough to prepare for the following interview if they don't respond? Other aspiring CRNAs have asked these questions thousands of times, and Jenny, Richard, and other CSPA expert contributors provide the answers.
Learn more about how CSPA helps you succeed in your applications and interviews >>
You got in! Congrats! Now you’ve been accepted to the most exciting and challenging 36 months of your professional and academic career. You’ve heard horror stories—the brand new and complex concepts. The overwhelming workload comes at a blistering pace. Then there’s clinical. You’re a newbie all over again. And the concepts you learned in class? It’s up to you to learn to apply them. Maybe you’ve heard other more daunting and darker stories of divorce and depression…but hold off on that.
How do you make the most of your time between now and matriculation without stressing out?
Thankfully, there’s a way because these are symptoms of a more significant issue.
Fortunately, it's an issue that you can control. And you can gain control with preparation. That means preparing holistically. While you’ll want to refresh your knowledge in the relevant core sciences and concepts, there’s more to success in CRNA school than academics. You want also to succeed clinical. And you want to thrive through school with your health, relationships, and finances intact. That means preparing your life, mindset, finances, and loved ones for the significant changes you will encounter in the next 36 months.
Relax! You’re in good hands. Remember, you have CRNA and faculty mentors who know what it’s like.
Learn more about how CSPA can support you through CRNA School >>
You’ve decided to become a CRNA, but the goal seems far away, and the best path is uncertain. The variables you have for building your resume are numerous, but how do you best use your time and efforts? The school options are plentiful, but which ones do you prefer? Which ones give you the best odds? The choices you have are overwhelming; which path is the quickest? The one that identifies which options will waste your time and energy and which decisions move you closer; the one guided by knowledge and experience, and proven results. And the one shared with your fellow Future-CRNAs.
Planning is where you save yourself time, money, and stress. Your success in the Application phase and Interview starts here. Creating the right plan will get you there faster, saving you months to years in your CRNA journey.
With CSPA, you’ll formulate that plan.
We’ve heard it all. We’ve felt it all. The CSPA contributors and your fellow Future-CRNAs know what it's like. We’re conquering those obstacles, doubts, and pitfalls together.
There are about 25,000 applicants, and you need to stand out. There are about 14,000 interviewees; you need to stand out. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to be perfect. Instead, you need to stack the deck in your favor.
Now you’re ready to send in applications. You have worked towards this phase for several years; how do you capture the moment? How do you know how your application compares to the other applicants? After meeting the requirements, what else would impress the application committee? Do you need to meet every requirement? What about their recommendations? With insider insight and expert guidance, you’ll know how to use your application to get the interview and make the interview committee excited to meet you. Learn how to connect with the school before you even meet them.
Once you get an invite to interview, it’s showtime. What are the CRNA programs looking for in an interview? Are they looking for the correct answers to every question? When are they more concerned about how you answer? What if you get something wrong? How do you respond? What’s the interview style, and how do you prepare? What’s the best way to follow up? And if you don’t get accepted immediately, how do you get feedback on your performance? How do you learn enough to prepare for the following interview if they don't respond? Other aspiring CRNAs have asked these questions thousands of times, and Jenny, Richard, and other CSPA expert contributors provide the answers.
Learn more about how CSPA helps you succeed in your applications and interviews >>
You got in! Congrats! Now you’ve been accepted to the most exciting and challenging 36 months of your professional and academic career. You’ve heard horror stories—the brand new and complex concepts. The overwhelming workload comes at a blistering pace. Then there’s clinical. You’re a newbie all over again. And the concepts you learned in class? It’s up to you to learn to apply them. Maybe you’ve heard other more daunting and darker stories of divorce and depression…but hold off on that.
How do you make the most of your time between now and matriculation without stressing out?
Thankfully, there’s a way because these are symptoms of a more significant issue.
Fortunately, it's an issue that you can control. And you can gain control with preparation. That means preparing holistically. While you’ll want to refresh your knowledge in the relevant core sciences and concepts, there’s more to success in CRNA school than academics. You want also to succeed clinical. And you want to thrive through school with your health, relationships, and finances intact. That means preparing your life, mindset, finances, and loved ones for the significant changes you will encounter in the next 36 months.
Relax! You’re in good hands. Remember, you have CRNA and faculty mentors who know what it’s like.
Learn more about how CSPA can support you through CRNA School >>
Shorten the path from planning to CRNA school by discovering how to make right decisions and avoid common, costly mistakes.
So you’re a few years out from applying to CRNA School. You’re still in the early stages of building your résumé.
Perfect. You have an advantage.
That means you have more time to build yourself into a competitive candidate.
You have more time to avoid pitfalls and mistakes that weaken your competitiveness and sap your time and energy.
Whether you’re a nursing student or got your BSN 10 years ago, the earlier you get the correct guidance and make the best plan, the quicker and smoother your path to CRNA school.
Now, all that stands between you and becoming a CRNA is…
Great. But there’s a ton of information out there. It can be overwhelming, confusing, and conflicting. So how do you sort through it all? What information is relevant to your journey?
With CRNA School Prep Academy, you’ll gain clarity on what information is essential, how to find it, and how to use it to make the best plan for you.
The knowledge and guidance you get come from first-hand experience of making the journey to become a CRNA and mentoring thousands of students.
But that’s not all. With CRNA School Prep Academy, you have the only mentoring program with CRNA school faculty contributors.
Plus, you have a supportive and interactive community of 1800 of your peers.
You not only have a CRNA Mentor experienced in coaching thousands of Future-CRNAs, but also the support of your fellow aspiring CRNAs, and insight from CRNAs with faculty experience who have been on the other side of the CRNA application and interview process.
How: CRNA School Prep has several dozens of hours of On-Demand content
CRNA School Prep Academy’s Planning Phase content includes the following course topics:
Trust that the plan you’re creating and your decisions are based on expert guidance and sound advice.
Get into CRNA sooner! Waste less time, energy, and money on your way to your goal and start earning a CRNA salary sooner!
The proper planning, hard work, and diligence make you a competitive candidate, but it’s all for nothing if your application doesn’t communicate that.
Without a solid resume, personal statement, and essay, your application won’t show them just how qualified you are.
Then once you have an application that gets you a CRNA school interview, your interview skills need to demonstrate your competitiveness.
This is the part of your journey where it’s all about standing out.
If you’re in this stage, you feel pretty good, or maybe great, about your resume.
You’ve been getting the right ICU experience, taking leadership roles, and polishing your qualifications. You’ve also been scouring the internet for information on your target programs, finding ways to gain an advantage.
So how do you ensure your application stands out and lands you the interview? Then, once you get the interview, how do you stand out and land the acceptance letter?
At this stage, all the applicants met the minimum requirements. In addition, all the interviewees have great applications and have piqued the interest of the interview committee.
What’s the X-factor?
It’s YOU.
That’s where advice from CRNA School Prep Academy’s mentors shines. Because, at this stage, the other applicants also meet the school’s qualifications.
Jenny, Richard, the special guest contributors, and your peers will provide insight and support to help you find your X-factor.
CRNA School Prep Application Phase content includes the following course topics:
CRNA School Prep Interview Phase content includes the following course topics:
When you’re beginning to mull over those applications and while you’re waiting for the invite to interview, you can be preparing how to crush it.
You not only want to be comfortable interviewing, but you also want to be able to confidently present the best (and most authentic) version of yourself. The goal is not to be the perfect candidate, it’s to stack the deck in your favor. It’s to become the best candidate you can be and to find the best programs for your strengths, weaknesses, circumstances, and goals.
CRNA School Prep Academy can help with that.
Transitioning into a student again, readying for 36 months of changes – there’s a lot ahead of you!
There are many ways in which people describe CRNA School:
In marketing, this would be using fear to sell a solution.
But in the world of CRNA School, this is just a fair warning.
The good news is that you can do it.
You think so (even if you’re nervous), and the program that selects you thinks so.
But remember, this journey is about holistic success.
It’s about more than just getting through school; it’s about thriving.
Your goal is to keep up with the program’s pace, get good grades, understand the concepts, apply them to clinical, excel in clinical, build your reputation and network, and come out of CRNA school with plenty of opportunities.
All while maintaining your physical, mental, and emotional well-being and keeping your relationships intact.
Jenny, Richard, and the other contributors have been there. They’ve mentored, taught, and guided SRNAs through it all.
CRNA School Prep Nurse Anesthesia Resident Phase content includes the following course topics:
CRNA School Prep Academy provides the guidance, training, resources, events, and community to make the most of each part of your journey. All the way through graduation.
This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
We break up your journey into 3 phases
A members-only community of like-minded, success-driven individuals who will support you, answer your questions, and provide feedback.
The forum covers a wide variety of common questions such as interviews, DNP project ideas, GRE, CCRN, GPA, graduate courses, resumes, and essay tips. The forum is organized so that you can easily find answers to your questions!
We have an organized forum of all CRNA schools by state with information to allow you to easily research multiple schools all at once. We highlight key topics about the program such as attrition rate, interview styles, class size, clinical sites, and more.
We have a team including Jenny Finnell, MSN, CRNA, CEO & Founder of CSPA, our team of expert contributors and CRNA Program Faculty, Richard Wilson, MNA, CRNA, and Dr. Dawn AuBuchon, DNAP, MS, CRNA, to answer your questions.
Do not let the phrase “it was a competitive application cycle,” derail your progress. Our community can provide you guidance and feedback so you can not only gain an interview but gain acceptance as well.
Watch exclusive interviews with successful CRNAs and SRNAs who have valuable strategies and success stories to share with our members that put you ahead of the curve.
CSPA is the only CRNA mentoring program that provides you exclusive access to Experienced Program Faculty!
Richard Wilson MNA, CRNA has served as an Assistant Program Director for over 11 years. He heard about CRNA School Prep Academy through his incoming class and decided to reach out to get involved. He now works exclusively with CSPA to provide expert contributions to ensure the highest quality instruction to help you along your CRNA journey.
Need financial advice? No Problem! Get access to quarterly webinars on how to pay for graduate school and how to pay back your student loans with a Q&A session with expert Natalie Kratzer ChFC®, CLF®, FIC with Thrivent Financial
Need personal feedback from a qualified and experienced program faculty? Gain access to our one-on-one consultations and transcript reviews. All of these services are provided by actual program faculty who have experience providing feedback in these tricky areas. Availability is limited, please plan accordingly. All one-on-one services are in addition to your membership fee.
Lifetime access to all downloadable resources, checklists, resume templates, example essays, lecture notes, interview questions, basic knowledge assessment tools.
We have a growing Resource Library that is full of valuable websites, access to current AANA journals, study guides, FREE personality quizzes, all the best apps and books that students recommend!
THE BEST WAY TO PREPARE FOR YOUR REAL CRNA INTERVIEW!! practice different interview styles, and receive feedback on your answers for improvement. CSPA gives you exclusive access to Program Faculty Richard Wilson, MNA, CRNA, and Assistant Program Director of over 11 years. He hosts group mock interview coaching sessions on how to interview successfully with opportunities to take a hot seat.
Utilize a library of previous mock interviews and coaching sessions with feedback that will help you in your own interview.
This is one of the VERY BEST ways to ROCK your interview which is KEY for acceptance!!
You have questions and we have answers! This members-only, judgment-free space in which you can ask your questions and get unstuck in real-time. We have CRNA Program Faculty in this community to answer your questions in our private FB community & Forum.
Search previously asked questions and utilize the resource page where we will grow a library of FAQs.
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to current Nurse Anesthesia Residents! Yes, talk to current students from various programs from across the country and hear firsthand how they are surviving CRNA school and what helped them along the way! (Yearly Live Q&A with current students from various programs). Connect with current students inside our FB community.
Guided Q&A with Program Faculty Richard Wilson MSN, CRNA. Commonly asked about topics such as ICU experience, GPA, Transcripts, Resumes & Essays. We address these areas in detail and allow you to ask questions.
Diversity & Inclusion Mentor Sessions. CSPA gathers CRNA’s & SRNA’s together to discuss how collectively we can support our unique qualities and foster kindness and understanding no matter your background or culture.
We want a safe place for you to come and share your experiences so we can all listen, learn and grow. This space is for support, love, and friendship. Everyone is welcomed with open arms.
CRNA School Prep Academy members get exclusive discounts for any service purchased from Nurses Teach Nurses
All services provided by current Nurse Anesthesia Residents, CRNA’s and CRNA Program Faculty.
Power through doubtfulness and anxiety with confidence and preparation.
Save yourself hours of frustration looking for the right advice, get proven guidance
Fast track your success
Overcome your fear and avoid overwhelm with clarity and support.
Eliminate confusion and stress with solutions.
Sidestep burnout with a community that will consistently help you press on.
As the questions rolled in about how I became a CRNA, a lightbulb went off in my head. I realized how many people were struggling with no support to make this dream a reality, and I was determined to help others realize their true potential.
While this career is financially rewarding in the long run, I know first hand how difficult it can be to manage finances while in school. I want to serve you along this journey by creating a comprehensive and truly affordable resource packed with value and support (without breaking the bank.)
Toggle between monthly and yearly pricing below to find the best membership option for you!
$49
PER MONTH
The Foundations Membership includes the following CRNA School Prep Academy content and features:
*Monthly subscription will renew automatically on the date you enroll
$79
PER MONTH
The Premium Membership includes the following CRNA School Prep Academy content and features:
*Monthly subscription will renew automatically on the date you enroll
APPLICATION
ONLY
The total cost of this program with the monthly payment option is $2800 which includes a $895 deposit and 6 montly installments of $317.50. By application only. Terms and conditions apply.
APPLICATIONS OPEN IN:
The application window will be open for 7 days and will reopen during the last week of every month.
The CSPA CRNA Guarantee Program is a 12-month program that GUARANTEES your acceptance to CRNA School or you get your money back! This program includes the following CRNA School Prep Academy content and features:
Requirements To Apply:
*Monthly subscription will renew automatically on the date you enroll
$499
PER YEAR
Annual Foundations members save $111 per year compared to monthly members!
The Foundations Membership includes the following CRNA School Prep Academy content and features:
*Yearly subscription will renew automatically on the date you enroll
$799
PER YEAR
Annual Premium members save $149 per year compared to monthly members!
The Premium Membership includes the following CRNA School Prep Academy content and features:
*Yearly subscription will renew automatically on the date you enroll
APPLICATION ONLY
The total cost of this program with the yearly payment option is $2497 (a $303 savings!) which includes a $895 deposit and one payment of $1602. By application only. Terms and conditions apply.
APPLICATIONS OPEN IN:
The application window will be open for 7 days and will reopen during the last week of every month.
The CSPA CRNA Guarantee Program is a 12-month program that GUARANTEES your acceptance to CRNA School or you get your money back! This program includes the following CRNA School Prep Academy content and features:
Requirements To Apply:
*Yearly subscription will renew automatically on the date you enroll
if you are less than 100% satisfied get a no questons asked refund within the first 30 days!
be the most qualified candidate you can be
prepare for all aspects of becoming a CRNA, from start to finish
knock out those limiting beliefs
invest in yourself and your future
AND
receive that piece of paper that reads, “Your Name, CRNA”
most frequently asked questions
You should join CSPA foundations when you are exploring this career path or approximately 2-4+ years prior to applying
You should join CSPA Premium when you are 1-2 years away from applying
You should apply CSPA guarantee 6-9 months prior to applying to CRNA School
Yes, you can. While you will have some overlap in course content you will have a step by step 12 month curriculum with (3) three CRNA Faculty coaching sessions a month and a CRNA mentor session (1) once a month. You also gain free access to our yearly virtual conference.
If you are unsure if CRNA is the right career path, we suggest job shadowing and utilizing our free resources like the Podcast and Facebook community until you know with certainty that CRNA is the right career path for you.
Are you teachable, adaptable and open to trying new things? Some advice may not be what you want to hear and it may even be disappointing. We will always be truthful and try our best to set you on a path for success. Know that sometimes this may require additional courses, certifications or even changing the unit you work on.
Becoming a community member is an investment towards your future. CRNA School Prep Academy has a team of CRNA’s who pour into this community. We also have a dream team behind the scenes that keeps the website and the community running smoothly. We strive to provide value to both our students and all of the wonderful contributors. If paying to be apart of a mentoring program is not what you are looking for, we understand! Please utilize all the Free resources we provide including our Podcast and FREE Facebook community. Remember to go to your schools Open House Events!!
We also suggest to ask for a CSPA membership gift from your supportive parent, or grandparents. We have had students join with the support of family. We also have had students gain reimbursement through their employees because of our CE credits.
If your undergraduate GPA is under a 3.0 , unless schools see clear evidence elsewhere of strong academic ability, you will probably not be offered an interview. You may be able to overshadow a GPA that is slightly below standard, if you have accumulated other evidence of academic ability subsequent to your undergraduate work (such as through graduate work, repeating undergraduate sciences {if needed}, outstanding leadership roles and by being very active within the community).
Unfortunately it comes down to CRNA programs are very competitive. For every previously-unfocused person, there are numerous more who were, and who show up with a transcript attesting to strong academic ability. It is an advantage in the selection process. So, how can you escape the stigma of this GPA? The best way to do so would be to demonstrate your academic ability as it is now.
A good place to start would be with anesthesia prerequisite courses if you have not taken them in your undergraduate education. The prerequisites usually consist of courses in statistics, chemistry or possibly physics . These can be at the undergraduate level, but if you desire to demonstrate your academic ability, it may make more of an impression if you do any coursework at this point at the graduate level. If your prerequisites are completed already, then think about taking some graduate courses. I always advise that you reach out to your program for guidance on which courses would be the most beneficial based on your transcripts.
Performance in sciences such as pharmacology, pathophysiology, or chemistry are good ways to demonstrate your ability in technical graduate courses. If you need to demonstrate your academic ability, consider the quality of the work you do at this point, as well. If you take nursing theory and achieve less than an A in the course, you may not be making the impression you need to. Likewise, if you challenge yourself to more rigorous coursework (such as an advanced pathophysiology or pharmacology course), good performance would speak towards your abilities.
The best place to start is a shadowing experience. I encourage you to do this multiple times and in various settings. Do not wait until you are thinking about applying to do this. Start when you are in a nursing program and ask for an OR experience. Then as a nurses aid call up the anesthesia department or walk over and ask to speak with someone about setting up a shadow day. Same thing after you become a nurse. If you have 2-3 shadowing experiences under your belt and you feel that FIRE and PASSION to DO THIS. GO ALL IN! If you are thinking about changing your career to CRNA then defiantly shadow prior to making this large commitment. CRNA school is a 3 year full time commitment which is also very costly. Make sure you see the job in action before you decide this is the right career path for you. Most competitive candidates have 40 plus hours shadowing a CRNA. This also sets yourself up to be able to get a reference from the CRNA you shadow. ** Remember to document your day regardless if the school requires it.**
CSPA can help SRNA’s prepare for the rigors of school with our emotional intelligence workshops, and group study sessions.
If you are looking for a separate course you can purchase our Nurse Anesthesia Resident Bootcamp. Check with your program first because many schools are purchasing the NAR Bootcamp for their cohorts once they start. Learn more about CSPA NAR Bootcamp here
We’re sorry! To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no CRNA programs at any university in this state. If you know of a program that we do not have listed, please fill out the form below to let us know so that we can update our information!
We’re sorry! To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no CRNA programs at any university in this state. If you know of a program that we do not have listed, please fill out the form below to let us know so that we can update our information!
We’re sorry! To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no CRNA programs at any university in this state. If you know of a program that we do not have listed, please fill out the form below to let us know so that we can update our information!
We’re sorry! To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no CRNA programs at any university in this state. If you know of a program that we do not have listed, please fill out the form below to let us know so that we can update our information!
We’re sorry! To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no CRNA programs at any university in this state. If you know of a program that we do not have listed, please fill out the form below to let us know so that we can update our information!
We’re sorry! To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no CRNA programs at any university in this state. If you know of a program that we do not have listed, please fill out the form below to let us know so that we can update our information!
We’re sorry! To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no CRNA programs at any university in this state. If you know of a program that we do not have listed, please fill out the form below to let us know so that we can update our information!
We’re sorry! To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no CRNA programs at any university in this state. If you know of a program that we do not have listed, please fill out the form below to let us know so that we can update our information!
We’re sorry! To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no CRNA programs at any university in this state. If you know of a program that we do not have listed, please fill out the form below to let us know so that we can update our information!
We’re sorry! To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no CRNA programs at any university in this state. If you know of a program that we do not have listed, please fill out the form below to let us know so that we can update our information!