What Are The Easiest CRNA Schools To Get Into?

If you’re wondering about the “easiest CRNA schools to get into,” you’re not alone! This is one of the most popular questions I’ve seen as a mentor to thousands of nurses over the years.

The truth? No CRNA program is genuinely “easy” to enter—each one maintains high standards and selects candidates with strong clinical backgrounds and commitment.

But here’s the good news: by strategically aligning with schools that match your unique qualifications, background, and goals, you can make the application process smoother and give yourself the best shot at success.

In this post, I’ll walk you through specific ways to optimize your CRNA school search to find programs that fit your strengths. Whether you have a lower GPA from early college years, specialized NICU or PICU experience, or prefer to skip the GRE or CCRN, there are options out there that can make your journey easier and more strategically aligned with your experience and qualifications.

By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have a clear plan for finding CRNA programs- even several suggestions and examples- that support your background or experience, helping you approach the CRNA school application process with confidence and clarity.

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Welcome back, future CRNAs! Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s been buzzing on the forums: “What are the easiest CRNA schools to get into?”

I frequently see this asked in our social community, in forums and even in search term reports within the internal operations of CSPA; while there’s no true “easiest CRNA program to get into” there are some ways to make the CRNA School Admissions Process more strategically aligned with you and your goals, plus your stats, background and experience.

Today we’re breaking down some of these opportunities to make getting into CRNA school easier for you! Let’s dive in!

What Are the Easiest CRNA Schools to Get Into?

Now, let’s be real—no CRNA program is truly easy to enter. They’re all competitive, rigorous, and designed to produce highly qualified nurse anesthetists. However, there are ways to strategically choose schools that align with your unique background, whether it’s a lower early-college GPA, experience in a specific ICU type, or gaps in testing requirements like the GRE or CCRN.

By finding programs that fit your unique strengths & qualifications, you can optimize your application journey and make it “easier” to get accepted into CRNA school.

Consider CRNA Programs with Flexible GPA Calculations

If your early college days were a bit rocky and your GPA isn’t as high as you’d like, don’t worry! First I want to stress to you- you are NOT alone! A lot of nurses are 2nd career nurses, and many of us didn’t know what we were doing when we first entered college.

I encourage you to read some of the success stories we share inside our free community or on social media- you’ll see a lot of CSPA students have overcome a lower GPA and successfully gained CRNA school acceptance.

One way to do that? Focusing on programs that look at the last 60 credit hours of your GPA.

That’s right! Some CRNA programs focus on your most recent academic performance, specifically your last 60 credit hours, instead of the overall GPA. This could give you a competitive advantage if you’ve shown improvement in recent years, as some CRNA schools recognize that growth.

Here are a few CRNA schools that look more closely at those last 60 credit hours:

• Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia
• Barry University
• Florida International University
• NorthShore University
• Michigan State University
• Western Carolina University

By focusing on these types of programs, you can leverage your academic growth and recent accomplishments to strengthen your application.

Bonus tip- You can also explore retaking classes that you scored lower in, as some CRNA Schools will replace the old grade with your new grade when calculating GPA.

Fair warning though- some schools won’t consider re-takes at all, so it’s crucial you do your research and verify, with each program you’re interested in, exactly how they calculate GPA, including retaking courses or taking graduate-level courses.

CRNA Programs That Accept NICU or PICU Experience

CRNA schools traditionally prefer candidates with adult ICU experience, but not all ICU experience is treated equally across programs.

If you’ve spent years developing critical skills in the NICU or PICU, there are some programs out there that value this background, even if you haven’t worked directly with adult ICU patients.

Applying to CRNA schools that accept or even appreciate neonatal or pediatric ICU experience can position you more favorably and make the process feel less daunting.

Some CRNA schools that accept NICU or PICU experience include:

• Augusta University –Critical Care Experience May include but isn’t limited to SICU, CVICU, MICU, NICU and PICU.
• Samford University – Known to accept applicants from a variety of ICU backgrounds, including PICU and NICU.
• Loma Linda University – Examples of critical care units may include Surgical Intensive Care, Cardiothoracic Intensive care, Coronary Intensive Care, Medical Intensive Care, Pediatric Intensive Care, and Neonatal Intensive Care.

If NICU or PICU experience is a strong part of your background, look for programs that value the specialized skills you bring to the table.

If you’re a CRNA School Prep Academy member, be sure to explore the CRNA School Data Sheet in the Resources section of the Academy- it outlines accepted ICU experience for many CRNA programs around the country!

CRNA Schools That Don’t Require the GRE

Let’s face it: the GRE can be a big hurdle for some candidates, even with the more recent changes made, but those who may not consider standardized testing as their strongest suit can breathe a sigh of relief. Luckily, an increasing number of CRNA programs no longer require the GRE for admission!

This can ease the pressure of applying, allowing you to focus more on your clinical skills and experience rather than studying for yet another exam.

Here are a few CRNA schools without the GRE requirement:

• The University of Arizona
• Emory University
• University of Detroit Mercy
• Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC)
• Rush University

While these programs still maintain high admission standards, bypassing the GRE requirement can save you time and stress.

CRNA Programs That Don’t Require the CCRN

Another common requirement for CRNA school is the CCRN certification, which showcases advanced nursing skills. But for those who haven’t obtained this certification yet or who are coming from a unique ICU background, a few CRNA programs have done away with this requirement.

Here are a few of the CRNA schools that don’t require CCRN:

• Bryan College of Health Sciences
• Minneapolis School of Anesthesia
• West Virginia University
• Northwestern State University

By focusing on these programs, you can save yourself a step if CCRN certification isn’t feasible for you at the moment.

A Big-Picture View of the Easiest CRNA Schools

When we talk about the “easiest CRNA schools to get into,” it’s essential to put that idea into perspective. While some programs might have fewer specific requirements, like the GRE, CCRN, or minimum GPA, these programs are still incredibly competitive and demanding.

Easiest CRNA Schools: Finding a program that complements your background can make it feel “easier” in terms of aligning with CRNA school admissions criteria, but this doesn’t mean that any CRNA program will be easy once you’re accepted.

The field of nurse anesthesia is highly specialized, and every CRNA program—regardless of admissions requirements—aims to interview & ultimately admit only those candidates who show a clear commitment to the profession, have a solid clinical foundation, and demonstrate the ability to handle the intensity of the program itself.

Even for schools that may be more flexible on paper, the expectations in terms of knowledge, clinical skills, and emotional intelligence remain high.

The term “easiest” here should be seen more as strategically matched. Choosing a school that aligns with your strengths and current qualifications can reduce obstacles in the admissions process, but it’s still just one step towards a successful career as a nurse anesthetist.

For example, if a school weighs recent academic performance over overall GPA, it may be more accessible to you if you’ve shown recent academic improvement. Or, if a program values NICU or PICU experience, you may find yourself better suited to their criteria, mission and values.

Finding a program that complements your background can make it feel “easier” in terms of aligning with CRNA school admissions criteria, but this doesn’t mean that any CRNA program will be easy once you’re accepted. The coursework, clinical hours, and exams you’ll face in any program are intensive and designed to ensure that graduates are ready to safely deliver high-quality anesthesia care.

Additionally, it’s important to remember that all CRNA programs uphold standards that align with national accreditation. Each school you consider will still expect you to demonstrate critical thinking, clinical judgment, and a passion for the role of a CRNA.

For applicants, this is where strategy comes into play. By applying to programs aligned with your strengths, you can smooth out some of the bumps in the road and position yourself for a better chance of success.

Want guaranteed CRNA school admission or your money back? Explore the CSPA 12-Month Intensive: https://www.cspaedu.com/meblfkto

Final Thoughts

As you research CRNA schools, remember to verify details, including those above, directly with each program. Programs often update their requirements from year to year, and what worked for someone else may not apply to you.

Consider your unique strengths and qualifications, then focus on the programs that align with your goals.

Remember, every CRNA program—no matter how accessible it may seem—will require dedication, resilience, and continuous growth. But with a strategic approach, you can find the program that fits best for you and feel confident in your path forward.

Also- Paying for CRNA school can be “easier” or harder depending on tuition, Cost of Attendance and more; check out this post on CRNA school costs for more details: CRNA School Costs: A Comprehensive Guide To Paying For CRNA School

I hope this post helps make your path to CRNA school a little clearer—and maybe even a bit easier!

Until next time, we’re rooting for you, future CRNA! 🙌

-Jenny MSN, CRNA and CSPA Founder

PS- Be sure to join us in our FREE community on Circle or check us out on social! You can connect with fellow nurses who are interested in CRNA and get more insights into how to become a Nurse Anesthetist. Join for free here: https://www.cspaedu.com/community

Find us @CRNASchoolPrepAcademy on your favorite platforms 📲

Important Links

Join the Free CSPA Community! Connect with a network of Aspiring CRNAs, Nurse Anesthesia Residents, practicing CRNAs and CRNA Program Faculty Mentors here: https://www.cspaedu.com/community

Download our FREE 8 Steps to CRNA Planning Guide: https://www.cspaedu.com/howtocrna

Get access to application & interview preparation resources plus ICU Educational Workshops that have helped thousands of nurses accelerate their CRNA success. Become a member of CRNA School Prep Academy: https://cspaedu.com/join

Get CRNA School insights sent straight to your inbox! Sign up for the CSPA email newsletter: https://www.cspaedu.com/podcast-email

Book a mock interview, resume or personal statement critique, transcript review and more: www.teachrn.com