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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Admission Requirements

Fall 2011 Applications are Due December 1, 2010

Live Online Chat Sessions Now Available!
Virtual Drop Ins have been discontinued temporarily. We hope to have them up and running again by September 15th.

CRNA Information Session
Please join us for our fall CRNA Information Session:
Thursday, October 28, 2010
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
3100 Telegraph Avenue, 4th Floor, Room 4003
Oakland, CA 94609
Please RSVP with your name and the number in your party to: CAbram@samuelmerritt.edu
*Once your RSVP, you will receive a confirmation email closer to the date of the event.

CRNA ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be accepted after the deadline date on a space available basis. Check with the Office of Admission. Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • A baccalaureate in nursing from a nationally accredited program. RNs with baccalaureate degrees in other fields will be evaluated individually and additional course work may be required.
  • Current California licensure as a registered nurse.
  • Official transcripts of all previous academic and professional coursework completed or in progress prior to admission.
  • Evidence of experience in clinical practice as a registered nurse with a minimum of one year of intensive care unit experience at the time of interview required; the Program conducts admission interviews yearly in the early spring. Two to three years of critical care nursing experience is preferable. Practice areas that are considered critical care are: surgical intensive care (including trauma, post-cardiovascular surgery and neurosurgical specialty units), medical intensive care (coronary care, pulmonary care, and other medical sub-specialty units), and pediatric and neonatal intensive care units.
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0
  • Minimum last 60 semester or 90 quarter unit GPA of 3.4 or higher
  • Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores of 1000 or higher (competitive is an 1100).

    *The revised GRE will launch on August 1, 2011.  If you need test scores prior to November 2011, please take the current GRE before August 1, 2011.  Please remember that GRE results must be available by the application deadline.
  • TOEFL (U.S. citizens or international students) - The need for TOEFL will be assessed based on information provided by applicants on the application for admission, if required, a score of 250 must be achieved and official score results must be provided.
  • Current ACLS and PALS certification. CCRN strongly recommended.
  • Successful completion of college chemistry, with content to include inorganic, organic and/or biochemistry (6 - 8 semester units total) prior to enrollment. Organic and biochemistry need not be separate courses.
  • Successful completion of a course in statistics.
  • Introductory physics is highly recommended.
  • Completion of a 1-2 day clinical shadowing experience with a CRNA or physician anesthesiologist.
  • A written goal statement that clearly articulates academic and career goals as well as an understanding of the CRNA role and profession at large.
  • A minimum of three letters of recommendation are required. Two letters must be from individuals who can readily assess current levels of clinical expertise. The third letter of recommendation may also address clinical expertise or may speak to academic preparedness for graduate study.

Admission policies:

  • Not all qualified candidates may be interviewed and not all interviewed candidates will be accepted. Selection of candidates for interview will be based on criteria listed above, quality and presentation of application material, quality and professionalism of communication with the program during the application process and an informed understanding about the role of a CRNA.
  • Faculty reserves the right to interview and accept qualified students at any time after the college priority application deadline of December 1st.
  • The applicant may substitute the GRE with successful performance scores on the MCAT.

Application Checklist

To be considered for an interview the following items must be sent in one envelope with your application:

  • Copies of all college transcripts (please include legends if available)
  • $50 non-refundable fee
  • Completed goal statement
  • Letters of reference
  • Copy of RN license

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Please click here for a list of frequently asked questions. 

Challege Exams and Online Courses
 
please click the following link for a list of exams to test out of college courses and for online courses offerings: Challenge Exams and Online Courses

International Transcripts Evaluation Agencies
For students who have completed a degree internationally, you will need to have those transcripts evaluated for a United States baccalaureate equivalency also known as a course-by-course evaluation/comprehensive evaluation. Please click here for a list of agencies.

Admission Process
Please click here for a list of what happens during the admission process.

CRNA Statistical Information
Please note that fall 2010 data will be posted in August 2010.

 

Fall 2007

 

Fall 2008

 

Fall 2009

 

Total Applicants

 

79

 

118

 

113

 

Total Enrolled

 

23

 

26

 

29

 

Average Last 60 GPA

 

3.57

 

3.52

 

3.74

 

Average Overall GPA

 

3.42

 

3.63

 

3.56

 

Average GRE Verbal

 

524

 

507

 

524

 

Average GRE Quantitative

 

614

 

603

 

644

 

Average GRE Analytical

 

4

 

3.7

 

4

 

In-State Residents

 

21

 

21

 

26

 

Out-of-State Residents

 

2

 

4

 

0

 

Total Female

 

12

 

12

 

18

 

Total Male

 

11

 

13

 

8

 

Asian/Pacific Island

 

5

 

4

 

6

 

African-American/Black

 

1

 

0

 

1

 

Hispanic

 

2

 

1

 

1

 

Multiethnic

 

1

 

1

 

0

 

Other

 

0

 

2

 

0

 

Not Reported

 

1

 

2

 

4

 

White

 

13

 

11

 

14