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2-step progression from Registered Nurse to CRNA (Nurse Anesthetist). Potential salary increase of 138% from entry to advanced level.
Entry Salary
$93,600
Registered Nurse
Top Salary
$223,210
CRNA (Nurse Anesthetist)
Total Steps
2
licenses
Median Salary
$93,600
BSN + 1-2 years ICU experience
Avg. Licensing Cost
$375
Avg. Timeline
2.1 years – 4.3 years
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Median Salary
$223,210
DNP/DNAP in nurse anesthesia (3-4 years) + NBCRNA certification
Avg. Licensing Cost
$274
Avg. Timeline
6.7 years – 7.1 years
The nurse anesthesia career path is a professional progression from Registered Nurse to CRNA (Nurse Anesthetist). It includes 2 licensing levels, each with increasing education, responsibility, and earning potential.
Advancing from Registered Nurse ($93,600 median) to CRNA (Nurse Anesthetist) ($223,210 median) represents a 138% salary increase based on BLS national median data.
Each step requires additional education and licensing. Registered Nurse: BSN + 1-2 years ICU experience. CRNA (Nurse Anesthetist): DNP/DNAP in nurse anesthesia (3-4 years) + NBCRNA certification. The total time depends on the pace of your education and state-specific processing times.
Planning your next career move?
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 national medians. Licensing costs and timelines are averages across all US states derived from verified state licensing board data. Individual state requirements vary — see state-specific pages for details.