UAMS CRNA School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Nurse Anesthesia Program
A 36-month, full-time, on-campus DNP program with 20 seats per class, no GRE requirement, and a CCRN requirement for admission. Here is what you need to know before you apply.
Fall 2028 cycle: applications open July 1, 2027 · deadline September 15, 2027 (expected, based on last year)
At a glance
UAMS CRNA Program at a Glance
The UAMS CRNA school is the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) nurse anesthesia program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. It admits 20 students each fall, requires an active CCRN and minimum GPAs of 3.00 cumulative, 3.25 for your last 60 credit hours, and 3.25 in science, and does not require the GRE.
Application timing: UAMS admits for fall only. For fall 2028 admission, applications are expected to open July 1, 2027, with a deadline of September 15, 2027. These dates follow last year’s schedule and have not yet been confirmed by UAMS, so check the UAMS application page before you apply.
- Degree
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Nurse Anesthesia track
- Program length
- 36 months (9 semesters), full-time
- Total credits
- 95.5
- Clinical practicum hours
- 2,295
- Enrollment
- On-campus only; fall admission only
- Applications open
- July 1, 2027, expected (fall 2028 cycle)
- Application deadline
- September 15, 2027, expected, for fall 2028 admission
- Class size
- 20 students per cohort
- Accreditation
- COA-accredited through fall 2035
- How to apply
- Two applications: NursingCAS and the UAMS College of Nursing Workday application. Official instructions
Tuition & fees
UAMS CRNA School Tuition & Fees
UAMS publishes annual tuition: $30,000 for Arkansas residents and $48,000 for non-residents in 2026–2027, charged in three installments each year (fall, spring, summer). UAMS notes that rates can change in later years, so the three-year totals below are our estimates at current rates, not guaranteed program prices.
Arkansas residents
Estimated 3-year tuition at current rates ($30,000 per year × 3 years, 2026–2027 rate).
Non-residents
Estimated 3-year tuition at current rates ($48,000 per year × 3 years, 2026–2027 rate).
Listed fees, 3 years
Program and university fees over three years. The same for residents and non-residents.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Arkansas residents ($90,000 tuition + $13,598 fees) | $103,598 |
| Non-residents ($144,000 tuition + $13,598 fees) | $157,598 |
How we calculated the fees
We added up the fee items UAMS lists on its cost of attendance page for all three years of the program, using 2026–2027 rates. That total includes textbooks, equipment, background checks, simulation, graduate program and university fees, liability insurance, the CRNA Progression Fee items, graduation, and the National Certification Exam.
Not included
Living expenses (housing, food, transportation), travel to clinical sites, BLS, ACLS, and PALS renewals, RN license maintenance, and a laptop. See the official UAMS cost of attendance page, or compare the cost of every CRNA school.
Requirements
UAMS CRNA School Admission Requirements
Admission is competitive. Note the CCRN requirement and the three separate GPA minimums: 3.00 cumulative, 3.25 for your last 60 credit hours, and 3.25 in science. Compare these with CRNA school requirements across programs.
- Required
BSN
A bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program (or an equivalent foreign degree).
- Required
RN license
An unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license. Once admitted, you must hold an active Arkansas or compact state license.
- Required
GPA
3.00 cumulative, 3.25 “last 60” (most recent 60 credit hours), and 3.25 science GPA.
- Required
Critical care experience
At least one year of full-time adult, pediatric, or neonatal critical care (or part-time equivalent) within two years before applying. Operating room and step-down experience do not count.
- Required
Active CCRN
CCRN certification is required for admission, and you submit your exam score with your application.
- Required
Life support
ACLS, BCLS, and PALS at the time of application, maintained throughout the program.
- Required
Health assessment & statistics
A health assessment course and a basic statistics course with a grade of C or better.
- Required
3 references
Three letters of reference, including one from your most recent critical care supervisor.
- Required
Goals statement
A professional goals statement of 250 words or fewer.
- Not required
GRE
UAMS does not require the GRE.
- If admitted
Liability insurance
Student liability coverage through AANA Insurance Services is required during enrollment.
- Interview
Interview & essay
Qualified applicants are invited to an in-person panel interview and an on-site essay. Generally, 2 to 3 times the number of available seats are invited.
International applicants
If you do not have a U.S. high school, college, or university degree, you must show English proficiency with a TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 20 in each section of the iBT, taken within the last two calendar years. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES member such as WES or ECE.
Can I work during the program?
UAMS does not recommend it, and any work must be disclosed. Students take 11 to 15 graduate credits per semester in the first year, and the clinical phase requires 40 to 50 hours per week plus weekly classes.
Sources: UAMS Nurse Anesthesia program page and UAMS nurse anesthesia application instructions, verified October 22, 2026.
Which CRNA programs fit your qualifications? School Finder members can filter all 160 CRNA schools by GPA minimums, accepted ICU experience, prerequisites, and deadlines, and see where they qualify without checking each school’s website one by one. See how School Finder works.
Get your free Top 10 CRNA Schools Database
Weighing UAMS against other programs? We screened all 160 programs on eight standards. Only 10 passed. Get their requirements, tuition and program highlights in one free spreadsheet.
- Under $157,000
- Attrition 5% or less
- 90.5%+ board pass rate
- 10-year accreditation
- Acceptance 26% or below
- Livability 77+
- 100% employed
- Top 60 U.S. News
Outcomes
UAMS CRNA Program Performance: NCE Pass Rate, Attrition & Employment
First-time NCE pass rate
Class of 2025.
NCE pass rate within 90 days
Class of 2025.
Attrition, last class
Less than 2% overall.
Employment rate
Graduates employed as CRNAs.
The last graduating class averaged 950 cases and 2,378 anesthesia hours. The program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) through fall 2035.
Source: UAMS Nurse Anesthesia program page, verified October 22, 2026.
Curriculum
UAMS Nurse Anesthesia Curriculum & Clinical Sites
How classes are delivered
Many of the DNP courses (research, informatics, policy, and others) are offered online, but the anesthesia curriculum is face-to-face and requires on-site attendance. In the first year, students are on campus more often. Once clinical practicums begin, classes are generally scheduled once a week.
Clinical placements are arranged by the College of Nursing with your location in mind, but you should expect to travel regularly for comprehensive experience.
UAMS clinical affiliates
- Arkansas Children’s Hospital (Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas)
- Baptist Health Medical Center (Little Rock and North Little Rock)
- CHI St. Vincent Infirmary (Little Rock, North Little Rock, Hot Springs)
- Conway Regional Medical Center and National Park Medical Center
- Mercy Hospital (Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith)
- Stone County Medical Center and Washington Regional Medical Center
- UAMS Medical Center, Little Rock
Our take
What to Consider Before Applying to UAMS
This section is our analysis, not a UAMS requirement.
Check all three GPAs
Meeting the 3.00 cumulative minimum is not enough on its own. Calculate your GPA for your most recent 60 credit hours and your science GPA separately, since each has a 3.25 minimum. Strong recent coursework can matter here even if your early grades were weaker.
Plan for clinical travel
Clinical sites span Arkansas, from Little Rock to Northwest Arkansas, Fort Smith, and Hot Springs. Travel and temporary housing are not in our cost estimate, so budget for them separately.
Read the outcomes together
The 65% first-time NCE pass rate for the class of 2025 is lower than the 94% rate within 90 days. Ask UAMS how it supports students preparing for the NCE, and look at results across more than one class if they are available.
Deciding where UAMS fits on your list? Only 10 of 160 programs meet all eight of our standards, from a 90.5% or higher first-time pass rate to a total cost under $157,000. Get the free Top 10 CRNA Schools Database to compare.
Questions
UAMS CRNA School FAQs
Does UAMS require the GRE?
No. UAMS does not require the GRE for its nurse anesthesia program.
Is the CCRN required for UAMS CRNA school?
Yes. UAMS requires an active CCRN for admission, and you submit your exam score with your application.
What GPA do I need for UAMS CRNA school?
A 3.00 cumulative GPA, a 3.25 GPA over your most recent 60 credit hours, and a 3.25 science GPA.
How much does UAMS CRNA school cost?
For 2026–2027, tuition is $30,000 per year for Arkansas residents and $48,000 per year for non-residents. At current rates, we estimate about $103,598 for residents and $157,598 for non-residents over three years, including listed fees but not living expenses or clinical travel. Rates may change in later years.
How many students does UAMS accept?
UAMS accepts 20 students per cohort.
Can I get resident tuition if I move to Arkansas?
Not if you move to Arkansas solely to be a student. Contact the UAMS Registrar’s Office to learn what qualifies for resident tuition.
When is the UAMS CRNA application deadline?
UAMS admits for fall only. For fall 2028 admission, the deadline is expected to be September 15, 2027, with applications opening July 1, 2027. These dates follow last year’s schedule and have not yet been confirmed by UAMS, so check the UAMS application page before applying.
Do I need to submit two applications to UAMS?
Yes. UAMS requires both a NursingCAS application and a UAMS College of Nursing Workday application.
How long is the UAMS CRNA program?
The UAMS nurse anesthesia program is 36 months (9 semesters) of full-time study. It totals 95.5 credits and 2,295 clinical practicum hours.
Is the UAMS CRNA program online?
No. Enrollment is on-campus only. Many DNP courses (such as research, informatics, and policy) are offered online, but the anesthesia curriculum is face-to-face and requires on-site attendance.
How much critical care experience does UAMS require?
At least one year of full-time adult, pediatric, or neonatal critical care experience (or the part-time equivalent) within the two years before you apply. Operating room and step-down experience do not count.
What is the UAMS CRNA NCE pass rate?
The class of 2025 had a 65% first-time pass rate on the National Certification Exam (NCE) and a 94% pass rate within 90 days.
Contact
Contact the UAMS Nurse Anesthesia Program
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Nursing
4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
Main: (501) 686-7000
Student Services (admissions questions): (501) 686-5224 · conadmissions@uams.edu
Keep researching CRNA schools
Program details on this page come from the UAMS College of Nursing website and were verified on October 22, 2026. Three-year tuition and total-cost figures are our own estimates, calculated from UAMS’s published 2026–2027 annual rates. The “What to consider” section is our analysis. Details change, so confirm requirements and deadlines with the program before applying. Spot an error? Report it here.
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