CRNA School Application Deadlines 2026–2027

CRNA school deadlines fall in every month of the year. The busiest months are September (24 programs), August (20 programs), December (18 programs). Most programs close applications about 9 months before classes begin, though the gap ranges from 2 to 19 months.

The Open Now section at the top of this page lists every CRNA program accepting applications today, based on today’s date: programs whose application has opened and whose deadline is still ahead, plus the 15 programs with rolling or space-available admissions. It also lists programs whose applications open soon.

Most CRNA applications open three to four months before the deadline, usually about a year before the program starts. August is the most common month for applications to open (20 of the 91 programs that post an opening date), followed by June (10) and March (10). Check each program’s website or the list above for its exact opening date.

May is the most common start month (56 programs), followed by August (35), January (29), June (19) and September (12). Most programs admit one class a year, so if you miss a deadline you usually wait for the next cycle.

Yes. Nearly every CRNA program is full time and runs year-round, including summers, for about 36 months. Because most programs admit one class a year, application deadlines come once a year too.

Most accepted applicants apply to a focused list. In the 2026 SRNA dataset collected by Greg Olyansky, CRNA, 95% of 96 current SRNAs applied to 10 or fewer programs, more than half applied to three or fewer, and nearly a quarter were accepted after applying to just one. Choose programs that match your GPA, ICU experience and certifications rather than applying everywhere.

Plan to apply 12 to 18 months before you want to start. The typical deadline is 9 months before the program begins, and applications usually open about three to four months before the deadline. Many programs review applications and schedule interviews as they arrive, so submitting early helps.

15 programs review applications on a rolling basis, either instead of a fixed deadline or after it while seats remain: Albany Medical College & Albany Med Health System, Arkansas State University, Barry University, Drexel University, Hofstra University, Keiser University (Wolford College), Lincoln Memorial University, Midwestern University, National University, Nova Southeastern University, Rocky Vista University, South College, Union University, University of South Florida, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).

A priority deadline is an earlier date that gets your application reviewed first, usually for the first round of interviews. The final deadline is the last day the program accepts applications. 19 programs in the School Finder set a priority deadline. Applying by it gives you the best chance at a seat.

No. 63 of 160 programs in the School Finder use NursingCAS, the centralized nursing application service. The rest take applications directly through their own university portal. NursingCAS has to verify your transcripts before a program sees your application, so submit a few weeks before the deadline.

When a program’s deadline has passed and it hasn’t posted next year’s date yet, the page estimates the next deadline from last year’s date. Most programs keep a similar deadline from year to year, so the estimate is a good planning guide, but it is not confirmed. Always check the program’s website before you apply.

Deadlines come from All CRNA Schools’ CRNA School Finder. The date each program was last checked appears under its name, and dates marked estimated are projected from last year’s deadline. Programs sometimes move their deadlines during a cycle, so always confirm the date on the program’s website before you apply.