State Board of Nursing Issues CRNA Certification Regulations

State Board of Nursing Issues CRNA Certification Regulations

In June 2021, Act 60 was enacted to amend the Professional Nursing Law by adding language to recognize and license certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) in Pennsylvania. The Board of Nursing (board) recently issued out final regulations required to update the board's existing regulations to implement Act 60 of 2021.

For over 150 years, CRNAs have been providing anesthesia care to patients throughout the United States. The National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) is the National certifying body for the initial, continued and subspecialty CRNA certification. The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (COA) is Nationally recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as an accreditor of nurse anesthesia programs.

Currently, nurses who administer anesthesia in Pennsylvania are licensed as RNs and are authorized to administer anesthesia if properly educated with a graduate degree from a COA-accredited nurse anesthesia program, are Nationally certified by NBCRNA and the anesthesia is administered in cooperation with a surgeon or dentist. The amended regulations were issued to recognize and license CRNAs. Under the regulations, with the combination of the board-approved accredited education and board-approved National certification, applicants may apply to the board for certification to practice as a CRNA in Pennsylvania.

Additionally, to match current requirements for licensure by endorsement and child abuse education and reporting requirements applicable to the other nurse licensure classes, the board amended applicable provisions to clarify that these requirements also apply to CRNAs.

CRNAs will benefit from this regulation because it formally recognizes their education, training, and clinical experience in Pennsylvania.

For more information, please review the October 10, 2026, edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.