AA-C Bridge to DNAP Admission

AA-C candidates are “conditionally admitted” to start the curriculum with 12 online hours each spring and summer semester. After successfully completing these initial 12 hours, they are fully admitted to the program.

Conditional Admission Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN or associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse
• Master’s degree from and accredited school or college in the U.S.
• Current certification as an Anesthesiology Assistant (AA-C) 
• Minimum of five years’ experience as an AA-C
  • Evidence of experience as an AA-C caring for critically ill patients through the following:
    • CV or resume
    • Personal essay demonstrating the development of critical decision-making, psychomotor skills, patient assessment and proficiency in advanced monitoring techniques, aligning with COA's critical care experience criteria
    • Verification of five years of varied complex case experience by a departmental chief CRNA or supervising anesthesiologist 
    • Submission of case logs from all practice sites since graduation, detailing case types and anesthesia methods used
  • OR a minimum of one-year current critical care experience as an RN 
  • Certification in BLS and ACLS
  • Three professional recommendations 

SEE DETAILED ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Note: All AA-C Bridge to DNAP students must fulfill the TCU School of Nurse Anesthesia's 900-case requirement. Bridge students can apply up to 300 cases from their Anesthesiologist Assistant Master's Degree program toward this requirement. The clinical residency typically spans at least two semesters and concludes when at least 900 cases are completed in a single semester. 

Tuition and fees for the AA-C Bridge to DNAP program are based on the number of credit hours. The charges depend on your progress in both the didactic and clinical aspects of the program. If you successfully test out of a course, you won't have to take it and you won't be charged for it. Clinical residency courses are also determined by progression and performance. 
 
Tuition (January 2021 Entry): $1,214 per credit hour

Fees:

• Housing at clinical site is the student’s responsibility
• University student health insurance (if needed): $1,082 per semester (available after the first eight months)
• Textbooks: Approximately $2,000 for the full set
• American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) membership fee: $200
• Self-Evaluation Exam fee (within the first eight months of the program): $250
• National Certification Exam fee (upon graduation): $995