The South College Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) is a 36-month (12-quarter), full-time BSN-to-DNP course of study, with the goal of producing full-service, independent graduate nurse anesthetists eligible to sit for the National Certification Exam (NCE) and become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
Three years (full-time, over 12 successive quarters)
Hybrid (Knoxville Campus & Online)
Available for qualified applicants
The South College DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program was granted initial accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) in October 2021.
Financial aid, offered through a variety of government, state, and local programs, is available to those who qualify. To learn more about the options available to help you pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a Concentration in Nurse Anesthesia, contact us today.
As APRNs, your practice will be characterized by autonomy and responsibility. Due to these characteristics, as well as the versatility needed to function as a CRNA, nurse anesthesia is an in-demand profession with many opportunities. APRNs are also considered key in the provision of medical and specialty care in medically underserved populations, affording potential special practice arrangements and student loan repayment possibilities or stipend arrangements while in anesthesia studies.
The South College Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with Concentration in Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) is a 36-month (12-quarter), full-time BSN-to-DNP course of study. Initial didactic courses are delivered via web-intensive methods, supplemented in most academic quarters by on-campus intensive learning sessions with faculty in Knoxville, Tennessee. Students will not be required to physically relocate for slightly more than one year of remote online study.
Part-time clinical studies begin in Quarter Two of the second program year before becoming full-time clinical immersion in year three. Clinical facilities distributed across multiple states are organized into regional clinical satellite locations, where students are able to obtain all clinical cases needed for board eligibility after graduation within a reasonable geographic distance.To facilitate clinical learning and for consistency with clinical educator oversight, students will be required to relocate at the beginning of the clinical phase, if not already residing in their assigned clinical satellite location.
State Authorization (Asheville, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Orlando)
The South College Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Parkside Learning Site (Knoxville) received initial approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing in December 2003, with full approval granted in September 2008. Approval for the addition of the Nashville Learning Site was granted in November 2016. The Master of Science in Nursing program received approval in November 2016. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program received approval in February 2020. The Post-Graduate Certificate programs received approval in August 2021. The South College Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Asheville Learning Site received initial approval from the North Carolina Board of Nursing in February 2016, with full approval granted in May 2019. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Atlanta Learning Site received initial approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing in September 2018. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Orlando Learning Site received initial approval from the Florida Board of Nursing in November 2021. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Indianapolis campus received initial accreditation from the Indiana Board of Nursing in July 2022.
The South College Associate of Science in Nursing program (Knoxville & Nashville Learning Site) was approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing in November 2022. The program was approved by the Florida Board of Nursing in January 2023 and the Georgia Board of Nursing in March 2023.
The South College Certificate program in Practical Nursing offered at the Parkside Learning Site (Knoxville) received approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing in February 2018. Approval for the addition of the Nashville Learning Site was granted in November 2018. The Certificate program in Practical Nursing was approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing for the Atlanta Learning Site in May 2019 to begin the first class in June 2020. The Certificate program in Practical Nursing was approved by the Florida Board of Nursing for the Orlando Learning Site in November 2021. The Certificate program in Practical Nursing was approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing for the Pittsburgh Learning Site in March 2023.
South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels. South College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of South College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate programs offered at South College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791 (https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE). The South College DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program was granted initial accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) effective October 13, 2021. The address for COA is: 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603, Phone number: 224-275-9130, website address: http://www.coacrna.org. Additionally, during the same October 2021accreditation meeting, the COA granted the following two items for the South College DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program: (1) Approval of Distance Education Courses, and (2) Approval of Waiver of Graduate Degree Requirement.