A CRNA school interview is the last step between an ICU nurse and a seat in a nurse anesthesia program, and programs interview only a small group for each cohort. Formats range from five one-on-one interviews in a day to recorded video answers, and some programs test your ICU knowledge on the spot. Here is what the AANA and named nurse anesthesia programs say about their interviews and how to prepare.
From the AANA and programs’ own admissions pages2026-27 cycleChecked October 28, 2026
Practice with a mock interviewOne-on-one on Zoom with Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP.
Jump to:What to expectFormats by programClinical questionsQuestions to practiceRecorded interviewsHow to prepareFAQ
What the AANA says to expect
The AANA says nurse anesthesia programs “have similar but distinct application processes” and that “CRNA/nurse anesthesiology school is extremely competitive.” Its list of common application elements includes “An interview (in-person, virtual, or phone) with program administrators/instructors” and “A writing test” (AANA).
The numbers are tight. Villanova says, “We interview approximately 50 to 60 qualified applicants for 36 seats in the Cohort” (Villanova), and Tulsa says “approximately 50 individuals will be offered an in-person interview” (Tulsa).
Interview formats by program
These come from each program’s own page. Formats change, so check the page for every program that invites you.
| Program | Format | What their page says |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor College of Medicine | Five one-on-ones plus writing, in person | “Applicants will meet individually with five interviewers.” The schedule includes a 30-minute “Writing Assessment.” Source |
| University of Akron | Interview with clinical questions | “ICU clinical knowledge, encompassing but not restricted to ventilator management, ABGs (arterial blood gases), vasoactive pharmacology, lab values, hemodynamics, cardiac, respiratory, and neurophysiology, will also be assessed during the interview process.” Source |
| Rosalind Franklin University | Recorded video plus live small group | “an asynchronous virtual interview, a synchronous virtual small group interview,” with the recorded part on Kira Talent. Source |
| UW Oshkosh | In person, half a day | “Applicants invited for an admission interview should expect the in-person interview to take half a day on the UWO campus.” Week of January 25, 2027. Source |
| University of Tulsa | In person | “Interviews occur from late September to early October each year.” Source |
| University of Cincinnati | In person or virtual | “Yes, interviews can be completed in person or virtually.” “Interviews will take place in November and April.” Source |
Clinical questions
This is what makes CRNA interviews different from most admissions interviews. Akron lists the ICU topics it assesses during the interview: ventilator management, ABGs, vasoactive pharmacology, lab values, hemodynamics, and cardiac, respiratory, and neurophysiology (Akron). Not every program does this, but you should be ready to explain the drips, ventilator settings, and hemodynamic monitoring you use in your own unit, and why.
Some programs tie the interview to your ICU experience directly. Villanova says its critical care requirement “must be met prior to candidate interview with program officials” (Villanova), and Akron says “You must have obtained the CCRN certification before being granted an interview” (Akron).
Questions to practice
Neither the AANA nor the programs above publish interview questions. Based on what programs say they cover, practice these out loud. They are my practice prompts, not questions any program has published:
- Why nurse anesthesia, and why now?
- Walk me through your sickest patient last month.
- Explain how a vasopressor you titrate works and how you decide to change the dose.
- Interpret this ABG and tell me what you would do.
- What did you learn shadowing a CRNA?
- Tell me about a mistake you made and what changed afterward.
- How will you handle the workload of a full-time doctoral program?
- Why our program?
Detroit Mercy says, “We expect that applicants will shadow a CRNA during the application process (prior to interview)” (Detroit Mercy). Be ready to talk about what you saw.
Your interviewers may have your application in front of them, so reread your own CRNA personal statement before the interview. If you haven't submitted yet, see our CRNA personal statement examples, or work with Lauren Hammond, PhD, our personal statement editor.
Recorded and virtual interviews
Rosalind Franklin runs its first round on Kira Talent and says “Genuine, spontaneous, and candid responses to interview questions are highly valued,” over answers that are pre-rehearsed, read, or AI-assisted (Rosalind Franklin). Practice speaking to a camera on a timer, with notes put away.
For more on nursing interview formats generally, see our nursing school interview guide.
How to prepare
- Find each program’s format. Five one-on-ones, a recorded round, a group interview, and a writing assessment each need different practice.
- Review your own unit’s medicine. Pressors, sedation, ventilator management, ABGs, and hemodynamics, at the level you use them.
- Prepare a two-minute “why CRNA.” Build it from what you have seen at the bedside and while shadowing.
- Practice explaining out loud. Clinical answers are judged on clarity as much as content. Say it simply, in order.
- Practice a timed writing sample. Baylor gives 30 minutes, and the AANA lists a writing test as a common element.
- Do a mock interview with feedback. Nerves show up as rushing, filler words, and losing your place. A practice run shows you where.
Practice with a real interviewer before the real one. My wife, Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who runs mock interviews on Zoom for CRNA school applicants. She coaches every format: one-on-one, panel, MMI, and recorded video interviews such as Kira Talent. She works on how your answers come across: clear key words, pace, voice, filler words, organizing an answer so it has a point, staying steady when you're nervous, and how you look and sound on camera. It's $250 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CRNA school interview like?
It depends on the program. Baylor has applicants meet individually with five interviewers and complete a writing assessment. Rosalind Franklin uses a recorded Kira interview and a virtual small group. UW Oshkosh holds a half-day in-person interview.
Do CRNA interviews include clinical questions?
Some do. Akron says ICU clinical knowledge, including ventilator management, ABGs, vasoactive pharmacology, lab values, and hemodynamics, is assessed during the interview.
How many applicants do CRNA programs interview?
Villanova interviews approximately 50 to 60 applicants for 36 seats, and Tulsa offers approximately 50 in-person interviews.
Do I need CCRN before a CRNA interview?
At some programs. Akron requires CCRN before granting an interview, and Villanova requires CCRN or an equivalent at the time of application.
Is there a writing test at CRNA interviews?
Often. The AANA lists a writing test among common application elements, and Baylor’s interview day includes a 30-minute writing assessment.
When are CRNA interviews?
It varies by program. Tulsa interviews from late September to early October, Cincinnati in November and April, and UW Oshkosh the week of January 25, 2027.
Every format and quotation on this page comes from the AANA or the program’s own admissions page, linked where it appears. Last checked October 28, 2026.