Nursing
NBCRNA CRNACertified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
The National Certification Examination (NCE) is the entry-to-practice exam from the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). It is the licensing-level exam graduates of COA-accredited nurse anesthesia programs must pass to practice as CRNAs. Separate from recertification — NBCRNA transitioned all CRNAs to the Maintaining Anesthesia Certification (MAC) program by 2026, replacing the older CPC and CPCA.
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Exam facts
Everything you need to know about the NBCRNA CRNA exam.
- Passing score
- Scaled pass/fail (criterion-referenced; numeric cut not published)
- Format & length
- 100–170 questions (computer-adaptive) · up to 3 hours
- Voucher cost
- $1,310 USD (initial NCE attempt) · $995 retake
- Prerequisites
- Successful completion of a COA-accredited nurse anesthesia educational program (doctoral-level since 2022) + academic and clinical experience record submitted to NBCRNA
- Validity
- 4-year certification cycle (renewed under the MAC program: two-year check-in midpoint + 4-year compliance submission; MAC Check replaces the legacy CPCA)
Exam facts sourced from the official NBCRNA certification page. Last reviewed June 2026.
What’s tested
Key topics on the NBCRNA CRNA exam.
The Cert Climb question bank is mapped to every domain on the official NBCRNA CRNA exam blueprint, so what you study is what the test asks.
- Basic Sciences (anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, chemistry, physics)
- Equipment, Instrumentation & Technology
- General Principles of Anesthesia
- Anesthesia for Surgical Procedures and Special Populations
Who it’s for
Built for the people taking this exam.
New graduates of COA-accredited nurse anesthesia programs (now all DNP/DNAP-level) testing for the first time. Distinct from MAC Check / CPCA, which is the recertification assessment for already-credentialed CRNAs.
Why it matters in 2026
The career signal.
CRNA is among the highest-paid nursing roles in the US (BLS median ~$214k for nurse anesthetists, 2024). The NCE is the single gate between completing the multi-year doctoral program and being able to bill independently in the ~30 opt-out states. First-time pass rates run in the mid-80s to low-90s, so candidates who fail typically lose months of earnings during the retake window.
Sample question
What a NBCRNA CRNA question looks like.
Following an uncomplicated spontaneous vaginal delivery, a 27-year-old woman is most likely to experience which of the following physiologic changes in the immediate postpartum period?
See the answer & explanation
Correct: A. An approximately 80% elevation in cardiac output
Why: The cardiovascular system undergoes substantial adaptations throughout pregnancy, including benign systolic murmurs and third heart sounds. Central venous pressure remains unchanged throughout a healthy pregnancy despite reductions in systemic vascular resistance. The blood volume expansion during pregnancy prepares the body to tolerate a typical vaginal delivery blood loss of 300–500 mL without adverse effects (a Cesarean delivery loss of 800–1000 mL is also well-tolerated). Immediately after delivery, uterine contractions redistribute roughly 500 mL of blood into the central circulation via autotransfusion, driving an approximately 80% surge in cardiac output.
What you get
Everything you need to actually pass.
Full question bank
951 questions covering every objective on the official NBCRNA CRNA exam blueprint, with detailed explanations on every option — right and wrong.
Quiz modes
Timed exam simulation, missed-only review, topic drills, and a daily question of the day. Practice the way you study best.
Flashcards
Spaced-repetition flashcards generated from each topic. Pull them up on a phone in the gap between meetings.
Progress tracking
See per-topic accuracy and answered counts. Find weak areas before they cost you on test day.
Per-category premium
Unlocking NBCRNA CRNA unlocks every other Nursing exam in the Cert Climb catalog — pay once, stack credentials.
No-fluff explanations
Every wrong answer comes with a 2-3 sentence explanation of why it’s wrong, not just “the correct answer is X.” Pattern recognition is the whole game.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about NBCRNA CRNA
What is the NBCRNA CRNA exam?
The National Certification Examination (NCE) is the entry-to-practice exam from the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). It is the licensing-level exam graduates of COA-accredited nurse anesthesia programs must pass to practice as CRNAs.
How many questions are on the NBCRNA CRNA exam, and how long is it?
100–170 questions (computer-adaptive) · up to 3 hours
What is the passing score for the NBCRNA CRNA exam?
Scaled pass/fail (criterion-referenced; numeric cut not published)
How much does the NBCRNA CRNA exam cost?
$1,310 USD (initial NCE attempt) · $995 retake
Are there prerequisites for the NBCRNA CRNA exam?
Successful completion of a COA-accredited nurse anesthesia educational program (doctoral-level since 2022) + academic and clinical experience record submitted to NBCRNA
How long is the NBCRNA CRNA certification valid?
4-year certification cycle (renewed under the MAC program: two-year check-in midpoint + 4-year compliance submission; MAC Check replaces the legacy CPCA)
How many questions does the NBCRNA CRNA bank have?
951 questions, organized into 4 subject areas mapped to the official exam objectives.
Is the free trial really free?
Yes. 30 questions, no credit card, no email-trap, no “activate by Friday or pay” spam. You either upgrade because the bank’s good, or you don’t.
What does premium cost?
Premium is sold per category and unlocks every Nursing exam in the Cert Climb catalog. Plans are 1-month, 3-month, or 12-month — see the upgrade modal for current pricing.
How current is the NBCRNA CRNA content?
We track exam version updates and refresh the bank within weeks of new objectives. Where the version of an exam matters (e.g. CompTIA SY0-701 vs. SY0-601), question explanations call it out.
Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Yes. Cancellation is one click from your profile. Your access continues through the end of the period you’ve already paid for.
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