Updated June 2026 · 8 min read

CRNA Programs in Maine

Part of the CRNA Career Hub — browse every related guide in one place.

Maine has exactly one accredited nurse anesthesia program — the University of New England's DNP in Nurse Anesthesia in Portland. It is well established, holds a long accreditation term, and is the only in-state CRNA pathway, which makes it both a real opportunity and a single, competitive target.

University of New England DNP — Nurse Anesthesia

UNE's program awards a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia and runs 36 months full-time at the university's Portland campus. The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) granted it the maximum ten-year accreditation term in fall 2021, with the current term running through fall 2031 — a strong signal of program stability. As the only CRNA school in Maine, it is the natural first target for in-state nurses.

Clinical Training and Focus

UNE structures training to move students from a high-tech simulation center into broad clinical experience across the surgical specialties — including neurosurgery, open-heart surgery, and obstetrics — and places students in rural settings and CRNA-only sites. That mix matters in northern New England, where CRNAs frequently provide anesthesia in smaller and rural hospitals. Applicants who can speak to an interest in rural and community anesthesia practice fit the program's clinical model well, and should make that connection clearly.

Admission Requirements

UNE follows the national CRNA template. You will need a BSN (or an equivalent qualifying nursing degree) with a competitive GPA, a minimum of one year of full-time adult critical-care experience, an unencumbered RN license, and current BLS and ACLS certification. The ICU requirement is non-negotiable everywhere, and competitive applicants typically bring more than the minimum — high-acuity experience and the CCRN credential strengthen a file; see the CCRN guide. For the complete checklist, review the general CRNA school requirements.

Application Strategy for Maine

Because Maine has a single program, your plan should be regional from day one. Apply to UNE — and lean into its rural-anesthesia clinical model in your essay — but build a list that also includes Massachusetts and Connecticut to give yourself realistic odds across a competitive applicant pool. Strengthen your file with the required ICU year (ideally more), the CCRN, and a sharp personal statement. For realistic expectations, see CRNA acceptance rates.

Bottom Line

The University of New England in Portland is Maine's only accredited CRNA program: a 36-month, COA-accredited DNP in Nurse Anesthesia holding a full ten-year accreditation term through 2031. It's a genuine, stable opportunity, but with one in-state program, Maine applicants should apply regionally across New England to give themselves a fair shot. For the bigger picture, see how to become a CRNA and the CRNA job outlook.