Updated July 2026 · 4 min read
Part of the CRNA Career Hub — browse every related guide in one place.
The GRE landscape for CRNA programs has changed more in the last four years than in the previous two decades. If you're building your application strategy and wondering whether to study for the GRE, here's the current picture.
Most CRNA programs have dropped the GRE requirement—either permanently or indefinitely. As of 2026, approximately 60–70% of accredited nurse anesthesia programs no longer require the GRE for admission. A subset still list it as optional (you can submit scores to strengthen your application), and a smaller group still require it.
You need to verify requirements directly for every program on your list because this is changing fast.
The shift started during COVID-19 when testing centers closed and programs needed flexibility. Many programs used that period to study whether GRE scores actually predicted student success, NCMB board passage, or clinical performance. The research was inconclusive at best—GRE scores showed weak-to-moderate correlation with program outcomes at most institutions.
The additional equity concern factored in: GRE prep costs money, test dates are limited, and access to testing centers is uneven. Eliminating the requirement expanded the applicant pool without meaningful quality loss.
Programs in this category tend to be older, larger, or research-heavy institutions that retain the GRE as a standardized comparison metric. Some universities require it across all graduate programs—it's a university-wide policy, not a nursing anesthesia decision.
If a program requires the GRE, expect minimum score targets in the range of: - Verbal: 150+ - Quantitative: 150–155+ - Analytical Writing: 3.5–4.0+
At competitive programs that still require it, the median scores for admitted students typically run 5–10 points higher than minimums on each section.
"Optional" means different things in different admissions contexts. At many programs, optional truly means you are not disadvantaged by not submitting scores. At others, optional is a soft requirement—applicants who submit strong scores have a marginal advantage in borderline cases.
If your GRE scores would be competitive (155+ verbal, 158+ quantitative), submitting them is generally a net positive at programs that accept them. If your scores are below the program's typical admitted range, leaving them off is the right call.
If your target programs require the GRE, give yourself 10–16 weeks of dedicated preparation. The exam tests skills you haven't used since undergrad in most cases—especially the mathematical reasoning section.
What actually moves scores:
The verbal section is heavily vocabulary-dependent. Learning high-frequency GRE words (not memorizing a list of 3,000, but focusing on the 500 most tested) and practicing reading comprehension with dense academic prose will get you where you need to go.
Quantitative is arithmetic, algebra, and geometry—concepts most nursing students haven't used since high school or early college. Khan Academy covers the content well. The key is learning GRE-specific question formats, not just the underlying math.
Test prep resources that work: - Official GRE prep materials from ETS (the test maker) - Manhattan Prep GRE strategy guides - Khan Academy for quantitative fundamentals - Magoosh GRE (well-regarded for self-study)
Timeline recommendation: Register for your test 3–4 months before your application deadline. Most CRNA programs require official scores submitted by the application deadline.
Programs that dropped the GRE weigh other factors more heavily: undergraduate science GPA, course difficulty, CCRN certification, and sometimes a written analytical essay prompt embedded in the application itself. A few programs have moved to video interview screening.
The net effect: your science GPA and CCRN have become more important gatekeepers, not less. A nurse who would have used a strong GRE score to offset a 3.0 science GPA now has fewer options to compensate.
If none of your target programs require or accept the GRE, no. The time investment (100+ hours of effective preparation) is better spent on CCRN preparation, shadowing, or strengthening other application elements.
If one or more of your target programs still require it—take it seriously and prepare properly. A 145/148 with minimal prep is not a competitive score at most institutions that still use the GRE as a filter.
If programs on your list list it as optional and your other metrics are borderline (GPA between 3.2 and 3.5, limited clinical diversity), consider taking it. A 158+ quantitative score can be a meaningful addition to an otherwise-solid-but-not-dominant file.
Program requirements change without notice. The only authoritative source is the program's current admissions page or a direct email to the admissions coordinator. Do this for every program, every cycle.
The AANA's directory of accredited programs includes links to each program's website, which is a reasonable starting point—but don't rely on any third-party aggregator for requirements, including this article. Go to the source.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, financial, or legal advice. Always verify information with current sources and consult qualified professionals for your specific situation.
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