This is my plan I give to Nancy for applying for USC.
VR&E EDUCATION PLAN
Vocational Goal: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Veteran: Howard Realubit, BSN, RN, CCRN
Vocational Goal: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Educational Institution: University of Southern California — Keck School of Medicine
Degree: Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)
Program Length: 36 months, full-time
Anticipated Admission: Late 2026 / Early 2027
Anticipated Matriculation: May 2027
Anticipated Graduation: Approximately May 2030
1. Vocational Objective
My vocational objective is to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and obtain full-time employment in advanced-practice nurse anesthesia.
The required educational pathway is completion of an accredited nurse anesthesia doctoral program, followed by successful completion of the National Certification Examination (NCE) and applicable state certification and licensure requirements.
The University of Southern California’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) is a full-time, 36-month professional doctoral program designed to prepare graduates for advanced nurse anesthesia practice and eligibility to sit for the National Certification Examination. USC’s program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
2. Educational Timeline
August 2026
Submit application to USC’s Nurse Anesthesia Program.
November 2026
Participate in USC’s admissions interview process.
Late 2026 / Early 2027
Anticipated admission decision and completion of any admission conditions.
March 31, 2027
Complete any outstanding USC prerequisite coursework.
May 2027
Matriculate into USC’s 36-month DNAP program.
USC’s Nurse Anesthesia Program begins a new cohort each May.
May 2027 – May 2028
Complete Year 1 foundational anesthesia education.
May 2028 – May 2029
Complete Year 2 advanced anesthesia education and clinical training.
May 2029 – May 2030
Complete Year 3 advanced clinical anesthesia training and doctoral requirements.
Approximately May 2030
Graduate with the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice.
2030
Complete the National Certification Examination and applicable California CRNA certification/licensure requirements.
2030 onward
Obtain full-time employment as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
3. Pre-Matriculation Requirements
Prior to matriculation, I will complete any outstanding USC prerequisite requirements.
USC currently requires:
- English comprehension or equivalent writing coursework
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Two semesters of chemistry:
- General/Inorganic Chemistry
- Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry
- One semester of introductory/general Physics
- Biology or Microbiology
- Nursing Research
USC requires outstanding prerequisite coursework to be completed by March 31 of the enrollment year. Anatomy, physiology, general chemistry, and biochemistry/organic chemistry coursework more than ten years old at matriculation must be repeated.
For the anticipated May 2027 matriculation, any required outstanding prerequisites will therefore be completed by March 31, 2027.
4. USC DNAP Curriculum
The USC DNAP curriculum is a full-time, 36-month professional doctoral program. The current curriculum is effective May 2025.
Year 1 — Foundational Anesthesia Education
Summer 2027
| Course | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANST 608 (H) | Advanced Clinical Anatomy | 2 |
| ANST 610 (H) | Advanced Physiology for Nurse Anesthetists | 4 |
| ANST 691 (H) | Doctoral Capstone Proposal | 2 |
| Total | 8 |
Fall 2027
| Course | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANST 508 | Research: Investigative Inquiry | 3 |
| ANST 602 (H) | Analytic Methods for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| ANST 604 | Healthcare Policy for Advocacy in Healthcare | 3 |
| ANST 609 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| ANST 651 | PeriOperative Evaluation and Management I | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
Spring 2028
| Course | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANST 501 | Pharmacology of Nurse Anesthesia Practice | 4 |
| ANST 502 | Principles of Nurse Anesthesia Practice | 4 |
| ANST 601 | Professional Integration to the Clinical Environment | 2 |
| ANST 652 | PeriOperative Evaluation and Management II | 3 |
| ANST 694a | Doctoral Scholarship Capstone Project | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
Year 1: 38 units
5. Year 2 — Advanced Anesthesia and Clinical Training
Summer 2028
| Course | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANST 503 | Advanced Pharmacology of Nurse Anesthesia Practice | 4 |
| ANST 504 | Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology in Nurse Anesthesia Practice | 4 |
| ANST 614 | Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia I | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Fall 2028
| Course | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANST 506 | Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice | 4 |
| ANST 611 | Leadership and Collaborative Practice | 3 |
| ANST 615 | Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia | 2 |
| ANST 631 | Clinical Synthesis II | 2 |
| ANST 694b | Doctoral Scholarship Capstone Project | 2 |
| Total | 13 |
Spring 2029
| Course | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANST 616 | Advanced Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia I | 2 |
| ANST 632 | Clinical Synthesis II | 2 |
| ANST 694c | Doctoral Scholarship Capstone Project | 2 |
| Total | 6 |
Year 2: 29 units
6. Year 3 — Advanced Clinical Practice and Doctoral Completion
Summer 2029
| Course | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANST 613 | Clinician Technology Interface | 3 |
| ANST 617 | Advanced Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia II | 2 |
| ANST 633 | Clinical Synthesis IIa | 2 |
| Total | 7 |
Fall 2029
| Course | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANST 618 | Advanced Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia III | 2 |
| ANST 634 | Clinical Synthesis IIb | 2 |
| Total | 4 |
Spring 2030
| Course | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANST 619 | Advanced Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia IV | 3 |
| ANST 694d | Doctoral Scholarship Capstone Project, if needed | 2 |
| Total | 3–5 |
Year 3: 14–16 units
USC identifies the complete DNAP curriculum as an 81–83-unit, three-year program.
7. Required Professional Credentialing
Upon completion of the DNAP, the educational plan includes the professional requirements necessary to transition into CRNA practice.
National Certification Examination
Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). USC currently lists the NCE cost at approximately $1,470, consisting of the examination fee and Longitudinal Assessment fee.
State Certification/Licensure
Following successful completion of the NCE, I will complete the applicable California nurse anesthetist certification and licensure requirements.
8. Educational Materials and Program-Related Expenses
The education plan will require reasonable educational and clinical expenses associated with successful completion of the DNAP, including:
- Required textbooks
- Computer/laptop and academic technology
- Required software and academic resources
- Clinical equipment and supplies
- Professional clinical attire
- Required health clearances and clinical documentation
- Required professional certifications
- Clinical affiliation requirements
- Required transportation to clinical sites
- Parking and transportation expenses associated with required educational activities
- National Certification Examination expenses
- State certification/licensure expenses
USC’s current Nurse Anesthesia financial information specifically identifies textbooks, computer/supplies, clinical affiliation training, required life-support certifications, professional insurance, parking, and transportation to distant clinical sites among program-related expenses. Costs are subject to change.
A separate financial worksheet can be provided to document these costs and reasonable living expenses during the period of full-time education.
9. Full-Time Educational Commitment
The USC DNAP is a full-time, 36-month professional doctoral program combining rigorous graduate-level academic coursework with intensive clinical anesthesia education.
The program’s academic and clinical requirements will require education and clinical training to remain the primary occupational activity throughout the program.
My objective will be to maintain satisfactory academic and clinical progress and complete the program within the prescribed 36-month timeframe.
10. Employment Outcome
Upon successful completion of the DNAP and required certification/licensure:
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice → National Certification Examination → CRNA Certification/Licensure → Full-Time CRNA Employment
The intended vocational outcome is full-time employment as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
This represents a clearly defined transition from registered nursing into an advanced-practice healthcare profession requiring specialized doctoral education and clinical training.
11. VR&E Training Objective
The requested rehabilitation training plan is:
- Complete any outstanding USC prerequisite coursework.
- Obtain admission to the USC Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program.
- Matriculate in May 2027.
- Complete the 36-month DNAP curriculum.
- Complete required anesthesia clinical training.
- Complete the doctoral scholarly/capstone requirements.
- Successfully complete the National Certification Examination.
- Obtain applicable California CRNA certification/licensure.
- Obtain full-time employment as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
Target educational completion: Approximately May 2030.
Target vocational outcome: Full-time employment as a CRNA following completion of required education, certification, and licensure.
Summary
Vocational Goal: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
School: University of Southern California — Keck School of Medicine
Degree: Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
Program: 36 months, full-time
Anticipated Start: May 2027
Anticipated Completion: Approximately May 2030
Required Credential: National Certification Examination followed by applicable CRNA certification/licensure
Final Employment Goal: Full-time Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
The proposed education is directly aligned with the identified vocational objective and provides a defined pathway from graduate education through professional certification and employment.