UT Tyler School of Nursing Receives Approval for Nurse Anesthetist Program
August 18, 2025 | Elizabeth Wingfield
The University of Texas at Tyler School of Nursing received approval for the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia program from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
This three-year post-baccalaureate degree provides current critical care nurses the opportunity to graduate with dual certifications as adult-geriatrics acute care nurse practitioners and certified registered nurse anesthetists. With a rigorous curriculum and hybrid format combining online and in-person classes, the program equips graduates to deliver safe, high-quality anesthesia care.
“East Texas and the broader region face a critical need for advanced practice nurses, especially in anesthesia care,” said Dr. Jenifer Chilton, UT Tyler School of Nursing interim dean. “With this program, UT Tyler is helping to fill that gap—training highly skilled professionals who will enhance surgical care access and improve patient outcomes across the state.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2022-2032, the projected growth rate for advanced practice nurses is 38%, as compared to the average job growth rate of 3%. In rural areas, CRNAs play a particularly critical role, often serving as the sole anesthesia providers in surgery centers, critical access hospitals and outpatient clinics. Without a sustainable pipeline of CRNAs, these communities face the risk of reduced surgical capacity, delayed care and widening health disparities.
“We are excited to welcome our first cohort this fall,” said Dr. Martin E. Rivera, nurse anesthesia program director. “This program was built with East Texas in mind—from the clinical partnerships to the curriculum. Our goal is to prepare highly skilled nurse anesthetists who will not only deliver safe, high-quality care but also meet the critical needs of our region’s hospitals, surgery centers and rural communities.”
This program is a part of the School of Nursing’s critical care nursing pathways, including the nation’s second flight nursing continuing education program, the adult geriatric acute care nurse practitioner certificate and the nurse anesthetist program.
To learn more about the program or apply, visit uttyler.edu/dnpna.
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.