Last updated: June 2026 | Researched and reviewed by Daniel Etheridge, CRNA
George Fox University is Oregon’s newest path to becoming a CRNA.
Its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesia launched in fall 2025 and holds initial accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
It is the second accredited CRNA program in Oregon, alongside OHSU. This guide covers what makes it different, who it is built for, and how to apply.
George Fox CRNA Program at a Glance
| Degree | Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Nurse Anesthesia |
| Length | 36 months, full time, entry-level |
| Cohort start | August (first cohort began fall 2025) |
| Accreditation | COA initial accreditation, May 2025 (next review May 2031) |
| Main campus | Newberg, OR (414 N. Meridian St.) |
| DNP facility | Portland Center — 10,000-sq-ft simulation space |
| Program Director | William Prosser, DNAP, MSN, CRNA |
| Contact | (503) 554-6122 | crna@georgefox.edu |
| Application | NursingCAS |
What Makes George Fox Different
The headline feature is that you don’t leave Oregon to train.
George Fox builds in five clinical rotations, all at in-state sites. For a critical-care RN with roots in Oregon, that is a real quality-of-life difference compared to programs that scatter rotations across multiple states.
The DNP coursework and simulation happen at the Portland Center, a 10,000-square-foot facility with a simulated operating room, advanced labs, and debriefing space.
George Fox is a private Christian university founded in the Quaker tradition. Its program mission emphasizes service to underserved and rural Oregon communities, where anesthesia access is thin.
Admission Requirements
George Fox publishes a clear set of requirements through its CRNA admissions page.
- A 3.0 or higher GPA in your last 60 nursing credits.
- A current, unencumbered Oregon RN or APRN license
- A general chemistry or physics course (with lab) completed with a B or better within 10 years .
- Two professional references:
- Application verified through NursingCAS by the deadline.
One detail worth planning around: the Oregon RN license requirement by the deadline. If you are licensed in another state, start the Oregon licensure process early so it doesn’t hold up your application.
How It Compares to OHSU
Oregon now gives critical-care RNs a genuine choice.
OHSU is a public academic health center in Portland with a long-established program and deep tertiary-care case volume.
George Fox is a newer, private-university program built around in-state clinical placements and a brand-new simulation facility. If staying in Oregon for the entire program matters to you, George Fox is built for exactly that.
See the full side-by-side on our Oregon CRNA schools guide.
Curriculum and Clinical Training
The program is a 36-month, entry-level DNP.
Didactic coursework and simulation are based at the Portland Center, where George Fox built a 10,000-square-foot space with a simulated operating room, advanced labs, debriefing rooms, and faculty offices.
You will move through five clinical rotations, all at Oregon sites. The program emphasizes that you can complete your clinical hours without leaving the state, which is not the case at every program.
Coursework covers pharmacology, pain management, patient safety, anesthesia equipment, airway management, and crisis management, with the ethical and research foundations expected at the doctoral level.
Where You’ll Live: Newberg and the Portland Area
George Fox’s main campus is in Newberg, a town of about 26,000 in Oregon’s Yamhill County wine country.
Newberg sits on Highway 99W, roughly 25 miles southwest of Portland — close enough for big-city access, far enough to keep a small-town pace. It consistently ranks among Oregon’s safer cities.
The town grew up around George Fox University and still has that college-town feel, with Providence Newberg Medical Center as the main local hospital and employer. The surrounding Chehalem Mountains and Dundee Hills are dotted with vineyards, so the area draws a steady stream of wine-country visitors.
Because DNP coursework runs through the Portland Center, plan your housing around your weekly travel between Newberg and Portland. Many students look at the suburbs in between — Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin, and Wilsonville are all within about 10 miles of Newberg.
On cost: a one-bedroom in Newberg runs roughly $1,200 to $1,400 a month, generally cheaper than comparable Portland rentals. Overall living costs in the area sit modestly above the national average, with housing as the main driver.
One Oregon bonus worth budgeting for: the state has no sales tax, which stretches a student budget further than in most states.
Oregon CRNA Salary and Outlook
Nurse anesthetists are the highest-paid advanced practice nurses in the country.
The national median annual wage is $212,650 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2023), and Oregon’s averages trend at or above that national figure.
Demand is strong, especially in rural Oregon, where anesthesia access is limited — exactly the gap George Fox says its program is designed to help fill. With graduates trained and rotated in-state, many are positioned to stay and practice in Oregon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the George Fox CRNA program accredited?
Yes. It holds initial accreditation from the COA, granted May 2025, with its next review scheduled for May 2031. Always confirm current status on the COA’s official list before applying.
How long is the George Fox CRNA program?
It is a 36-month, full-time, entry-level DNP. Cohorts begin in August.
Do I need an Oregon RN license to apply?
You must hold a current, unencumbered Oregon RN or APRN license by the application deadline. Out-of-state nurses should begin the Oregon licensure process early.
Where are the clinical rotations?
George Fox places students in five clinical rotations at in-state Oregon sites, so you don’t have to leave the state to complete clinical hours.
Planning your application timeline? See our guide on when to apply to CRNA school, or browse every state in our CRNA Schools by State hub.
Disclaimer: Information is for educational purposes only and is not affiliated with George Fox University or the COA. Verify accreditation against the COA’s published List of Accredited Educational Programs and confirm all requirements and dates with the program before applying.