Last updated: October 2026 | Researched and reviewed by Daniel Etheridge, CRNA
If you are looking at the CAMC / University of Charleston CRNA program, this guide covers what you need to decide: cost, admission requirements, the deadline, how admission works, and outcomes.
The Charleston Area Medical Center / University of Charleston Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) is a 36-month, entry-level program in Charleston, West Virginia. It is one of two CRNA programs in West Virginia.
The application for the class starting Fall 2027 is open now. It closes Monday, December 14, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- 36-month DNAP in Charleston
- No GRE; CCRN earns points
- About $108K total (est.)
- About 30 seats each August
- Apply by December 14, 2026
CAMC/UC Nurse Anesthesia Program Quick Facts
| Program Length | 36 months (9 semesters, summers included, full-time, in-seat) |
| Degree Offered | DNAP (entry level) |
| Application Deadline | December 14, 2026 |
| Program Start | Fall 2027 (August) |
| Class Size | 30 to 32 per cohort |
| Tuition (In-State) | ≈$108,000 total, tuition and standard fees (est.) |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | ≈$108,000 total, same rate for everyone (est.) |
| GRE Required | No (not listed) |
| CCRN Required | No, but it earns application points |
| Website | ucwv.edu/academics/majors-degrees/doctor-of-nurse-anesthesia-practice/ |
One of Two CRNA Programs in West Virginia
The CAMC/UC program is one of two accredited CRNA programs in West Virginia, along with the WVU Nurse Anesthesia Program in Morgantown. If you want to train in southern West Virginia, this is the program. Charleston is about two and a half hours south of Morgantown.
CAMC/UC CRNA Program Overview
The program is a partnership between Charleston Area Medical Center and the University of Charleston. Classes are held at UC’s Charleston campus. Clinical rotations run through CAMC and Vandalia Health hospitals, including CAMC General, CAMC Memorial, and CAMC Women and Children’s (University of Charleston).
Labs and simulation use UC’s Healthcare Simulation Center and Virtual Reality Lab, plus CAMC’s Center for Learning and Research. The program runs nine semesters over 36 months, summers included, and new classes start each August.
If you see older pages about a “CAMC/Marshall” program, that was the earlier academic partnership with Marshall University. Its last students finished in spring 2026. The first University of Charleston class graduates in August 2027.
The program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), and UC lists its next onsite visit in 2029.
CAMC/UC CRNA Program Admission Requirements
To apply to the CAMC/UC DNAP program, you need:
- A BSN from an accredited school with a final GPA of at least 3.0 (RN-to-BSN graduates have their associate and bachelor’s GPAs combined)
- A current, active, unencumbered US RN license
- At least one year of ICU experience, and you must be working in an ICU now, as the COA defines critical care
- Active ACLS, BLS, and PALS, with proof of each
- A current CV in the required format and the program experience form
- Three professional references, one of them your current direct supervisor
- Transcripts from every college you attended
Applications go through GradCAS. The GRE is not listed anywhere in the requirements, and the CCRN is not required.
The CCRN still helps. The program gives extra points in its first review for certifications beyond the required ones, and names the CCRN, TNCC, CMC, and CSC as examples.
Shadowing matters too. It is not required for the first review, but everyone invited to interview must submit 8 documented hours of CRNA shadowing before the interview date. Get those hours done early.
The program does not list which ICUs count. If you work in a NICU, PICU, or a mixed unit, ask the program before you apply.
How Hard Is It to Get Into the CAMC/UC CRNA Program?
Competitive. For the 2024 class, the program received 200 applications for 30 spots, about 15%.
Here is how the scoring works. First applications are scored on undergraduate GPA, years of ICU experience, and GPA in certain science courses. The top 45 to 50 scorers are invited to campus for a round-robin interview with UC faculty and staff. The 30 top scorers from the interview round are offered admission.
The timeline for the Fall 2027 class: applications close December 14, 2026. Interview invitations go out in February 2027. In-person interviews run in March and April, with no virtual option. Decisions come in early May, and admitted students pay a $1,000 deposit to hold their seat.
How Much Does the CAMC/UC CRNA Program Cost?
The University of Charleston’s 2026-2027 cost sheet lists DNAP tuition at $35,655 a year, with fees not included. Here is our estimate for the full program:
- Tuition: $35,655 a year, about $106,965 over three years
- Standard university fees: $50 per semester student activity fee, $20 per term health science insurance fee, a one-time $50 immunization record fee, and a $200 graduation fee, about $880 in all
- Total tuition and standard fees: about $108,000 (estimated)
- Enrollment deposit at acceptance: $1,000
UC is a private university, so West Virginia residents and out-of-state students pay the same rate. The program does not post a DNAP-specific fee schedule, so ask about any program or lab fees before you build your budget. Rates can change each year.
Plan for the extras too: books, parking ($100 a semester for Charleston students, not in summer), a board review course ($1,500 to $3,000), certification exam fees, and licensing.
Nurse anesthetists earned a national average of $248,320 a year as of May 2025 (BLS).
One financing note for every CRNA applicant now: federal graduate borrowing for programs like nurse anesthesia is capped at $20,500 a year and $100,000 lifetime under the Department of Education rule that took effect July 1, 2026. This program’s total is just above that lifetime cap, so plan to cover the rest with savings or private loans.
Pass Rates, Attrition, and Employment
The most recent published outcomes are from the CAMC/Marshall classes, on CAMC’s attrition and certification rates page:
- Class of 2025: 28 admitted, 0% attrition, 80% first-time pass rate, 100% certified overall, 97% employed within six months
- Class of 2026: 30 admitted, 3.3% attrition, 83% first-time pass rate, 93% certified so far, 93% employed within six months (data still being collected)
The first University of Charleston class graduates in August 2027, so UC-era pass rates are not out yet. UC reports 0% attrition so far for the classes graduating in 2027 and 2028.
Living in Charleston While Attending the CAMC/UC Program
Charleston is West Virginia’s capital, set along the Kanawha River. UC’s campus and the CAMC hospitals are both in town, so most students can keep their commute short.
If you are coming from Huntington, Beckley, or Parkersburg, Charleston sits in the middle of them. With a full-time schedule and clinical days at CAMC, plan to live close rather than commute from another city. Check current one-bedroom rents near campus before you sign a lease.
Is the CAMC/UC CRNA Program Right for You?
CAMC/UC is a great fit if you:
- Want to train in southern West Virginia at CAMC’s Charleston hospitals
- Have a year or more of ICU experience and work in an ICU now
- Would rather skip the GRE
- Have extra certifications like the CCRN that earn points
- Are from out of state and want the same tuition as residents, about $108,000
- Want a class of about 30 with an in-person, campus-based program
- Can get your application in by December 14
Consider other options if you:
- Are not working in an ICU right now. Past experience alone does not meet the requirement
- Cannot document 8 hours of CRNA shadowing before an interview
- Cannot travel to Charleston for an in-person interview
- Want to see UC-era outcomes first. The first UC class graduates in August 2027
- Are a West Virginia resident looking for public in-state tuition
- Need a named clinical-site list up front
- Need a January or May start. Classes begin in August only
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CAMC/University of Charleston CRNA program accredited?
Yes. The program is accredited by the COA, and the University of Charleston lists its next onsite visit in 2029. The first UC class graduates in August 2027.
How much does the CAMC/UC CRNA program cost?
Tuition is $35,655 a year on UC’s 2026-2027 cost sheet, about $106,965 over three years, or about $108,000 with standard university fees. UC is private, so everyone pays the same rate. Ask the program about any DNAP-specific fees.
Does the CAMC/UC CRNA program require the GRE?
No. The GRE is not listed in the requirements, and the CCRN is not required. The program does give extra points for certifications like the CCRN, TNCC, CMC, and CSC. You need a BSN with a 3.0 GPA, a year of ICU experience, and a current ICU job.
When is the CAMC/UC CRNA application deadline?
Monday, December 14, 2026, for the class starting Fall 2027. Applications go through GradCAS. Interview invitations go out in February 2027, interviews run in March and April, and decisions come in early May.
How hard is it to get into the CAMC/UC CRNA program?
For the 2024 class, the program received 200 applications for 30 spots. The top 45 to 50 scorers interview on campus, and the 30 top scorers from the interviews are offered admission.
Is the CAMC CRNA program still with Marshall University?
No. CAMC now partners with the University of Charleston for its DNAP program. The CAMC/Marshall program’s last students finished in spring 2026, and the first UC class graduates in August 2027.
Next Steps
If you are aiming for December 14, start now. Confirm your ICU job meets the requirement, book your shadowing hours, line up three references including your current supervisor, and make sure your ACLS, BLS, and PALS are active.
You can read more about CRNA school in West Virginia, look at the state’s other program at WVU in Morgantown, check nearby programs in Ohio and Kentucky, or compare every state on our CRNA Schools by State page.
Contact the Program
CAMC / University of Charleston DNAP Program
Program Director: Megan L. Orphanos, DMPNA, APRN, CRNA, meganorphanos@ucwv.edu, 304-357-4825
Program Coordinator: Cara L. Rowsey, cararowsey@ucwv.edu, 304-357-4852
Graduate Health Enrollment: Nishelle Denson, nishelledenson@ucwv.edu, 304-357-4954
University of Charleston, 2300 MacCorkle Ave SE, Charleston, WV 25304
Official page: ucwv.edu – Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
Cost sheet: ucwv.edu – tuition and fees
Outcomes: camcmedicine.edu – attrition and certification rates
Accreditation: Council on Accreditation (COA) · Salary data: BLS OEWS, May 2025