Section 8.8. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist; Qualifications.--(a) The board may certify a licensed registered nurse as a certified registered nurse anesthetist if the registered nurse satisfies the requirements established by this section. Certification of a certified registered nurse anesthetist by the board shall expire on the same date as the license of that registered nurse expires.
(b) Beginning on the effective date of this section, a registered nurse shall not qualify for initial certification by the board unless the registered nurse holds a master's degree, doctoral degree or post-master's certificate from an accredited educational program in nurse anesthesia that has been approved by the board and that prepares graduates to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist and:
(1) holds current national certification as a certified registered nurse anesthetist from a board-recognized national certification organization which required passing of a national certifying examination in nurse anesthesia;
(2) submits an application and the required fee as established by the board; and
(3) complies with all other board requirements to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
(c) A registered nurse who does not have a graduate degree as required under subsection (b) shall be qualified for certification as a certified registered nurse anesthetist if that registered nurse:
(1) meets the educational requirements for certified registered nurse anesthetists that were in effect in this Commonwealth at the time the registered nurse completed a nurse anesthesia educational program;
(2) submits evidence of recertification as a certified registered nurse anesthetist from a board-recognized national certification organization which required passing of a national certifying examination in nurse anesthesia;
(3) submits an application and the required fee as established by the board; and
(4) complies with all other board requirements to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
(d) The board may issue a certification as a certified registered nurse anesthetist to a licensed registered nurse who has completed a course of study considered by the board to be equivalent to a course of study required in this Commonwealth under section 6.2 and this section at the time the course was completed, or who is licensed or certified by another state, territory or possession of the United States or a foreign country as deemed equivalent to Pennsylvania's certification requirements, and who has met all the requirements, including character, under this act.
(e) As a condition of biennial certificate renewal by the Board, a certified registered nurse anesthetist must:
(1) Verify that the nurse holds current national recertification from a board-recognized national certification organization that requires passing a national certifying examination in nurse anesthesia.
(2) Submit a renewal application to the board and the required fee as established by the board.
(3) In the two years prior to the certification renewal, complete at least thirty (30) hours of continuing education approved by the board, as required under section 12.1.
(4) Comply with all other requirements of the board.
(f) A certified registered nurse anesthetist practicing in this Commonwealth shall maintain a level of professional liability coverage as required for a nonparticipating health care provider under the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), known as the "Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act," and shall not be eligible to participate in the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Fund.
(8.8 added June 30, 2021, P.L.326, No.60)
Compiler's Note: Section 3 of Act 120 of 1981 provided that the powers granted in section 2204-A(3), (4) and (5) and section 2205-A(a) and (b) shall not be exercised by an authority after June 30, 1984. After June 30, 1984, the authority shall have power only to do those things necessary to wind-up its affairs and terminate its existence.