Education Guide

DNP vs DNAP: Does the Degree Type Matter?

Both lead to the same credential (CRNA), the same NCE exam, and the same career. But the curriculum emphasis differs. Here's what you need to know — and the honest answer to whether it actually matters.

Sources: COA program data, AANA position statements, AACN doctoral framework·Verified April 2026·10 min read

The Bottom Line (Upfront)

For employment and salary: it doesn't matter. Employers hire CRNAs, not DNPs or DNAPs. Your credential is CRNA regardless of which doctoral degree you hold. No hospital, surgery center, or staffing agency will pay you more or less based on whether your degree says DNP or DNAP.

The choice matters for your educational experience — what you study beyond clinical anesthesia, and how your scholarly project is framed. If you care about that, read on. If not, pick the program with the best NCE pass rate, clinical sites, and location for you.

Factor	DNP	DNAP
Full Name	Doctor of Nursing Practice	Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
Focus	Broad nursing leadership + anesthesia clinical	Anesthesia-specific clinical + research
Curriculum Emphasis	Systems leadership, health policy, EBP, quality improvement + anesthesia	Advanced anesthesia science, pharmacology, physiology + scholarly project
Scholarly Project	DNP project (typically QI or EBP implementation)	Doctoral scholarly project or thesis (may be more research-oriented)
Programs Offering	Majority of CRNA programs (~100+)	Growing number (~30+)
Accrediting Body	COA + CCNE or ACEN (nursing accreditation)	COA (anesthesia-specific accreditation)
Program Length	36-42 months	36-42 months
NCE Eligibility	Yes — identical	Yes — identical
Credential After Passing	CRNA (same credential)	CRNA (same credential)
Employer Preference	No preference — CRNA credential is what matters	No preference — CRNA credential is what matters
Salary Impact	None — salary based on CRNA credential, not degree type	None — salary based on CRNA credential, not degree type
Academic Career Path	Accepted for faculty positions	Accepted for faculty positions, may align better with anesthesia-focused research
Leadership Preparation	Stronger in systems leadership, policy, and organizational change	Stronger in anesthesia science and clinical expertise

When It Might Matter

Choose DNP if you...

Want to pursue healthcare administration or policy leadership
Are interested in quality improvement and systems-level change
May want to teach in a non-anesthesia nursing program someday
Value the broader nursing science perspective
Your target program only offers DNP (most programs do)

Choose DNAP if you...

Want maximum anesthesia-focused education
Are interested in anesthesia research or academia
Prefer a curriculum that minimizes non-clinical coursework
Want your scholarly project focused on anesthesia science
Value the DNAP's identity as an anesthesia-specific degree

What About the Doctoral Requirement?

Since 2022, all new CRNA graduates must hold a doctoral degree (DNP or DNAP). CRNAs who graduated before this requirement with a master's degree are grandfathered — they don't need to go back for a doctoral degree. Their CRNA credential is identical and their practice rights are unchanged.

If you're a practicing CRNA with a master's considering a post-master's DNP or DNAP: it's optional. It won't change your salary, your practice authority, or your employability. Consider it if you want an academic or leadership role that specifically requires a doctoral degree — otherwise, your time and money are better invested elsewhere.

Related Resources

Continue Your Journey

Stage 2

Programs by Degree Type

Browse the 157 COA-accredited programs filtered by DNP, DNAP, or completion track.

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Stage 2

Application Timeline

Once you've picked a degree path, this is the 18-month roadmap from prerequisites to program start.

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Stage 3

NCE Exam Prep

Both DNP and DNAP grads sit for the same NCE. Here's how to pass it on the first attempt.

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