Phillip EdwinTexas offers a focused and growing landscape for Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) education, with programs designed to meet the state’s high demand for anesthesia providers and regulated by the Texas Medical Board. Anesthesiologist Assistants are highly skilled professionals who work under the direction of licensed anesthesiologists as integral members of the anesthesia care team.
The state is home to several CAAHEP-accredited Master of Science programs, including the first program from a Texas state institution at UTHealth Houston and the established Case Western Reserve University locations. While the number of accredited programs is currently small, each provides rigorous doctoral-level training and strong career outcomes.
Top 15 Anesthesiologist Assistant Schools In Texas
1. UTHealth Houston – McGovern Medical School
UTHealth Houston offers Texas’s first Master of Science in Anesthesia program at a Texas state institution, housed under McGovern Medical School and the 21st program established in the country. The 28-month rigorous curriculum includes 100 credit hours, 900 hours of didactic and simulation-based learning, a minimum of 650 anesthesia cases, and over 2,500 clinical hours.
Students train at the nation’s busiest trauma center, Memorial Hermann Hospital – TMC, which features 48 operating rooms and one of only two Level 1 trauma centers in Houston. The program received initial CAAHEP accreditation on January 16th, 2025. The inaugural cohort of students began in August 2024, and training covers multiple subspecialties including trauma, cardiovascular, neurosurgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics.
2. Case Western Reserve University – Houston Campus
Case Western Reserve University’s Master of Science in Anesthesia Program has a long-established Houston location as part of its multi-site network. The two-year, full-time program starts in May each year, with approximately 18 students enrolled in the Houston-based program in a typical year. Students train at Memorial Hermann Health System and Texas Heart Institute, rotating at a number of regional teaching hospitals in southeast Texas. The program boasts a 99% pass rate on certification exams and nearly 100% job placement for graduates, reflecting strong career outcomes.
3. Case Western Reserve University – Austin Campus
The Austin location launched as a standalone site in 2021 with an initial class of 12 graduate students and has rapidly expanded its regional rotation sites. Approximately 16 students are enrolled in the Austin-based program in a typical year. Recently, the program expanded to include four additional seats dedicated to Lubbock-based clinical rotations at University Medical Center (UMC), offering students exposure to diverse, complex cases. The program is CAAHEP-accredited upon the recommendation of the ARC-AA.
4. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
UT Health San Antonio launched the first nurse anesthetist program in South Texas with its inaugural cohort starting in fall 2024. This three-year, full-time BSN-to-DNP program was established to address the critical demand for anesthesia services, particularly in underserved rural areas where Texas has the largest rural population of any state. The program received over 130 applicants at its first information session, highlighting strong regional interest.
5. Texas Christian University (TCU)
TCU’s Nurse Anesthesia program is a perennial top-ten program, ranking #9 in the nation according to the recent U.S. News and World Report peer assessments, marking its third consecutive year in the top 10% of the country’s 148 CRNA programs. The program is highly respected for its focus on leadership and advanced clinical practice and consistently ranks among the best in the state.
6. Baylor College of Medicine (Houston)
Baylor College of Medicine’s Nurse Anesthesia program is nationally recognized as one of the premier CRNA schools in the country, tied for #4 in a recent national ranking. The program offers two DNP tracks: one for BSN-prepared nurses and another for master’s-prepared CRNAs seeking a doctoral degree. It is highly selective, receiving around 150 applications annually and admitting only 30 students to its BSN-to-DNP track.
7. US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing (USAGPAN)
This unique program, offered in partnership with Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing, is one of the most distinctive CRNA pathways in Texas, tied for #4 in a recent national ranking. It combines advanced doctoral education with military service, providing tuition-free training and a salary while in school in exchange for a service commitment.
8. Fairfield University (Austin Campus)
Fairfield University’s Austin campus offers the only accredited DNP Nurse Anesthesia concentration in Central Texas, with its first cohort starting in a recent year. It was established to help ease the critical shortage of anesthesia providers in the region, where demand for CRNAs is projected to grow by 30.9% by 2032. The program received more than 120 applications for only 15 spots in its first cohort.
9. University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)
UTMB launched its CRNA program in a recent year, offering a BSN-to-DNP pathway for aspiring nurse anesthetists. The program stands out for its location within a leading academic medical center, providing access to a wide range of clinical experiences. UTMB is a well-established institution with a long history of excellence in healthcare education.
10. University of Texas at Tyler
UT Tyler received approval for its Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia program in a recent year. This three-year, post-baccalaureate program is designed to address the critical need for anesthesia providers in East Texas and the broader region. It features a hybrid format combining online and in-person classes and will prepare graduates for dual certification.
11. Texas Wesleyan University (Fort Worth)
Texas Wesleyan University offers the largest CRNA program in the country, operating with a hybrid learning format to accommodate a large cohort of students. This program is a significant contributor to the Texas workforce, consistently mentioned as one of the leading institutions for nurse anesthesia education in the state.
12. University of Texas at Austin – Pre-CRNA Advising
UT Austin offers pre-health advising for students interested in the CRNA career path, guiding students through the necessary steps including earning a BSN, gaining critical care experience, and applying to accredited doctoral programs. Its location in the state capital provides access to a wide range of academic and clinical resources.
13. Texas A&M University – Pre-CRNA Advising
Texas A&M University provides a pre-CRNA pathway for undergraduate students through its pre-professional advising program. Students can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and receive guidance on the prerequisites and competitive application process for CRNA programs, with advisors emphasizing the importance of a strong GPA and significant critical care experience.
14. University of North Texas – Pre-CRNA Advising
UNT provides pre-health advising for students planning a career as a CRNA, offering the prerequisite courses needed for a BSN and guidance on competitive application strategies. Students are advised to gain significant critical care experience and maintain a high GPA to be competitive for the limited number of spots in CRNA doctoral programs.
15. University of Houston – Pre-CRNA Advising
The University of Houston provides pre-health advising for students interested in the CRNA career path, helping students plan their undergraduate coursework to meet the prerequisites for BSN programs. Students are advised to focus on strong academic performance and clinical experience to build competitive applications.
Comparison Table
| No | School Name | Location | Program Type | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UTHealth Houston | Houston | Master of Science in Anesthesia | First Texas state institution program, CAAHEP accredited, 28‑month curriculum |
| 2 | Case Western Reserve – Houston | Houston | Master of Science in Anesthesia | Established program, ~18 students/cohort, 99% exam pass rate |
| 3 | Case Western Reserve – Austin | Austin | Master of Science in Anesthesia | Launched Just Recently, Lubbock clinical rotations available |
| 4 | UT Health San Antonio | San Antonio | BSN‑to‑DNP | First South Texas program, rural focus |
| 5 | Texas Christian University | Fort Worth | Doctoral | #9 nationally, top 10% of CRNA programs |
| 6 | Baylor College of Medicine | Houston | DNP (BSN‑to‑DNP and MSN‑to‑DNP) | #4 nationally, 100% exam pass rate |
| 7 | US Army Graduate Program | Fort Sam Houston | DNP (Military Partnership) | #4 nationally, tuition‑free military program |
| 8 | Fairfield University | Austin | DNP | Only Central Texas program, Just Recently 3.7 avg GPA |
| 9 | UTMB Galveston | Galveston | BSN‑to‑DNP | Leading academic medical center |
| 10 | UT Tyler | Tyler | DNP (Post‑Baccalaureate) | East Texas focus, dual certification option |
| 11 | Texas Wesleyan University | Fort Worth | Hybrid Doctoral | Largest CRNA program in the country |
| 12 | UT Austin | Austin | Pre‑CRNA Advising | Undergraduate preparation pathway |
| 13 | Texas A&M University | College Station | Pre‑CRNA Advising | Undergraduate preparation pathway |
| 14 | University of North Texas | Denton | Pre‑CRNA Advising | Undergraduate preparation pathway |
| 15 | University of Houston | Houston | Pre‑CRNA Advising | Undergraduate preparation pathway |
Success Tips for Applying to Anesthesiologist Assistant Programs
Start by ensuring the program you apply to is CAAHEP-accredited, as Texas law requires graduation from an accredited program for TMB-issued certification.
Most programs require a bachelor’s degree and completion of the MCAT or GRE.
Gain significant patient care experience through shadowing or clinical work, as the field is highly competitive with strong academic credentials and healthcare exposure being essential.
Apply early; Case Western Reserve offers an early decision deadline of October 1st and a regular decision deadline of January 15th.
For CRNA programs, earn a BSN and gain a minimum of one year of critical care experience in an ICU setting, though many accepted applicants have an average of 2.9 years of ICU experience.
Finally, achieve a strong undergraduate GPA, as many programs have high standards; Fairfield’s Austin cohort had an average GPA of 3.7.
Closing
Texas offers a growing and well-structured landscape for Anesthesiologist Assistant education, anchored by the newly accredited UTHealth Houston program and the established Case Western Reserve University campuses in Austin and Houston. While the number of CAAHEP-accredited AA programs currently operating in Texas is limited, the state also has a strong network of CRNA programs and pre-health advising pathways.
The field remains highly competitive, requiring strong academic credentials, competitive standardized test scores, and meaningful clinical experience. Aspiring students should work closely with health professions advisors, apply early, and ensure they meet all Texas Medical Board licensing requirements. Note that all information, including program accreditation status and admission requirements, is subject to change, so it is essential to verify current details directly with each institution.