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School of Medicine Columbia

Admission

Our program's unique partnerships with local health systems, such as Prisma Health, allows our students to gain valuable real-world experience while completing their education. 

Students can request to study at either the Greenville campus or the Columbia campus. Attempts are made to assign students to their first choice site; however, due to seat availability there is no guarantee you'll be placed at your preferred site. 

Students admitted to the graduate program in nurse anesthesia (DNAP) are selected by an Admissions Committee composed of faculty from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, clinical coordinators, and nurse anesthesia students. Applicants must apply to the Graduate School of the University of South Carolina in order to be processed by the admissions committee.

The graduate program in nurse anesthesia (DNAP) does not accept transfer credits or issue advanced standing to any candidate for admission.

Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in nursing or an associate degree in nursing with a bachelor's degree in a basic science qualify for admission, if prerequisite courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology and chemistry are completed from an accredited college or university
  • A grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale is needed to be competitive. Competency-based nursing programs where curriculum does not generate a GPA will not qualify applicants for admission
  • Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in one of the 50 states; South Carolina licensure is required by matriculation if licensure is not a part of the Nurse Licensure Compact

  • The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for admittance into the Nurse Anesthesia Program and must be completed within the last 5 years.  A Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score of at least 305 is needed to be competitive. The GRE maybe waived for applicants who have both an overall cumulative undergraduate GPA AND a basic science GPA of 3.50 (without rounding) or higher.  Cumulative undergraduate GPA will be based on science related degrees earned (i.e. ADN, BSN, Chemistry, Biology, etc.), courses credited towards your BSN and additional courses taken after your BSN.  Basic science GPA must consist of at least six (6) hours of coursework in Anatomy and Physiology, three (3) hours of coursework in Microbiology and three (3) hours of coursework in Chemistry (no lab required).  If you have earned a master’s degree or higher, the undergraduate GPA requirement may be replaced with your graduate level degree GPA.

  • A minimum of one year (full-time) critical care nursing experience prior interviews. (Interviews will begin in December.) Current, ongoing intensive care unit experience is preferred (emergency room experience does not meet the ICU requirement)
  • Letters of recommendation from two healthcare professionals who have supervised your clinical experience
  • Current resume or curriculum vitae

Admission Timeline 

  • May 1: Application portal opens
  • August 31: Application deadline
  • October/November: Interviews for select applicants 
  • November: Notification of acceptance or decline (applicants and interviewees)
  • January–April: Position offers to alternates (as available)

Commitment to Diversity 

The University of South Carolina School of Medicine and Prisma Health are committed to providing equal consideration to all applicants regardless of race, color, ethnic and national origin, religion, sex, age or marital status. Admission is competitive. Students are chosen on the basis of their academic record, employment history and performance, character and general fitness for the study of nurse anesthesia.

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