Free Study GuidePractice questions, flashcards, and related resources

Free CRNA (NCE) Exam Prep

National Certification Examination for Nurse Anesthetists

Prepare for the CRNA (NCE) exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, flashcards, and related exam resources.

Same family resources

Explore More NBCRNA Nurse Anesthesia Certifications

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Your Study Path

CRNA NBCRNA Nurse Anesthesia Certifications License: Complete Roadmap

Follow this path to organize your licensing and exam preparation

1

Phase 1You are here

Rebuild core science depth used across high-level clinical questions.

55
hours
2

Phase 2

Master principles/equipment domains and safety-critical concepts.

70
hours
3

Phase 3

Drill population-specific and procedure-specific anesthesia scenarios.

80
hours
4

Phase 4

Run adaptive mixed sets to optimize decision speed and endurance.

45
hours
Estimated total study time
250 hours
That's about 25 weeks at 10 hours/week

Can You Take the CRNA (NCE) Exam?

Check if you meet the basic eligibility requirements

Age
Education
Graduate from a COA-accredited nurse anesthesia educational program
Experience
Meet all NBCRNA program-completion verification requirements before authorization
Additional Requirements
  • Current unrestricted RN license is required
  • NCE must be passed within 2 years of official program completion
  • Maximum of 4 NCE attempts within that 2-year period

CRNA (NCE) Quick Facts

Time to Get Licensed

12-20 weeks for most candidates

From start to license in hand

Exam Provider

Pearson VUE

In-Person Only
Schedule Your Exam

Retake Policy

Candidates may take the NCE up to four times within two years after official program completion; each retake requires a separate fee and approval.

Total Cost Breakdown

Exam Fee$1,310 initial NCE fee
Total Estimated Cost$1,310 initial; $1,150 per additional attempt
Why Choose Us

Free CRNA (NCE) Prep Tools

Reported exam pass rate: 90.5% first-time pass rate in calendar year 2025 (NBCRNA NCE annual report).. Check the exam sponsor for the latest official figure.

320 Practice Questions

Adaptive-style CRNA board prep spanning all four official NCE content areas.

AI-Powered Learning

Get detailed rationale support for anesthesia decision pathways and pitfalls.

2026 Updated

Aligned to current NBCRNA NCE blueprint, timing, and policy requirements.

Free Access

Start NCE prep free before purchasing premium review resources.

Compare:
Kaplan $300+Achievable $200+OpenExamPrep $0

What You'll Study

29 chapters covering the exam topics in this guide

1

Chapter 1: Cardiovascular, Respiratory & CNS Physiology & Pathophysiology

3 sections

2

Chapter 2: Hepatorenal, Endocrine & Hematologic/Immune Systems

3 sections

3

Chapter 3: Anesthetic Pharmacology: Inhalation Agents, Intravenous Anesthetics & Sedatives

3 sections

4

Chapter 4: Anesthetic Pharmacology: Neuromuscular Blockers, Local Anesthetics & Physics

3 sections

5

Chapter 5: Anesthesia Delivery Systems & Gas Supplies

3 sections

6

Chapter 6: Breathing Circuits, CO2 Absorption & Ventilators

3 sections

7

Chapter 7: Airway Equipment & Advanced Airway Instrumentation

3 sections

8

Chapter 8: Patient Monitoring, Hemodynamics & Electrosurgical Safety

3 sections

9

Chapter 9: Preoperative Assessment, Risk Stratification & Preparation

3 sections

10

Chapter 10: Fluid Management, Blood Component Therapy & Coagulation Monitoring

3 sections

11

Chapter 11: Airway Management Strategies & Difficult Airway Algorithms

3 sections

12

Chapter 12: General Anesthesia: Induction, Maintenance, Emergence & TIVA

3 sections

13

Chapter 13: Regional Anesthesia: Neuraxial Blocks

3 sections

14

Chapter 14: Regional Anesthesia: Peripheral Nerve Blocks & Ultrasound Guidance

3 sections

15

Chapter 15: Perioperative Safety, Positioning, PACU, Ethics & Professional Practice

4 sections

16

Chapter 16: Obstetric & Gynecologic Anesthesia

4 sections

17

Chapter 17: Pediatric Anesthesia

3 sections

18

Chapter 18: Geriatric, Bariatric & Ambulatory Anesthesia

3 sections

19

Chapter 19: Cardiac, Vascular & Thoracic Anesthesia

3 sections

20

Chapter 20: Neurosurgical, Intra-Abdominal, Extrathoracic, Head/Neck & Trauma Anesthesia

3 sections

21

Chapter 21: Neurologic, Gastrointestinal & Substance-Related Pathophysiology and Pharmacology

3 sections

22

Chapter 22: Imaging Safety, Patient Warming & Infusion Technology

2 sections

23

Chapter 23: Pain Medicine: Theory, Chronic Pain & Interventional Procedures

3 sections

24

Chapter 24: Professional Practice: Research Ethics, Error Disclosure & Provider Infection Control

3 sections

25

Chapter 25: Neurosurgical Subspecialty Procedures

4 sections

26

Chapter 26: Head, Neck, Nasal, Dental & Ophthalmic Anesthesia

3 sections

27

Chapter 27: Orthopedic & Extremity Anesthesia

2 sections

28

Chapter 28: Non-Operating-Room Anesthesia: Interventional, Imaging & Radiation Therapy

2 sections

29

Chapter 29: Special Populations: Substance Use Disorder, Immunocompromised & Oncology Patients

2 sections

CRNA (NCE) Exam Details

National Certification Examination for Nurse Anesthetists

Administered by NBCRNA (National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists)

Official Source
CAT ability estimate at or above NBCRNA passing standard (no public percent cut score)
Passing Score
100-170
Questions
3
Hours
$1,310 NCE fee (2026); $1,150 retake fee
Exam Fee
Study time: 180-280 hours
Prerequisites: Complete an accredited nurse anesthesia program and hold current unrestricted RN licensure as required by NBCRNA.
Valid for: Credential renewal every 4 years under NBCRNA CPC/MAC requirements

Exam Content Breakdown

Based on the official NBCRNA (National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists) content outline

Basic Sciences20%

Core physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and foundational science.

Equipment, Instrumentation and Technology20%

Monitoring, anesthesia equipment, safety systems, and technology use.

General Principles of Anesthesia35%

Pre-op through post-op anesthesia management and core clinical principles.

Anesthesia for Surgical Procedures and Special Populations25%

Procedure-specific and population-specific anesthesia care decisions.

What's Included

29 Chapters

Complete exam coverage

Practice Quizzes

With detailed explanations

Free to Start

No credit card required

Ran Chen - AI Engineer, CFP®
CFP®
Why It's Free

Quality Exam Prep Shouldn't Cost Hundreds

I'm Ran Chen, an engineer with 20+ years of coding experience. I passed my Life Insurance license, EA exam, SIE, Series 6, 63, 65, and finally the CFP® exam.

Through all these exams, one thing became clear: exam prep is expensive. But with AI, we can change that. Quality preparation can now be free for everyone.

About Ran Chen

What's Next After the CRNA (NCE)?

After passing the CRNA (NCE), you can pursue these career paths

NBCRNA CPC/MAC

Maintain CRNA credential through ongoing certification requirements.

Subspecialty Practice

Advance into cardiac, obstetric, pediatric, or trauma-focused anesthesia roles.

Coming Soon

Clinical Leadership

Move into CRNA lead, educator, or program leadership pathways.

Coming Soon

CRNA (NCE) Exam FAQ

Official NBCRNA (National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists) Resources

Verify information with these official sources

More Free Resources

Loading...
No Credit Card Required

Ready to Start Your Free CRNA (NCE) Prep?

Review the study guide, practice key concepts, and use the free tools at your own pace.