Upholding CRNA Excellence, Embracing Lifelong Learning

MAC Overview

The Maintaining Anesthesia Certification (MAC) Program reflects CRNAs' commitment to continuous improvement in safe, quality patient care. MAC features a streamlined four-year timeline with three key components: 

MAC Check (replaces CPCA)

Solidify core knowledge through a self-paced, dynamic platform.

MAC Check Overview →

MAC Ed (60 Class A Credits)

Earn continuing education credits via online courses and workshops.

MAC Ed Overview →

MAC Dev (40 Class B Credits)

Foster professional development through activities tailored to CRNAs.

MAC Dev Overview →

Core Modules are no longer required in the MAC program!

MAC Program Eligibility

The NBCRNA will provide personalized transition details based on individual certification timelines. We are asking CRNAs to view their personalized timeline by logging into the NBCRNA portal, portal.nbcrna.com.

MAC Eligibility Rationale

Current CRNA certification establishes prior achievement of initial certification requirements.
Unrestricted licensure for Full MAC Compliance addresses authority to practice.
Practice requirements support continued engagement through the eligible clinical, administrative, educational, and research roles already recognized in the handbook.
Attestations and documentation support accurate reporting and review of concerns relevant to safe and ethical practice.
Assessed continuing education, professional development, and MAC Check support knowledge updates, identification of learning needs, and targeted remediation.

MAC Certification Rationale

NBCRNA uses a four-year certification period to balance regular verification of continued qualifications with sufficient time for learning, application of new knowledge, and improvement as anesthesia practice evolves. The period allows completion of assessed continuing education, professional development, repeated knowledge assessment, and targeted remediation before renewal. Quarterly MAC Check participation and the Two-Year Check-In provide assessment and verification during the cycle. The four-year renewal point brings these activities together in a recurring review of compliance that supports continuing competence, patient safety, and the continued value of the CRNA credential.

MAC Ed and MAC Dev Credit Requirements

NBCRNA requires 100 credits during each four-year certification cycle: a minimum of 60 MAC Ed credits and 40 MAC Dev credits. The 60-credit MAC Ed minimum ensures that the majority of required professional development consists of structured, prior-approved, assessed continuing education relevant to nurse anesthesia practice. The remaining 40 MAC Dev credits recognize broader professional learning and development activities that enhance anesthesia knowledge, patient safety, or understanding of the healthcare environment. Excess MAC Ed credits may satisfy the MAC Dev requirement, but MAC Dev credits cannot replace the 60-credit MAC Ed minimum. This 60/40 structure balances a substantive requirement for formal assessed education with flexibility to recognize the diverse ways CRNAs maintain and develop competence across practice, education, research, and administration. The requirements are completed over four years, representing an average of 25 credits of continuing professional development annually, and were carried forward from the CPC Program into MAC to maintain continuity in NBCRNA’s continuing certification expectations.

What is Changing?

We listened to your feedback about the CPC Program and created the MAC Program to address these concerns through ongoing collaboration with CRNAs, including a one-year research study to test the new MAC Check format.

MAC Comparison

The Value of MAC

MAC simplifies your lifelong learning with consistency, flexibility, and a streamlined process, integrating all components into one clear program.

Join CRNAs who participated in the Longitudinal Assessment Research Study and are praising MAC Check, the updated assessment component replacing the CPCA:

"I liked that it was divided over multiple quarters. It was nice to pick when to take the assessment.”

“The flexibility allowed me to make sure I had a good night’s rest and had ample time to complete questions."

"I found this continuous experience to be useful in my practice. Having a longitudinal assessment rather than once every four years I feel would support my practice and knowledge base to a greater degree."

"I enjoyed being able to take the assessments on my own time."

"This process was very well designed. It was self-intuitive and easy to navigate. The questions were thought provoking and practice relevant. A great process."

"Reviewing missed questions from previous quarters truly promoted learning. It also boosted confidence when I recognized a previously missed question and then answered correctly."

As always, your certification is with you wherever you are. MAC complies with Advanced Practice Registered Nurse regulatory standards across all state Boards of Nursing – allowing for seamless practice by CRNAs.