Georgia CRNA License 2026: GBON APRN-CRNA Process, Restricted Practice, Timeline & Atlanta Considerations

Georgia is a supervision-required state for CRNAs — anesthesia must be administered under the supervision of a physician (anesthesiologist, surgeon, or other licensed physician). Georgia did NOT opt out of the federal CMS supervision rule, so the supervision requirement applies in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.

This guide covers the GBON APRN-CRNA endorsement process, supervision rules, and the Atlanta / Augusta / Savannah anesthesia landscape.

Step 0: Hold an active Georgia RN license

CRNA licensure requires an active GA RN license as a prerequisite. NLC privilege from another compact state covers the RN side if Georgia is not your primary residence. See our Georgia RN License by Endorsement guide.

Standard GBON APRN-CRNA endorsement

1. Confirm active Georgia RN license
2. Apply through sos.ga.gov for APRN-CRNA endorsement
3. $75 fee
4. Submit NBCRNA certification verification (Initial Certificate or CPC)
5. Submit MSN, DNAP, or DNP transcripts (sent directly from school)
6. Disclose prior board action or felony history
7. Apply for Georgia Controlled Substance License + DEA registration in parallel
8. Wait for GBON review (6-8 weeks for APRN-CRNA, 8-12 weeks total when bundled with RN endorsement + CSL/DEA)

Supervised practice — what this means in GA

• CRNAs in Georgia administer anesthesia under physician supervision in hospital and ambulatory surgery center settings.
• The supervising physician does not need to be an anesthesiologist — surgeons and other physicians may supervise CRNAs.
• The supervising physician is not required to be physically present in the operating room, but must be reasonably available.
• CRNAs may administer general, regional, MAC, and labor analgesia within the supervised scope.
• Reimbursement: Georgia Medicaid and most commercial payers reimburse CRNAs at 85% of physician fee schedule when billed independently; 100% when billed as a care team service.

Atlanta + Augusta + Savannah anesthesia landscape

• Emory Healthcare (Atlanta): 60-90 day APP credentialing; CRNA-heavy at Emory University Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown
• Piedmont Healthcare (Atlanta + statewide): 45-75 days; mixed MD-CRNA anesthesia care teams across system
• Wellstar Health System (Atlanta + N. Georgia): 45-60 days; growing CRNA footprint in suburban hospitals
• Northside Hospital (Atlanta): 45-60 days; high OB anesthesia volume — Northside delivers more babies than any single hospital in the U.S.
• Augusta University Medical Center: 60-90 days academic credentialing
• Memorial Health (Savannah): 45-60 days regional anchor
• VA Atlanta / VA Augusta: federal CRNA full-practice authority bypasses GA supervision rule

Compensation reference (2026)

Renewal

• Biennial renewal (paired with RN cycle, January 31 of even years)
• APRN-CRNA renewal fee: $75
• Maintain NBCRNA certification (CPC every 4 years)
• 30 hours CE per renewal cycle (advanced pharmacology hours required)
• Mandatory: human trafficking training (one-time, paired with RN renewal)

What we see at Ava Health

Georgia CRNA placements average 10.4 weeks from offer to first day. Atlanta-metro academic and community systems are highly competitive — most CRNA roles in central Atlanta are filled within 30-45 days of posting. Rural and Critical Access roles in southern and northern Georgia offer the largest sign-on bonuses ($30-60K) and aggressive housing assistance, with effective comp meaningfully above Atlanta-metro median.

For CRNAs considering GA: Atlanta is one of the most competitive CRNA markets in the South, with strong comp and large CRNA practice groups. Northside's OB anesthesia volume is unmatched if labor analgesia is your interest. The VA system in Atlanta and Augusta offers federal full-practice authority that bypasses the state supervision rule.

Related: Georgia RN License by Endorsement, Georgia NP License by Endorsement, Illinois CRNA License, CRNA Salary Deep-Dive.