Conferences & networking
Conferences & networking
Conferences are an underrated way to learn the field and meet the people who decide admissions — faculty, CRNAs, and program reps. Below are the national events, sorted by date, plus a quick way to find your own state association's meeting.
Every state has an AANA component association that holds its own annual meeting — usually the easiest, lowest-cost way to network locally and meet nearby program faculty.
Opens a search for that state's component association — confirm dates on the official site.
National events
August 20–26, 2026Confirmed
Boston, MA
The largest nurse-anesthesia meeting of the year — continuing education, exhibits, and the best networking in the field. A great place to meet CRNAs, faculty, and program reps.
Official page & current dates →Spring 2027 (dates TBA — registration opens Dec 2026)
Washington, D.C.
The profession's advocacy event — CRNAs and SRNAs meet with legislators on scope-of-practice and access issues. A strong signal of professional engagement on an application.
Official page & current dates →2027 (dates TBA)
To be announced
The following year's national congress. Worth putting on your radar early if Congress 2026 falls outside your timeline.
Official page & current dates →Typically winter (dates TBA)
Varies
Primarily for nurse-anesthesia educators and program faculty. Useful context on what programs value, and occasionally open sessions for prospective students.
Official page & current dates →- Go to your state association meeting first — cheaper, closer, and the people are local to your programs.
- Have a 20-second intro ready: who you are, your ICU, and what you're looking for.
- Ask program reps real questions — what makes an applicant stand out, what they wish more applicants knew.
- Follow up within a few days with a short, specific thank-you.
Dates and locations change each year — always confirm on the official event site before making plans. Events marked “Confirmed” were verified against AANA at time of writing.