Western Carolina University - Benefits and Expenses

WCU is a University of North Carolina Campus

Benefits and Expenses

Students attend classes on the WCU Enka campus, located minutes from downtown Asheville, and gain experience in the professional atmosphere of the regional referral medical center for Western North Carolina. Clinical experience is received at Mission Medical Center and numerous clinical affiliates. Students enrolled in the program have access to resources and libraries at MAHEC and WCU. Other benefits include:

Small class size and low student-to-faculty ratio ensure individualized attention
A variety of clinical training sites with no competition from other anesthesia learners means more case opportunities for WCU Nurse Anesthesia students
WCU Nurse Anesthesia program clinical sites provide many opportunities to learn a variety of regional anesthesia techniques
State of the art anesthesia patient simulator allows critical skills learning in a safe and controlled environment
Fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
Most of all…Western Carolina University Nurse Anesthesia faculty are dedicated to your success!

Financial assistance is available in the form of loans and possibly government traineeship grants. Scholarships are limited in number and are awarded on the basis of need. Veterans’ benefits may be applied for eligible students. Students needing financial assistance must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/). The WCU financial aid office can help students explore financing options (WCU Financial Aid Office).

Students in the program must pay for a professional liability policy. During orientation the student applies and pays for coverage through the AANA student insurance program.

Student Expenses

Approximate tuition and fees for full-time enrollment (subject to annual increases):

FULL-TIME NURSE ANESTHESIA GRADUATE STUDENT

NC RESIDENT TUITION AND FEES

OUT-OF STATE RESIDENT TUITION AND FEES

Each Fall, Spring semester (9 hours or more) $3695.75* $8488.25*

Summer semester per credit charge $226.30/credit hour $261.30/credit hour

Total Program $21,873.25* $46,360.50*

*A tuition surcharge for anesthesia students is included in Total Program cost above. Tuition rates may change
during the course of the program

Other Fees
       Application Fee:   $45.00
       Graduation Fee:   $30.00
       Late Registration Fee:  $10.00

In addition to the standard university tuition and fees, Nurse Anesthesia students will be responsible for the following fees/expenses:

1. Self Evaluation Examination Fee: All nurse anesthesia students must take the
Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists Self-Evaluation Examination in Year 2.
The student fee is currently $125.00.

2. Associate Membership in the AANA: Payable to the AANA. Current fee is $100.00.

3. Required textbooks and supplies. Approximate costs:
(a) Textbooks: $1800.00
(b) Stethoscope: $100.00
(c) Earpiece: $95.00
(d) Lab Coat: $40.00
(e) Precordial stethoscope: $20.00
(f) PDA: variable

4. Transportation costs and meals: While on clinical rotation.

5. The cost of one state or national meeting during the 28-month program.

6. Certification Examination: All students must take the Council on Certification Examination,
payable to the Council prior to graduation. The current fee is $725.00.

7. ACLS, PALS, BCLS recertification fees.

8. Anesthesia ear piece for continuous patient monitoring ($75).

9. Professional Liability Insurance through AANA Insurance Services: Current standard annual
premium is approximately $274.00 (coverage limits $1 million per incident/$3 million aggregate).

10. The student should have at least two standard length white lab coats.

11. Health insurance: Provided through student health services. The student must apply for a waiver
of the $298 fee if the student has their own coverage.

12. Background check: currently $25.00.

13. Medatrax case record tracking system: currently $7.50 per month.

14. Review Course: The student will be required to pay for the NARC4U review course in
their senior year. The current cost is $500.00.

Students accepted into the program are required to be computer literate and have access to a PC or MAC laptop computer with high-speed Internet transmission.

A complete medical examination record is required of all students entering the University. All students are required to have the following current immunizations: diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccination, measles, mumps, rubella (“MMR”) vaccination, and polio vaccination. Evidence of the immunizations must be in the student’s records at the time of registration. In addition to the immunizations required by WCU, the Nurse Anesthesia Program will require current tuberculin skin testing (“PPD”) and a hepatitis B series (or statement refusing the series). Some clinical sites may require proof of immunization.

In addition to the above expenses, the student should also consider housing, meals, transportation and loss of income during the educational period.

(All expenses quoted on this page are subject to change without notice.)

FULL-TIME NURSE ANESTHESIA GRADUATE STUDENT	NC RESIDENT TUITION AND FEES	OUT-OF STATE RESIDENT TUITION AND FEES
Each Fall, Spring semester (9 hours or more)	$3695.75*	$8488.25*
Summer semester per credit charge	$226.30/credit hour	$261.30/credit hour
Total Program	$21,873.25*	$46,360.50*