1Amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), entitled, as
2amended, "An act relating to the practice of professional
3nursing; providing for the licensing of nurses and for the
4revocation and suspension of such licenses, subject to
5appeal, and for their reinstatement; providing for the
6renewal of such licenses; regulating nursing in general;
7prescribing penalties and repealing certain laws," providing
8for the definition of "certified registered nurse
9anesthetist" and for certified registered nurse anesthetists.

10The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11hereby enacts as follows:

12Section 1. Section 2 of act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317,
13No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, is amended by
14adding a clause to read:

15Section 2. Definitions.--When used in this act, the
16following words and phrases shall have the following meanings
17unless the context provides otherwise:

18* * *

19(16) "Certified registered nurse anesthetist" means a
20registered nurse licensed in this Commonwealth who is certified

1by the State Board of Nursing as a certified registered nurse
2anesthetist.

3Section 2. Section 3 of the act, amended May 8, 2012 
4(P.L.247, No.35), is amended to read:

5Section 3. Registered Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, 
6Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Use of Title and 
7Abbreviation ["R.N." or] "R.N.," "C.N.S." or "C.R.N.A."; 
8Credentials; Fraud.--(a) Any person who holds a license to 
9practice professional nursing in this Commonwealth, or who is 
10maintained on inactive status in accordance with section 11 of 
11this act, shall have the right to use the titles "nurse" and 
12"registered nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N." No other person 
13shall engage in the practice of professional nursing or use the 
14titles "nurse" or "registered nurse" or the abbreviation "R.N." 
15to indicate that the person using the same is a registered 
16nurse, except that the title "nurse" also may be used by a 
17person licensed under the provisions of the act of March 2, 1956 
18(1955 P.L.1211, No.376), known as the "Practical Nurse Law." No 
19person shall sell or fraudulently obtain or fraudulently furnish 
20any nursing diploma, license, record, or registration or aid or 
21abet therein.

22(b) An individual who holds a license to practice
23professional nursing in this Commonwealth who meets the
24requirements under sections 6.2 and 8.5 of this act to be a
25clinical nurse specialist shall have the right to use the title
26"clinical nurse specialist" and the abbreviation "C.N.S." No
27other person shall have that right.

28(b.1) An individual who holds a license to practice
29professional nursing in this Commonwealth who meets the
30requirements under section 8.8 of this act to be a certified

1registered nurse anesthetist shall have the right to use the
2title "certified registered nurse anesthetist" and the
3abbreviation "C.R.N.A." No other person shall have that right.

4(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a), this section shall not
5prohibit the use by a person of a descriptive title for nurse
6assistive personnel. For the purposes of this subsection, the
7term "nurse assistive personnel" shall mean an individual
8providing health care services under the supervision of a
9professional or practical nurse.

10Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:

11Section 8.8. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist;
12Qualifications.--(a) The board may certify a licensed
13registered nurse as a certified registered nurse anesthetist if
14the nurse satisfies the requirements established by this act.
15Certification of a certified registered nurse anesthetist by the
16board shall expire on the same date as the license of that nurse
17expires. Beginning on the effective date of this section, a
18nurse shall not qualify for initial certification by the board
19unless the nurse holds a master's degree, doctoral degree or
20post-master's certificate from an educational program in nurse
21anesthesia that has been approved by the board and that prepares
22graduates to practice as a certified registered nurse
23anesthetist and:

24(1) holds current national certification as a certified
25registered nurse anesthetist; and

26(2) meets all other board requirements to practice as a
27certified registered nurse anesthetist.

28(b) A registered nurse who does not have a graduate degree
29as enumerated in subsection (a) shall be qualified for
30certification as a certified registered nurse anesthetist if

1that nurse:

2(1) meets the educational requirements for certified
3registered nurse anesthetists that were in effect in this
4Commonwealth at the time the nurse completed a nurse anesthesia
5educational program; and

6(2) submits evidence of recertification as a certified
7registered nurse.

8(c) As a condition of biennial certificate renewal by the
9board, a certified registered nurse anesthetist shall:

10(1) Demonstrate that the nurse holds current national
11recertification from the appropriate national recertifying board
12as recognized by the board.

13(2) Submit a renewal application to the board.

14(3) Pay a renewal fee as set by the board.

15(4) In the two years prior to certification renewal,
16complete at least thirty (30) hours of continuing education
17approved by the board, as required by section 12.1.

18(d) For certification under this act, a licensed registered
19nurse shall file a board-prepared application with the board and
20pay a fee as established by the board by regulation.

21(e) A certified registered nurse anesthetist practicing in
22this Commonwealth shall maintain a level of professional
23liability coverage as required for a nonparticipating health
24care provider under the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13),
25known as the "Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error
26(Mcare) Act," and shall not be eligible to participate in the
27Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Fund.

28Section 4. The State Board of Nursing shall promulgate
29regulations to implement the amendment or addition of sections
302(16), 3 and 8.8 of the act within 18 months of the effective

1date of this section.

2Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.