Nurse Anesthetist Program

The school is authorized by the president of the Regional Council of Normandy to welcome a class of 17 students.

The school is run by a director, approved by the president of the Normandy Region . She has the authority to grant approvals and authorizations for the school to operate.

The General Directorate of the Regional Health Agency monitors the quality of training and the management of competitions and examinations.

AFNOR certifies that the University Hospital of CAEN has been deemed to comply with the requirements for carrying out training activities.

Certificate No. 2022/98983.1

Order of 23 July 2012 relating to the training leading to the State Diploma of Nurse Anesthetist, amended by the order of 17 January 2017

Decree No. 2017-316 of 10 March 2017 relating to nursing acts falling within the competence of state-certified nurse anesthetists 

Decree No. 2014-1511 of 15 December 2014 relating to health diplomas conferring the degree of Master

The purpose of the training framework for nurse anesthetists is to professionalize the training pathway so that the student progressively builds the elements of the skills expected for the practice of the profession.

The student is led to become an autonomous, responsible and reflective practitioner, that is to say a professional capable of analyzing any health situation, making decisions within the limits of his role, and carrying out interventions alone and in collaboration with the anesthesiologist-resuscitator in the field of anesthesia, resuscitation, and emergency medicine.

The student develops theoretical and methodological knowledge, practical skills, and interpersonal abilities. They expand their knowledge, develop their skills, and enrich their career plan.

The student develops their critical thinking and questioning skills, conducts reflection in the field of ethics, safety, quality and professional responsibility and gradually acquires the autonomy necessary to take up the role of nurse anesthetist.

Trained in clinical reasoning and critical thinking, the professionals are competent, able to integrate new knowledge more quickly and adapt to complex situations in the field of anesthesia, resuscitation and emergency medicine.

RNCP record

The aim of the training is to train an anesthetist nurse, that is to say, a responsible and autonomous nurse, particularly competent in the field of anesthesia care, this field including the pre, peri and post-intervention periods and emergency and resuscitation care.

In accordance with the law of February 11, 2005 for equal rights and opportunities, participation and citizenship of disabled persons, the principles of non-discrimination and accessibility are applied to training.

A disability liaison officer is connected to all programs on the paramedical campus of the Caen University Hospital. Students with disabilities can contact her at: pfp-sec-dir@chu-caen.fr

Points to be aware of: 

There is no obligation for the student to disclose their disability status to their training structure, whether at the time of the competition or during their studies.

The disability status of a candidate or student is confidential, even if it may be subject to a secret shared between professionals in the training structure.

Training funded either by healthcare facilities, by OPCOs , or by Pôle Emploi…

Before entering the Nurse Anesthetist program at the paramedical campus, you must absolutely ensure the financing of your training and your resources during the duration of your training.

Prices :

The educational cost amounts to:

• Personal financing: €8,200 per year
• Employer or OPCO : €9,000 per year

• Theoretical training and guided work time of 36 weeks spread over each semester in several fields: humanities, physical sciences, fundamentals of anesthesia, practice of the profession of IADE …
• A 58-week clinical training program : internships are divided into alternating periods from the 1st year in all areas of activity of the IADE over periods of 6 to 3 weeks.
• Annual leave of up to 25 working days, the dates of which are determined by the school management.

Educational Project

Start : Working day of week 40 of year N
End : End of September of year N+2

Alternating 23-25

Alternating 24-25

The Nurse Anesthetist program at the Caen Normandy University Hospital's paramedical campus offers numerous simulated activities within the NORSIMS Health Simulation Center . These are mainly divided into two types:

• procedural simulation, which consists of learning and repeating a specific procedure;
• High-fidelity simulation, which consists of using a high-fidelity mannequin to recreate emergency situations in a reconstituted work environment (operating room, recovery room, outpatient setting) .

Nursing students at the Caen Normandy University Hospital (CHU de Caen Normandie) have the opportunity to develop research in healthcare. Many of them are pursuing research inspired by biomedical sciences. This method most often involves developing a research protocol validated by the ethics committee, within the framework of a Hospital-Based Nursing and Paramedical Research Program.

The training is provided by health professionals who are State-Certified Nurse Anesthetists, who have varied professional experience and university qualifications: University Diplomas, Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees.

Permanent instructors work in collaboration with university professors and field professionals. Since 2013, students have benefited from a university digital platform that allows them to access educational content remotely.

lists of participants 

Student support is structured around the reflective analysis of learning situations, enabling the implementation of transferable and therefore integrated skills.

By combining reflective practice with practice analysis, the student nurse anesthetist ( IADE) questions themselves and works towards the co-construction of meaning given to practice and/or the improvement of professional techniques. The training supervisors therefore seek to mobilize the student's analytical, self-assessment, and constructive criticism skills.

Support is both individual and collective for the professional research dissertation and begins in the 1st ^year of Master's.

Academic support is provided throughout the program by the teaching team. Each student benefits from at least one internship placement during semesters 2 and 3 of the program.

During the training, educational support is also provided individually and collectively. These sessions can be organized regularly according to the training stages and at the request of the student or the assigned trainer.

Validation of the training is based on a system of continuous assessment. Each validated teaching unit and each internship is valued by one or more European Credits ( ECTS ):

• 30 ECTS credits for teaching units per year of training,
• 30 ECTS credits for practical training through internships per year of training.

Assessment methods: Individual or group

Online assignment submissions, in-class assignments, oral presentations (in groups or individually) of work, simulated situations, clinical situation analysis assignments.

The Nurse Anesthetist program, the nurse anesthetist school, is part of a paramedical campus that includes:

• Initial training programs : nurse, ambulance driver, nursing assistant, medical radiographer
• Specialty training programs : operating room nurse, pediatric nurse
• the training of healthcare managers
• Medical training : medicine, pharmacy, midwifery, speech therapy

Bringing these courses together on a single site allows for the development of shared and innovative educational activities: multi-professional teaching and internships.

The building is accessible to people with disabilities. A disability liaison officer is in contact with all programs on the paramedical campus. Students concerned can contact her through the school's administrative office.

The internships take place in sectors approved by the school and are mainly held at the University Hospital of Caen and in hospitals in the region by agreement.

At the request of a student, an internship in another establishment may be accepted if it meets the criteria for a "qualifying" internship defined by the school according to the recommendations of the training framework.

Each internship is recognized as qualifying through the implementation of a welcome booklet specifying the training offer (currently being developed in the institutions) and an internship agreement.

The internship program comprises 34 weeks of mandatory courses (see training framework, Appendix III of the decree of July 23, 2012). For the remaining 24 weeks:

• 8 weeks will be at the student's choice: optional internship corresponding to the student's project and the requirements of the training: qualifying internship.
• 16 weeks will be allocated at the discretion of the teaching team. For students whose professional background includes little or no experience:
  • In intensive care, the teaching team will be able to organize a 3 or 4 week internship in this discipline as part of their practical training program;
  • In the PACU, a one-week internship (as part of the pain management internship: a mandatory course) may also be offered by the teaching team

The student is placed under the direct responsibility of an anesthesiologist-resuscitator, a training supervisor, a tutor or a nurse anesthetist supervisor or any other medical or paramedical professional for internships outside operating rooms.

lists of internship sites

The State Diploma is obtained by acquiring the 120 ECTS credits corresponding to the acquisition of the 7 skills outlined in the competency framework. Validation of these modules is certified by a Semester Examining Board.

The Regional Directorate for the Economy, Employment, Labour and Solidarity ( DREETS ) is responsible for the certification of the State Diploma.

In accordance with the decree of September 23, 2014, concerning the creation of a "Diploma Supplement ," students receive, upon completion of their training, a Master's degree awarded by the University of Caen. They also benefit from a "State Diploma Supplement for Nurse Anesthetists," which " aims to provide independent and sufficient data to improve international transparency and the equitable academic and professional recognition of qualifications (diplomas, university achievements, certificates, etc.)."

The nurse anesthetist works primarily in the operating room but also in the recovery room and in emergency departments. He or she is involved in certain types of transport ( SAMU / SMUR ) .

He or she can progress to the role of healthcare manager after 4 years of professional experience.

The school in Caen is approved for 17 students. It is registered with DATADOCK number 6361 and certified by QUALIOPI number 2022/98983.1.

The stated admission conditions comply with the decree of July 23, 2012 relating to the training leading to the State Diploma of Nurse Anesthetist.

The candidate must demonstrate a minimum of 2 years of full-time equivalent experience in the nursing profession by January 1st ^of the year of the competition.

Admission to the training program is by competitive examination after submitting an online application via the Caen Normandy University Hospital's competitive examination :

• Registration opens: Monday, November 10, 2025
• Registration closes: Friday, January 23, 2026, 5 p.m. (postmark date will be considered)
• Written qualifying exam: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
• Oral admission exam: Tuesday, March 31st and Wednesday, April 1st, 2025
• Back to school: Week 40

All supporting documents must be provided complete and unstapled before January 23, 2026 inclusive (postmark date will be considered proof) .

The competition fee is 100 euros.

The application must be submitted to the reception desk of the Health Training and Research Center or placed in the mailbox located at the entrance of the building at the following address:
PFRS , 2 rue des Rochambelles, 14000 Caen
, or by mail to: Campus Paramédical Filière Infirmier(e) Anesthésiste · CHU Caen Normandie · CS 30001 · 14033 Caen Cedex 9

The prerequisites assume mastery of the program leading to the State Diploma of Nurse ( See decree of January 31, 2009 relating to the State Diploma of Nurse ).

Candidates must have in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, hygiene, nursing, pharmacology, and hospital and professional legislation.

These include:

• A written and anonymous qualifying examination (duration: 2 hours) assesses the candidate's professional and scientific knowledge in relation to the curriculum for the State Diploma in Nursing, as well as their writing skills. Candidates who obtain a score equal to or higher than the passing grade are declared eligible .
• An oral admission examination (of the same duration for all candidates) will assess the candidate's ability to develop clinical reasoning and manage a care situation, analyze the skills developed during their professional experience, present their career plan, and follow the training program. A passing grade of at least the average is required.

They will be directly accessible on the Caen Normandy University Hospital Competition and displayed at the Caen Normandy University Hospital paramedical campus.

• Eligibility : Thursday, March 5, 2026, 12:00 PM
• Admission : Thursday, April 2, 2026, 12:00 PM

The results of the entrance exams are valid for the following academic year. However, a one-year deferral of studies, which is non-renewable, is granted for the following reasons: in the event of maternity leave, lack of financial support, or absence of leave of absence.

Each year, the school offers preparation for the entrance exam to the school of nurse anesthetist, the duration, dates and content of the sessions are defined in the preparatory training sheets available below.

“Preparation for the written test for admission to IADE school ” on 02 and 03/02/2026 (2 days).

“Preparation for the oral exam for admission to IADE ” on 10/03/2026, open only to eligible candidates (1 day).