Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2825. Section 2825.
This article may be cited as the Nurse Anesthetists Act.
ARTICLE 7. Nurse Anesthetists [2825. - 2833.6.]
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 7.
in effectCal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2826. Section 2826.
As used in this article:
(a)
“Nurse anesthetist” means a person who is a registered nurse licensed by the board who has met standards for certification from the board. In the certification and recertification process, the board shall consider the standards of the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists, or a successor national professional organization approved by the board, and may develop new standards if there is a public safety need for standards more stringent than the councils’ standards. In determining the adequacy for public safety of the councils’ standards or in developing board standards, the board shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing
with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(b)
“Accredited program” means a program for the education of nurse anesthetists that has received approval from the board. In the approval process, the board shall consider the standards of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs and Schools and may develop new standards if the councils’ standards are determined to be inadequate for public safety. In determining the adequacy for public safety of the councils’ standards or in developing board standards, the
board shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(c)
“Anesthesia services” include all of the following:
(1)
Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care and pain management provided by a nurse anesthetist for patients receiving anesthesia pursuant to an order by a physician, dentist, or podiatrist for anesthesia services.
(2)
Selecting and administering medication pursuant to an order for anesthesia services by a physician, dentist, or podiatrist.
(3)
Providing emergency, critical care, and resuscitation services.
(d)
“Appropriate committee” means the committee responsible for anesthesia practice that is responsible to the executive committee of the medical staff.
(e)
“Trainee” means a registered nurse enrolled in an accredited program of nurse anesthesia.
(f)
“Graduate” means a nurse anesthetist who is a graduate of an accredited program of nurse anesthesia awaiting initial certification results for not more than one year from the date of graduation.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2826.5. Section 2826.5.
A nurse anesthetist is authorized to perform anesthesia services.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2826.6. Section 2826.6.
An order by a physician, dentist, or podiatrist for anesthesia services for a specific patient shall be the authorization for the nurse anesthetist to select and implement the modality of anesthesia for the patient and to abort or modify the modality of anesthesia for the patient during the course of care.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2826.7. Section 2826.7.
The selection and administration of medication by a nurse anesthetist, including controlled substances, for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care and for pain management purposes pursuant to an order by a physician, dentist, or podiatrist shall not constitute a prescription, as that term is defined in Section 1300.01 of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2827. Section 2827.
The utilization of a nurse anesthetist to provide anesthesia services in an acute care facility shall be approved by the acute care facility administration and the appropriate committee, and at the discretion of the physician, dentist or podiatrist. If a general anesthetic agent is administered in a dental office, the dentist shall hold a permit authorized by Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 1646) of Chapter 4 or, commencing January 1, 2022, Article 2.75 (commencing with Section 1646) of Chapter 4.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2828. Section 2828.
In an acute care facility, a nurse anesthetist who is not an employee of the facility shall, nonetheless, be subject to the bylaws of the facility and may be required by the facility to provide proof of current professional liability insurance coverage. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a nurse anesthetist shall be responsible for their own professional conduct and may be held liable for those professional acts.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2829. Section 2829.
It is unlawful for any person or persons to advertise, use any title, sign, card, or device, or to otherwise hold himself or herself out as a “nurse anesthetist” unless the person meets the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 2826 and has been so certified under the provisions of this article.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2830. Section 2830.
The board shall issue a certificate to practice nurse anesthesia to any person who qualifies under this article and is licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2830.5. Section 2830.5.
Every applicant shall show by evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she has met the requirements of this article.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2830.6. Section 2830.6.
Notwithstanding Section 2830, the board shall certify all applicants who can show certification by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists or a successor national professional organization approved by the board. This certification shall be documented to the board in a manner to be determined by the board. Proof of certification shall be filed with the board within six months from the effective date of this article and the board shall, within one year from the effective date of this article, issue a certificate to applicants who have filed proof of certification within that six-month period.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2830.7. Section 2830.7.
The amount of the fees prescribed by this chapter in connection with the issuance of certificates as nurse anesthetists is that fixed by the following schedule:
(a)
The fee to be paid upon the filing of an application for a certificate shall be fixed by the board at not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500).
(b)
The biennial fee to be paid upon the application for a renewal of a certificate shall be fixed by the board at not less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
(c)
The
penalty fee for failure to renew a certificate within the prescribed time shall be 50 percent of the renewal fee in effect on the date of the renewal of the license, but not less than seventy-five dollars ($75) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).
(d)
The fee to be paid for a temporary certificate shall be fixed by the board at not less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2831. Section 2831.
An applicant for certification pursuant to this article shall submit a written application in the form prescribed by the board, accompanied by the fee prescribed by Section 2830.7 which shall also apply to the issuance of a certificate under the provisions of this article.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2832. Section 2832.
Every applicant for a certificate to practice nurse anesthesia shall comply with all the provisions of this article in addition to the provisions of this chapter.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2833. Section 2833.
(a)
Each certificate issued pursuant to this article shall be renewable biennially, and each person holding a certificate under this article shall apply for a renewal of their certificate and pay the biennial renewal fee required by Section 2830.7 every two years on or before the last day of the month following the month in which their birthday occurs, beginning with the second birthday following the date on which the certificate was issued, whereupon the board shall renew the certificate.
(b)
Each certificate not renewed in accordance with this section shall expire but may within a period of eight years thereafter be reinstated upon payment of the biennial renewal fee and penalty fee required by Section 2830.7 and upon
submission of proof of the applicant’s qualifications as may be required by the board. During the eight-year period, no examination shall be required as a condition for the reinstatement of any expired certificate that has lapsed solely by reason of nonpayment of the renewable fee. After the expiration of the eight-year period the board may require, as a condition of reinstatement, that the applicant pass an examination as it deems necessary to determine their present fitness to resume the practice of nurse anesthesia.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2833.3. Section 2833.3.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit a certified nurse anesthetist’s ability to practice nursing.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2833.5. Section 2833.5.
Except as provided in Section 2725 and in this section, the practice of nurse anesthetist does not confer authority to practice medicine or surgery.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2833.6. Section 2833.6.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to restrict, expand, alter, or modify the existing scope of practice of, a nurse anesthetist and is declaratory of existing law and advisory opinion, including, but not limited to, California Society of Anesthesiologists v. Brown (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 390.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026