OPT Nurse Anesthetist Jobs
Nurse Anesthetist jobs on OPT require employer sponsorship for work authorization, and CRNA roles qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa standards. Most hiring happens through hospitals and anesthesia groups. STEM OPT extension does not apply to this field, so your 12-month clock starts on your OPT start date.
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Get Access To All JobsWhat We Offer:
- Sign on Bonus: Up to $100,000; relocation bonus available
- Several schedule options, many with no call, no weekends, no holidays
- Location/Practice: Various hospitals and ASCs around the Greater Charlotte Market. We have something for everyone!
- A dynamic opportunity with exceptional work/life balance without sacrificing variety
- Full time, part time, and PRN opportunities available
- Predictable schedules and many locations with no call, no weekends, and no holidays
- Access to continuing education and leadership support
- Inclusive culture grounded in autonomy, a great team culture, and shared purpose
What We're Looking For:
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Education: Bachelor's degree required. BSN required. Graduate from both an accredited school of nursing and school of nurse anesthesia. Listed on the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and recognized by the state of practice as an Advanced Practitioner. Must meet continuing education per NBCRNA requirements to maintain CRNA certification.
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Experience: Previous experience is not necessary. Four to six week orientation period (working with preceptor) is required. Orientation period will depend on previous experience and clinical skills.
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Licensure/Certification/Registration: Current RN licensure in appropriate state required. BLS, ACLS, and PALS required. CRNA by NBCRNA required.
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Additional skills required: Must have extensive knowledge of current anesthetic agents, techniques, drugs and equipment. Has knowledge and skills necessary to modify the anesthetic care suitable to patient age. Must have considerable ability to make independent decisions, sometimes under stress, and to maintain a professional demeanor with patients, coworkers and physicians.
What You'll Do:
- Deliver safe and effective anesthesia care to pediatrics through geriatric populations
- Administer anesthetics for a wide variety of surgical and non-surgical procedures
- Monitor patients throughout anesthesia and recovery
- Collaborate with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and surgical teams
- Adjust anesthetic plans as needed based on changing patient status
- Practice independently within full CRNA scope of privileges
What We Offer:
- Sign on Bonus: Up to $100,000; relocation bonus available
- Several schedule options, many with no call, no weekends, no holidays
- Location/Practice: Various hospitals and ASCs around the Greater Charlotte Market. We have something for everyone!
- A dynamic opportunity with exceptional work/life balance without sacrificing variety
- Full time, part time, and PRN opportunities available
- Predictable schedules and many locations with no call, no weekends, and no holidays
- Access to continuing education and leadership support
- Inclusive culture grounded in autonomy, a great team culture, and shared purpose
What We're Looking For:
-
Education: Bachelor's degree required. BSN required. Graduate from both an accredited school of nursing and school of nurse anesthesia. Listed on the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and recognized by the state of practice as an Advanced Practitioner. Must meet continuing education per NBCRNA requirements to maintain CRNA certification.
-
Experience: Previous experience is not necessary. Four to six week orientation period (working with preceptor) is required. Orientation period will depend on previous experience and clinical skills.
-
Licensure/Certification/Registration: Current RN licensure in appropriate state required. BLS, ACLS, and PALS required. CRNA by NBCRNA required.
-
Additional skills required: Must have extensive knowledge of current anesthetic agents, techniques, drugs and equipment. Has knowledge and skills necessary to modify the anesthetic care suitable to patient age. Must have considerable ability to make independent decisions, sometimes under stress, and to maintain a professional demeanor with patients, coworkers and physicians.
What You'll Do:
- Deliver safe and effective anesthesia care to pediatrics through geriatric populations
- Administer anesthetics for a wide variety of surgical and non-surgical procedures
- Monitor patients throughout anesthesia and recovery
- Collaborate with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and surgical teams
- Adjust anesthetic plans as needed based on changing patient status
- Practice independently within full CRNA scope of privileges
See all 316+ OPT Nurse Anesthetist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Nurse Anesthetist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Nurse Anesthetist
Target hospital systems with established visa programs
Large hospital networks and academic medical centers are far more likely to have immigration counsel on retainer and prior experience sponsoring CRNAs. Search for facilities that have filed H-1B visa LCAs for anesthesia roles in OFLC disclosure data.
Start your job search at least six months before OPT expires
H-1B cap registration opens in March for an October 1 start date. If your OPT expires before October, you need an employer who can bridge the gap or file cap-exempt through a qualifying nonprofit or university affiliate.
Clarify your NCLEX and state licensure status early
Employers will not begin sponsorship paperwork until you hold an active RN and CRNA license in the state where you'll practice. Confirm your licensure timeline upfront so it doesn't delay the employer's H-1B filing window.
Ask specifically about cap-exempt H-1B pathways
Teaching hospitals affiliated with universities and nonprofit research institutions can file H-1B petitions year-round without the lottery. These settings often have CRNA openings and a clearer route to maintained status during your OPT period.
Document your nursing degree's equivalency to U.S. standards
If your nursing degree is from outside the U.S., obtain a credential evaluation from a NACES-approved agency before interviews. Employers filing specialty occupation petitions need proof your degree meets the required field-specific credential standard.
Negotiate your start date around your OPT authorization window
You cannot begin work before your OPT start date, even if you have an offer. Build this into your negotiations. A start date that aligns with your EAD approval date avoids unauthorized employment and protects your future H-1B eligibility.
Nurse Anesthetist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Nurse Anesthetist jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes. Nurse Anesthetist, or CRNA, positions qualify as specialty occupations because they require at least a master's degree in nurse anesthesia from an accredited program. Your F-1 OPT EAD authorizes you to work in the field directly related to your degree, which CRNA roles satisfy. Note that this field does not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, so you have a 12-month authorization window.
Can I work as a CRNA on OPT while my employer files for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, as long as your OPT EAD is valid and your employer files the H-1B petition before your status expires. If your OPT end date falls before October 1 and the H-1B is cap-subject, your employer may need to explore a cap-exempt hospital affiliation or file a Change of Status petition to bridge the gap. Confirm the timeline with an immigration attorney early in the process.
What type of employers sponsor CRNAs on OPT and H-1B?
Academic medical centers, large regional hospital systems, and anesthesia staffing groups affiliated with nonprofits are the most common sponsors for CRNAs. Teaching hospitals connected to universities are especially valuable because they qualify as cap-exempt H-1B filers, meaning they can petition year-round without the lottery. You can browse CRNA roles at OPT-friendly employers on Migrate Mate.
Does my nurse anesthesia degree from a foreign country affect OPT eligibility?
OPT eligibility is based on your U.S. degree program, not your foreign credential. If you completed an accredited nurse anesthesia master's program at a U.S. university on an F-1 visa, you qualify for OPT regardless of your prior education abroad. However, your employer's H-1B specialty occupation petition will require a credential evaluation of your foreign degree, so obtain one from a NACES-approved evaluator before you begin the sponsorship process.
What happens to my OPT status if I change CRNA employers mid-authorization?
F-1 OPT allows you to change employers during your authorized period, but you must report the change to your DSO within 10 days, and any gap between positions cannot exceed 90 days in aggregate or USCIS may consider your status violated. Your new employer will need to restart the H-1B sponsorship process from the beginning, including filing a new LCA and I-129 petition, so factor the sponsorship timeline into your decision before accepting a new offer.