
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc. (MTSA) was founded in 1950 to educate nurse anesthetists. Its history is tied to Madison's health care community and to Seventh-day Adventist health education. The school's focus has remained unusually narrow for a degree-granting institution: preparing nurses for anesthesia practice rather than offering a broad range of college majors.
A significant academic change was the move toward doctoral preparation for entry into nurse anesthesia practice. That shift also reflects a profession-wide requirement: new students entering accredited nurse anesthesia programs must pursue doctoral-level education. Applicants comparing older descriptions of MTSA with current offerings should distinguish historical credentials from the degree attached to the cohort they would enter.
MTSA is a specialized graduate school, not a university divided into colleges of arts, business, and sciences. Its academic work centers on nurse anesthesia education, including the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) pathway for nurses preparing to enter the profession.
The curriculum brings together advanced health sciences, anesthesia theory, simulation, and supervised clinical education. Students should examine the current program catalog for the sequence of classroom and clinical requirements, the credential awarded by a particular pathway, and any distinctions between entry-to-practice study and education intended for already-certified nurse anesthetists. MTSA is not a route to an initial nursing degree or registered nurse licensure.
MTSA is located in Madison, Tennessee, a community in the Nashville metropolitan area. Its location gives students access to a regional health care market, although clinical education may require travel beyond the school's Madison address.
For an applicant, the practical geography is broader than the classroom campus. Clinical assignments, their schedules, and the distance between sites can affect transportation needs and living arrangements. Before committing to a lease or a commute, students should review the program's current clinical-placement expectations rather than assume that all training occurs in Madison.
MTSA presents its purpose as educating nurse anesthetists for professional practice within a Christian, Seventh-day Adventist learning environment. Its stated educational priorities include clinical competence, service, and the development of practitioners able to care for patients responsibly.
That religious affiliation is part of the institution's identity, not a substitute for reviewing its academic or clinical requirements. Applicants who want to understand how the mission shapes daily study should read the current student handbook for policies on professional conduct, campus activities, and expectations during clinical training.
Name of the institution
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia IncLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, graduate with no undergraduate degreesInstitution size category
Under 1,000Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.