Are you interested in joining the COA Board of Directors? This page will describe the position criteria, anticipated time commitment, and how to apply.
Open Positions
Open COA director positions are normally posted in February each year but may be posted at other times as circumstances require. Position(s) to be filled are dependent on director terms ending. Position criteria and application requirements, including the deadline for applying, are posted on the “Openings for new COA Directors” page on the COA’s website.
Board Composition
The COA Board consists of twelve elected directors. They are comprised of five CRNA Educators, two CRNA Practitioners, one Health Care Administrator, one University Administrator, two Public Directors and one Student Director who is currently enrolled and actively engaged in an accredited nurse anesthesia program.
Meetings, Nominations, Terms of Office, and Elections
The COA meets three times per year (3-day sessions) for deliberation of accreditation and other program-related decisions as well as a variety of policy-related issues. The COA typically seeks nominations for open director positions in February/March. Open positions are posted on the COA website.
Candidates must be available to attend three-day meetings, held in January (virtual), May, and October, in addition to an orientation day for new directors in October just prior to the October meeting. The May and October meetings are held at the COA’s office in Rosemont, IL. The term of office for a director is three years. The individual(s) elected are eligible for reelection for an additional three-year term. The term of office for the Student Director is one year; the Student Director is not eligible to be reelected for an additional term. Elections are typically held at the spring meeting. Terms for all directors begin and end in October. COA Directors are reimbursed for meeting expenses.
Time Commitment
In preparation for the required meetings, directors are assigned to workgroups to review programs’ applications and responses. The workgroups meet via conference call prior to each COA meeting. Directors also are required to review business materials; directors should plan on spending 10–16 hours reviewing materials prior to each meeting.
Each director also should expect to be assigned to several COA committees/subcommittees (two to four). Committees meet by periodic conference call and have material to review pertinent to the committee responsibilities. There are normally several committee and full COA conference calls throughout the year. Committee calls range from three to six times per year, depending on the committee charges. Full COA conference calls usually are scheduled during regular business hours (8 am – 4 pm Central time). Although the COA makes every effort to avoid evening calls, on occasion there may be an evening committee call, primarily to accommodate the CRNA Practitioner Directors’ schedules.
Applicants are required to meet the position criteria. The COA Board tries to have a geographic distribution of directors, which is dependent on the applications received. Candidates located in states that are already represented on the COA can still apply.
The required criteria for each COA Director position can be found in the Accreditation Policies and Procedures Manual, page S-1 Election of COA members document.
Student Director
The Student Director is selected from students enrolled in accredited nurse anesthesia educational programs located in specific regions as identified in the AANA bylaws. A different region is represented each year. Click here for a full list of regions.
The student functions as a full member of the Council, except that the student cannot vote. All expenses incurred in service to this body are reimbursed with the understanding that regular attendance at all meetings is of utmost importance.
The COA contacts all programs in the identified region each year to suggest that the student body of each program nominates one student who they feel can best represent nurse anesthesia students throughout the country. Of note, students whose program administrator or other program faculty is a current COA Director cannot apply.
