What was the rationale for requiring a minimum number of clinical hours?

The COA established a minimum number of clinical hours as a new requirement that recognizes the value of students providing anesthesia care for longer and more complex cases versus an increased number of  less complex cases. The required number of clinical hours was increased from a proposed number of 1,600 hours in draft one to a required number of 2,000 hours (refer Trial Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs: Practice Doctorate, Glossary, pg.33).