Dr. Jay Tumulak is a recognized leader in nurse anesthesia education and practice. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Marquette University in 2025, complementing his Doctor of Nursing Practice from Vanderbilt University (2012) and his master’s degree with completion of the Nurse Anesthesia program at DePaul University and Endeavor Health (2008). His nursing career began with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (1992) and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology (1987), both from the Philippines. 

Currently serving as Chief Accreditation Officer, Dr. Tumulak previously led the Nurse Anesthesia Educational Program at Marquette University, overseeing its development and growth since its inaugural cohort in 2018. In recognition of his contributions to the profession, he was named a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) in 2023. 

An active member of AANA and the Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthetists since 2008, Dr. Tumulak continues to advance the profession through his leadership, expertise, and commitment to excellence in education and clinical practice. 

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A PDF version of the presentation has been uploaded for easy access. Please click here to view and follow along.

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The COA celebrated this milestone with a reception at the Assembly of Didactic and Clinical Educators meeting on February 12, 2025.

To commemorate this milestone, the COA developed the following tribute video.

Click here to see the tribute video.

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The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs has established the Barbara Farkas Memorial Fund. At the May 2024 COA meeting, the council approved a resolution recognizing the contributions that Barbara made to the Nurse Anesthesia profession. Click here to see the resolution.

Barbara was an invaluable member of the COA team for over 20 years, demonstrating a deep commitment to nurse anesthesia education and the work of the Council. As a Senior Accreditation Specialist, Barbara provided unwavering support and guidance for her assigned nurse anesthesia programs. She was a member of the COA Leadership Team and played a critical role serving as liaison to the COA’s Standards Revision Task Force, Evaluation and Analysis Committee, and Annual Report Subcommittee, as well as the AANA Education Department. Her expertise and dedication were evident to all who had the pleasure of working with her.

Barbara’s life is an inspiration and she will be deeply missed and never forgotten.

Click here to make a donation or use the text-to-give option by texting Farkas to 41444.

For more information, please contact us at accreditation@coacrna.org.

Click on the picture below to see a video tribute to our dear Barbara Farkas.

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Candidates must meet the following requirements:

Educator Director:

• Holds one or more graduate degrees from an institution or institutions of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting agency.
• Holds certification or recertification as a nurse anesthetist.
• Has current experience as an educator and/or administrator in a nurse anesthesia education program.
• Successfully completed the Council’s accreditation process through self-evaluation and onsite review.
• Is actively involved in the profession, as evidenced by activities such as:
  • Attendance at an annual CRNA educator meeting.
  • Attendance at professional nurse anesthesia meetings.
  • Completion of professional anesthesia continuing education offerings.
  • Election or appointment to a position in professional nurse anesthesia organizations.
• One CRNA educator position must be a CRNA program administrator

Practitioner Director:

• Holds one or more graduate degrees from an institution or institutions of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting agency.
• Holds certification or recertification as a nurse anesthetist.
• Has current experience as a CRNA practitioner.
• Is actively involved in the profession, as evidenced by activities such as:
  • Attendance at professional nurse anesthesia meetings.
  • Completion of professional anesthesia continuing education offerings.
  • Election or appointment to a position in professional nurse anesthesia organizations.
• One CRNA practitioner member must have no significant association with a school of nurse anesthesia.

To apply, e-mail the following to accreditation@coacrna.org with the position title as the subject line.

• Signed Letter of Intent to Serve (Include comments on your association with an accredited nurse anesthesia program, if any, as well as a statement of your commitment to the COA’s Values. The COA’s Values are listed on the “About COA” webpage. 
• Signed Letter of Recommendation
• Current Curriculum Vitae (Resume)
• Biographical Form – click here to open the biographical form

All applications must include all of the documents listed above, and only complete applications will be considered. Applications will be accepted through May 8, 2026.

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Practitioners

Individuals spending 40% or greater of their time in the practice of anesthesia (actual administration of anesthesia, clinical supervision/instruction of students, related clinical activities).  Please refer to the Onsite Reviewer Survey below.

Applicant Criteria:

1. Doctoral degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency
2. CRNAs: current certification/recertification and current membership in the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA)
3. Anesthesiologists: current certification by the American Board of Anesthesiologists or its equivalent and current membership in a professional anesthesia organization
4. Non-CRNA/Non-Physician Anesthesiologist: expertise in one or more areas that may be germane to a specific review and evidence of support for policies and procedures established by the Council
5. Active involvement and evidence of support of nurse anesthesia education and practice within last three years
6. Involvement in a successful accreditation process within his/her own program through self-evaluation and onsite review
7. Knowledge of student application process for certification
8. Evidence of support for policies and procedures established by the Council
9. Member of an academic community with educational involvement
10. Curriculum development experience
11. Knowledge of professional accreditation or recognition agencies (e.g., The Joint Commission; U.S. Department of Education; the CHEA)

Eligibility Exclusions:

• CRNAs – current membership on: Board of Directors of AANA, COA, NBCRNA, or AANA Foundation; executive staff of AANA, NBCRNA, or AANA Foundation
• Anesthesiologists – current membership on:  Board of Directors of ASA or NBCRNA; executive staff of NBCRNA; accreditation or certification agencies for anesthesiology or related specialties
• Non-CRNA/Non-anesthesiologist – current membership as Public Director of the Council

To apply, email the information listed below to the COA by December 15, 2023, with subject line: OSR Application to accreditation@coacrna.org.

1. Signed letter of intent indicating: rationale for wishing to serve as a team onsite reviewer; active involvement and evidence of support of nurse anesthesia education and practice within the last three years; involvement in a successful accreditation process within a nurse anesthesia program through self-evaluation and onsite review.
2. Current curriculum vitae (resume).
3. Official transcript directly from the institution of higher education from which your highest degree was received.
4. At least one letter of recommendation from one of the following: CEO of the COA, program director, consultant, or chair onsite reviewer.
5. Applicant for Onsite Reviewer Survey – click here

Only complete applications will be considered.

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The COA considers complaints against nurse anesthesia programs related to noncompliance with the Standards or policies and/or procedures. The COA should be contacted after exhausting any and all internal procedures available to the complainant within the institution. The complaint must contain sufficient information explaining how the program is violating a Standard or COA policy and/or procedure and must contain supporting documentation if available. The COA will not accept electronic protected health information.

A written statement that the complaint can be released to the program must be signed by the complainant and provided to the COA. If (for valid reasons) the complainant requests confidentiality, the COA Executive Director or designee will remove all identifying information from the complaint and the letter containing the complaint will be paraphrased.  Anonymous complaints will not be considered unless a complaint suggests an imminent threat of harm to the program administrator, students, staff, patients, or others.

The COA will evaluate a complaint to determine if internal procedures within the nurse anesthesia program have been exhausted. The complaint will then be evaluated to determine if it relates to noncompliance with accreditation Standards or the COA’s policies and/or procedures. If the complaint relates to these areas, then the COA will investigate the complaint in a timely manner.  The program and appropriate institutional officials will be notified when a valid complaint against a program is received by the COA.  If necessary, the COA will refer a complainant to appropriate federal, state, and/or other agencies if the complaint does not relate to the Council’s Standards.

The COA can take a variety of actions based on its investigation, including:

1. Take no action and dismiss the complaint,
2. Conduct a supplemental onsite review,
3. Defer consideration until the next routinely scheduled onsite review, or
4. Make a decision affecting the current accreditation status of the program
   (see Decisions for Accreditation).

The COA will notify the program administrator, other appropriate institutional personnel, and the complainant of its decision within 30 days of the time the decision is made.

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