Archer Review, a North Texas-based healthcare education company with headquarters in McKinney, has acquired Core Anesthesia, a fast-growing educational platform for nurse anesthetist students and professionals.

The acquisition, first announced in May, marks Archer’s third M&A deal of 2025 as it expands its reach across nursing, advanced practice, and medical education.

From podcast to platform

Core Anesthesia began as a podcast and now includes a mobile app that serves current and future nurse anesthetists. The platform has more than 1,000 daily podcast listeners across all 50 states and in more than 160 countries and territories, according to Archer Review.

The company said Core Anesthesia will continue to grow its offerings using Archer’s technology infrastructure, including a new high-quality question bank and mock exams. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“Our goal has always been to make anesthesia education more accessible, usable, and streamlined,” said Core Anesthesia co-founder Tanner Hulin in the announcement. Now, he says, “we can now fuel the dreams we’ve had and accelerate ideas to help provide a more rounded product offering.”

Archer’s broader portfolio includes tools for nursing school, NCLEX licensure, nurse practitioner exams, the CCRN (critical care) exam, and even the USMLE for medical students. The company also offers test prep for entry exams like the TEAS 7 and HESI A2.

New leadership driving growth

In March, Archer appointed Tabatha Erck as CEO, succeeding founder Karthik Koduru. “At Archer, we are always looking for offerings that blend seamlessly into our product portfolio of high-quality but affordable educational tools,” Erck said of the recent deal. “Our goals are to facilitate the lifelong journey of nursing education from the day someone decides to become a nurse to ongoing continuing education throughout their career.”

Three acquisitions in 2025—and performance gains as pass rates drop

The Core Anesthesia acquisition follows Archer’s purchase of OnlineMedEd in January and PulsedIn in April, according to PitchBook.

Archer’s tools have gained national traction this year as NCLEX pass rates dropped across nearly every category. In June, the company reported that 99% of its users passed the exam, compared to national averages that declined for U.S. and internationally educated test takers alike.

“Every student deserves a fair shot at success, no matter where they start,” Rachel Taylor, Archer’s director of nursing, said in a July statement. “That’s why we’re committed to dismantling barriers in nursing education with accessible tools and inclusive strategies that meet learners where they are.”

Earning an Edison

Archer’s use of machine learning and analytics to create personalized study paths helped earn the company a Silver 2025 Edison Award in the healthcare learning category, recognizing innovation in adaptive, tech-enabled education.

Founded in 2009 by Koduru, Archer Review relocated its headquarters from Illinois to Texas as the company grew.

It has since been recognized as one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the country—appearing on the Inc. 5000 list for three consecutive years, and on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 for the past two. In 2024, Archer also ranked No. 5 on the Financial Times list of fastest-growing U.S. companies, and No. 3 on the Inc. Southwest Regionals.

The company is backed by Leeds Equity Partners, a New York-based private equity firm focused on education, training, and data-driven knowledge industries. Founded in 1993, Leeds manages approximately $6 billion in capital and invests across a broad spectrum of companies in the learning and information sectors.

Quincy Preston contributed to this report.

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