How to Become an Anesthesiologist Assistant

Do you have a premedical or science undergraduate education but don't know where to take your career? Or do you want to enter healthcare without becoming a nurse or doctor? 

In either case, pursuing a career as an anesthesiologist assistant (AA) may be an excellent option. AAs work directly under the supervision of an anesthesiologist to assist during the anesthesia process. 

Read on to learn how to become an anesthesiologist assistant, including education, available programs, salary, practice jurisdictions, and more.

What is an Anesthesiologist Assistant?

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, certified anesthesiologist assistants (CAAs) are master's degree-prepared anesthesia care providers. 

The role was developed by three anesthesiologists, Drs. Gravenstein, Steinhaus, and Volpitto, as a solution to an ongoing staffing shortage in the 1960s.

---

What Does an Anesthesiologist Assistant Do?

CAAs work directly under the supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist. Specific job responsibilities include: 

• Perform pre-anesthesia health history
• Perform physical assessments
• Obtain intravenous access
• Participate in aspects of the patient’s anesthetic care
• Secure the patient’s airway through a mask, endotracheal tube, or laryngeal mask airway
• Provide care during the postoperative period
• Interpret laboratory results taken while under anesthesia 

---

How to Become an Anesthesiologist Assistant

Anesthesiologist assistant requirements include an undergraduate education, completion of a master's program, and a national certification. 

1. Obtain an Undergraduate Degree

Anesthesiologist assistant programs require a bachelor’s-level education for entry. You should pursue a relevant, accredited undergraduate education to improve your chances of getting into a CAA program. Consider earning premedical-focused degrees in science majors like biology, chemistry, or neuroscience.

2. Attend an Anesthesiologist Assistant Program

After your undergraduate education, you must attend an accredited anesthesiologist assistant program. CAA programs award students a master’s degree upon completion.

Program Accreditation

The National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCAA) accredits these programs. However, CAA programs must also receive support from an anesthesiology department by a Liason Committee on Medical Education (or equivalent) accredited medical school. Only a handful of programs nationwide meet this criteria.

Curriculum & Expectations

The CAA curriculum includes high-level didactic courses and extensive clinicals at approved sites. Current programs last 24 to 28 months and follow a strict timeline. So, students cannot complete the programs quickly or at their own pace.

3. Earn a National Certification

AAs must have a certification to gain employment. After completing the program, students can apply for their initial certification.

The national certification exam is the Certifying Examination for Anesthesiologist Assistants, administered by NCCAA and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME).

CAA vs. CRNA vs. Anesthesiologist: What Are the Differences?

Learning the differences between the different types of anesthesia jobs can be confusing, but here is a simple breakdown:

CAA: Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant

A master’s prepared anesthesia provider who works under the direct supervision of a medical doctor. CAAs support the safe and effective delivery of anesthesia and care for patients before, during, and after receiving it.

CRNA: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). CRNAs specialize in providing patients with safe and effective anesthesia care. Depending on their state of practice, CRNAs may have increased autonomy or full practice authority.

Anesthesiologist

An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). They specialize in providing anesthesia care to patients.

---

CAA vs. CRNA vs. Anesthesiologist 

	Duties & Scope of Practice	Education	Salary
Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA)	Perform pre-anesthesia assessments Obtain IV access Administer anesthesia during surgical cases Monitor patients postoperatively	Premedical background Medical or science undergraduate degree Master’s degree from accredited CAA program Sit for national certification	$140,766 annually or $68 per hour (ZipRecruiter)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)	Administer general, regional, or local anesthesia Monitor patients during surgical procedures Manage anesthesia-related complications CRNA practice authority varies by state, with many states requiring they work under the direction of an anesthesiologist or physician	BSN and RN licensure 1-2 years of critical care clinical experience Graduate with a DNP in an accredited nurse anesthesia program	$214,200 annually or $102.98 per hour (BLS)
Anesthesiologist	Provide direct patient care and anesthesia services Have the highest level of autonomy without needing supervision from a physician/healthcare provider	Bachelor’s degree in a medical-related field  MCAT Attend medical school Complete four four-year residency program Complete a minimum one-year fellowship	$339,470 annually or $163.21 per hour (BLS)

Anesthesiologist Assistant Salary

How much does an anesthesiologist assistant make? Glassdoor reports an average annual salary of $241,895 per year. On the other hand, Zippia reports an average annual salary of $218,010 or $104.81 per hour. 

Highest Paying States for Anesthesiologist Assistants

(Source: Zippia)

Highest Paying Cities for Anesthesiologist Assistants

(Source: Zippia)

---

Where Can You Work as an Anesthesiologist Assistant?

The American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) are the foremost authorities for information about CAA professions in the US. The ASA reports 22 jurisdictions where CAAs can practice:

• Alabama
• Colorado
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kansas (delegatory authority)
• Kentucky
• Indiana
• Michigan (delegatory authority)
• Missouri
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania (delegatory authority)
• South Carolina
• Texas (delegatory authority)
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington
• Wisconsin

Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Workplaces

Anesthesiologist assistants can work in any facility that administers anesthesia, provided it’s in a practice state and under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. Work environments may include:

• Hospitals
• Private practice physician offices
• Surgery centers
• VA hospitals
• Academia
• Pain management clinics

---

Anesthesiologist Assistant Programs

Anesthesiologist assistant programs are only available in a handful of states. The rarity of these programs makes them highly competitive.  

All accredited CAA programs are in-person, and clinicals are conducted at assigned clinical sites.  They ALL also require the GRE or, preferably, the MCAT for acceptance.

Bluefield University at VCOM-Auburn

• Location: Auburn, AL
• Website

Nova Southeastern University - Denver

• Location: Centennial, CO
• Website

University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus

• Location: Aurora, CO
• Website

Case Western Reserve University

• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Website

Nova Southeastern University - Ft. Lauderdale

• Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• Website 

Nova Southeastern University - Jacksonville

• Location: Jacksonville, FL
• Website

Nova Southeastern University - Orlando Regional Campus

Location: Orlando, FL

Website 

Nova Southeastern University - Tampa Bay

• Location: Clearwater, FL
• Website

South University - Orlando

• Location: Orlando, FL
• Website

South University - West Palm Beach

• Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL 
• Website

Emory University

• Location: Atlanta, GA
• Website

South University - Savannah

• Location: Savannah, GA 
• Website

Indiana University Indianapolis

• Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Website

Saint Louis University

• Location: Saint Louis, MO
• Website

University of Missouri - Kansas City

• Location: Kansas City, MO 
• Website

University of New Mexico

• Location: Albuquerque, NM 
• Website

Northeast Ohio Medical University

• Location: Rootstown, OH 
• Website

Ohio Dominican University

• Location: Columbus, OH
• Website

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

• Location: Houston, TX 
• Website

Medical College of Wisconsin

• Location: Milwaukee, WI 
• Website

Case Western Reserve University

• Washington, D.C.
  • Website 
• Cleveland, OH
  • Website 
• Houston, TX
  • Website 
• Austin, TX
  • Website

---

Pros and Cons to Becoming an Anesthesiologist Assistant

Like any profession in the healthcare field, there are numerous pros and cons.

FAQs

• How long does it take to become an anesthesiologist assistant?

  • Anesthesiologist assistant programs are 24-28 months in length.

• Do anesthesiology assistants go to med school?

  • No, but coursework is supervised and supported by the anesthesiology department of a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

• Do you need a master's degree to become an anesthesiologist assistant?

  • Yes, anesthesiologist assistant programs are masters-level programs.

• Can you become an anesthesiologist assistant as an RN?

  • Yes, but you must attend an accredited anesthesiologist assistant program.