Complete List of Anesthesiology Assistant Programs

Anesthesiolgy Assistant Education Resource Guide

List of Anesthesiology Assistant Schools & Programs

During my reseach as a prospective PA student, I stumbled through various information resources attempting to find a concise list of programs and the respective deadlines for application submission. This site is a collection of ALL Accredited Anesthesiology Assistant programs throughout the United States.

"5" educational programs for Anesthesiologist Assistants

For complete details of schools, web address's, and contact information,...click HERE

AA Profession Profile

Anesthesiologist assistants (AAs) are highly educated allied health professionals who work under the direction of an anesthesiologist to help implement the anesthetic plan as prescribed by the anesthesiologist.

AAs work exclusively within the Anesthesia Care Team environment as described by the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

AAs are trained through masters degree professional programs in the delivery and maintenance of quality anesthesia care as well as advanced patient monitoring techniques. Practicing independently or in a primary care setting is NOT included in the AAs scope of practice. AAs usually practice in a hospital setting which uses the Anesthesia Care Team approach and are always supervised by anesthesiologists.

The profession maintains a typical work week with options for on-call, evening or weekend assignments. Salaries, scope of practice and job descriptions are identical to certified registered nurse anesthetists when working within the Anesthesia Care Team. Starting salaries vary by region but typically range from $125,000 - $150,000.

The Anesthesia Care Team, anesthesia care personally performed or medically directed by an anesthesiologist constitutes the practice of medicine. Certain aspects of anesthesia care may be delegated to other properly trained and credentialed professionals. These professionals, medically directed by the anesthesiologist, comprise the Anesthesia Care Team.

The Care Team statement (last amended on October 18, 2006) says, "Such delegation and direction should be specifically defined by the anesthesiologist director of the Anesthesia Care Team and approved by the hospital medical staff. Although selected functions of overall anesthesia care may be delegated to appropriate members of the Anesthesia Care Team, responsibility and direction of the Anesthesia Care Team rests with the anesthesiologist."

Members of the medically directed anesthesia care team may include anesthesiology residents as well as non-physicians such as anesthesiologist assistants and nurse anesthetists.

Visit http://physicianassistantprograms.synthasite.com for a Complete List of Anesthesiolgy Physician Assistant Programs. Financing options, health of profession and much more!

Quick Facts

1. Who are Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAs)?

Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAs) are highly skilled health professionals who work under the direction of licensed anesthesiologists to implement anesthesia care plans.  AAs work exclusively within the anesthesia care team environment as described by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).  All AAs possess a premedical background, a baccalaureate degree, and also complete a comprehensive didactic and clinical program at the graduate school level.  AAs are trained extensively in the delivery and maintenance of quality anesthesia care as well as advanced patient monitoring techniques.  The goal of AA education is to guide the transformation of qualified student applicants into competent health care practitioners who aspire to practice in the anesthesia care team.

Anesthesiologist Assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists are both defined as "non-physician anesthetists" within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services section of the Code of Federal Regulations.

2. What is the origin of the Anesthesiologist Assistant profession?

In the 1960s, three anesthesiologists, Joachim S. Gravenstein, John E. Steinhaus, and Perry P. Volpitto, were concerned with the shortage of anesthesiologists in the country.  These academic department chairs analyzed the spectrum of tasks required during anesthesia care.   The tasks were individually evaluated based on the level of professional responsibility, required education and necessary technical skill.   The result of this anesthesia workforce analysis was to introduce the concept of team care and to define a new mid-level anesthesia practitioner linked to a supervising anesthesiologist.   This new professional - the Anesthesiologist Assistant or AA - had the potential to at least partially alleviate the shortage of anesthesiologists.

The new type of anesthetist would function in the same role as the nurse anesthetist under anesthesiologist direction.   An innovative educational paradigm for anesthetists was created that built on a pre-med background during college and led to a Master's degree.   This pathway placed AAs on an anesthesia "career ladder."  Some AAs have leveraged their premed background, Master's degree and clinical experience to successfully apply to medical school.   A few have returned to anesthesia to become the physician leader of the care team that launched their professional career.

The chairmen's vision became reality in 1969 when the first AA training programs began accepting students at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

3. What are the differences between AAs and Physician Assistants?

Although AAs and physician assistants (PAs) both function as physician extenders, they do not perform the same functions.  Each has its own separate educational curriculum, standards for accreditation, and its own agency for certification.  PAs receive a generalist education and may practice in many different fields under the supervision of a physician who is qualified and credentialed in that field.

An AA may not practice outside of the field of anesthesia or apart from the supervision of an anesthesiologist.  An AA may not practice as a physician's assistant unless the AA has also completed a PA training program and passed the National Commission for the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) exam.

Likewise a PA may not identify him- or herself as an AA unless he or she has completed an accredited AA program and passed the National Commission for the Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) exam.  If also certified as an AA, such a dual-credentialed PA would be required to practice as an anesthetist only as an extender for an anesthesiologist and could not provide anesthesia care at the direction of a physician of any other specialty. 4. Education In order to be admitted to an AA program, the applicant must have achieved a bachelor's degree with prescribed prerequisites typical of premedical course work.  Specific requirements include general and organic chemistry, advanced college math, general and advanced biology, and physics.  Applicants must then take either the (MCAT) or the (GRE).  Although many applicants who are from allied health backgrounds such as respiratory therapy and emergency medical technology may have years of clinical experience, a clinical background is not an absolute requirement.  Nurses who meet the premed coursework prerequisites have been admitted to AA programs. AA training programs must include a minimum of 24 months in a Master's level program accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP).  The programs must be based at, or in collaboration with, a university that has a medical school and academic anesthesiologist physician faculty.  Each AA program must have at least one director that is a licensed, board-certified anesthesiologist.  Main clinical sites must be academic medical centers.  An average of 600 hours of classroom/laboratory education, 2600 hours of clinical anesthesia education, and more than 600 anesthetics administered, including all types of surgery, are typically required to successfully complete AA training. Upon completion of an accredited AA program, a student may become certified by passing the NCCAA examination.  The examination is administered and scored by the National Board of Medical Examiners as part of services contracted to NCCAA.  Performance information for test items and the overall exam are provided by NBME.  NCCAA uses this data to set the passing score and provides notification of certification. NCCAA awards a time-limited certificate to each candidate who successfully completes the Certifying Examination.

To re-certify, an AA must complete 40 hours of CME every two years and register the activities with NCCAA.  Additionally, AAs must take the Continuing Demonstration of Qualification Exam every six years. Visit us for the complete scoop. Jump start your career in the Health Care field.

All you need to know in one easy to navigate location. Designed by PAs & AAs for our colleagues.