Anesthesiologist Assistant
Allied Health Professions
Anesthesiologist Assistants are highly skilled professionals who work under the direction of licensed anesthesiologists (specialist physicians) as part of the anesthesia care team to design and implement anesthesia care plans.
The Anesthesiologist Assistant’s responsibilities include:
- Taking a complete health history of the patient.
- Performing physical exams to identify any issues that may affect the anesthesia care plan.
- Administering necessary diagnostic and laboratory tests (such as taking blood).
- Preparing the patient to be monitored, using noninvasive and invasive methods, as determined by the physician.
- Engaging with preparatory procedures, such as pulmonary artery catheterization, electroencephalographic spectral analysis, echocardiography, and evoked potentials.
- Pre-testing and calibrating of anesthesia delivery systems and monitors.
- Inducing, sustaining, and adjusting anesthesia levels.
- Ensuring continuity of care through the postoperative recovery period.
- Assisting with life support where required, including airway management.
- Performing functions in the intensive care unit and pain clinic.
- Performing administrative duties, research, and clinical instruction.
Working conditions
Anesthesiologist Assistants work in hospitals and surgery centers under the direction of a licensed physician anesthesiologist. The profession maintains a typical work week with options for on-call, evening, or weekend assignments.
Anesthesiologist Assistants are in high demand due to the need for skilled personnel to deliver anesthesia. They operate as physician extenders, performing critical tasks that ensure the safety of the patient and promote optimal health outcomes.
Salary Range and Outlook
Anesthesiologist Assistants are in high demand, because of the need for skilled personnel to deliver anesthesia. Anesthesiologist Assistants operate as physician extenders, performing critical tasks that ensure the safety of the patient and promote optimal health outcomes.
The average salary range for Anesthesiologist Assistants is $120,000-200,000.
Academic requirements
To become an Anesthesiologist Assistant, you must first complete a four-year college degree, taking a pre-medical curriculum with coursework in general and organic chemistry; advanced college math, including advanced mathematics; and general and advanced biology and physics.
Once you have a bachelor’s degree, you can apply to a master’s program in anesthesia. Look for a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), works closely with a medical school, and is taught by physicians who are board-certified in anesthesiology.
The two to three-year program focuses on coursework that enhances basic science knowledge in physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, and biochemistry with special emphasis on the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, nervous, and neuromuscular systems.
The clinical part of your program will provide you with experience in patient monitoring, anesthesia delivery systems, life support systems, patient assessment, and the skills needed to provide compassionate and quality care. During the clinical portion, students administer a minimum of 600 different anesthetics during a variety of surgeries.
A solid grasp of safety protocols and effective communication skills are essential to help the Anesthesiologist Assistant excel as part of the treatment team.
Once you have completed your master’s program, you will need to pass a certification exam administered by the National Commission for the Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA).
Resources
- Watch a video about Anesthesiologist Assistants and the education needed to become one..
- Read these FAQs about the history of the profession, the education needed for it, and the scope of practice.
- Association of Anesthesiologist Assistant Education Programs
- American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants
- American Society of Anesthesiologists
The Association of Anesthesiologist Assistants Education Programs (AAAEP) reviewed and updated this career profile.
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Average Salary
$120K - 200K
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Years Higher Education
6 - 7
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Job Outlook
Excellent