How Do I Become an Anesthesiologist Assistant?
Anesthesiologist assistants work in medical careers with anesthesiologists to take care of patients and work out treatment and care plans. These assistants give patients relief from pain. To become an anesthesiologist assistant, start by getting a bachelor’s degree. Most anesthesiologist assistants get a degree in a science or medical field, but it is not required. After undergraduate study, a person hoping to become an anesthesiologist assistant must get a master’s degree by completing an approved program.
Anesthesiologist assistant programs take two years to complete. Programs must be approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), which is located in Chicago, Illinois. There are only six anesthesiologist assistant programs in the U.S. These are taught at Nova Southeastern University in Fort-Lauderdale-Davie, Florida, Nova Southeastern University in the Tampa Student Educational Center, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, South University in Savannah, Georgia, and the University of Missouri in Kansas City, Missouri. Outside of the U.S., anesthesiologist assistant programs can be found using the internet.
To become an anesthesiologist assistant, a student must apply and be accepted to one of these schools. Depending on the school, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and/or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required before a student can enter the program. Courses focus on subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, clinical methods, general surgery, pediatrics, neurosurgery, cardiac surgery and transplantation.
Practical training is also required as part of the program to become an anesthesiologist assistant. This hands-on experience usually takes place in a clinic or laboratory, and students learn how to administer different types of anesthesia and care for patients under the effects of anesthesia. To become an anesthesiologist assistant, therefore, a person must have a strong interest in anesthesiology.
Upon completion of the two-year program, the person wishing to become an anesthesiologist assistant receives a diploma or certification. This grants assistants the right to practice anesthesiology care in health care careers. Most anesthesiology assistants have hospital jobs, but some work in smaller clinics or doctors’ offices. Many eventually become anesthesiologists, but this requires further training. Assistants must work well with other people because the job is highly collaborative.
Health care jobs are in demand, and an anesthesiologist assistant’s salary varies based on the person’s experience and the area they practice in. Average starting salaries in the U.S. are around $90,000 US Dollars (USD), and a five to 15 percent increase can be expected in the first one to two years of becoming an anesthesiologist assistant.
Written by Rachel Burkot
