Certified anesthesiologist assistants (CAAs) are highly skilled healthcare providers who work under the direction of licensed anesthesiologists to implement anesthesia care plans. CAAs work exclusively within the anesthesia care team, as defined by the American Society of Anesthesiologists. CAAs are trained extensively in the delivery and maintenance of quality anesthesia care as well as advanced patient monitoring techniques.
Majors and Coursework
Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) programs do not give preference to particular majors over others; nor do they give preference to students with multiple majors or minors. Likewise, they do not give preference to a Bachelor of Science degree over a Bachelor of Arts degree. Most AA programs seek to construct a class of students that is diverse in academic and experiential backgrounds. They look at the depth and richness of a student’s undergraduate experience rather than the quantity of titles and certifications earned. As such, pre-anesthesiologist assistant students should select their majors based on their interest in a subject and their passion for studying it.
Although AA programs do not give preference to certain types of majors over others, there is a common set of prerequisites that students must fulfill regardless of their area of study prior to the student matriculating. Generally, the requirements for Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant programs include
- one semester of biochemistry
- one semester of human anatomy with lab
- one semester of human physiology
- one year of chemistry with lab
- one semester of organic chemistry with lab
- one year of physics with lab
- one semester of calculus
- one semester of advanced statistics
- one semester of English with expository writing
Course Sequences
While slight differences exist, the recommended sequence of courses is similar to what pre-medical students would take and can be found on the Medicine page.
Anesthesiologist Assistant Shadowing Experience
Though some AA programs differ on their shadowing requirements, it is recommended that prospective students shadow a certified anesthesiologist assistant in the operating room environment for at least sixteen hours. If you are in an area where CAAs are not prevalent, then shadowing an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist is suggested. You should keep a detailed record of your shadowing experiences so that you can upload that document to your application.
Application Support
The application process for AA programs is a somewhat extensive one that requires numerous, well-informed decisions and keen attention to details. Support for the application process is provided by the pre-health advisor. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment to discuss any matter related to the application process. Individual appointments may be scheduled in My Journey and questions can be directed to careers@case.edu.