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2-step progression from Registered Nurse to Anesthesiologist Assistant. Potential salary increase of -32% from entry to advanced level.
Entry Salary
$93,600
Registered Nurse
Top Salary
$64,030
Anesthesiologist Assistant
Total Steps
2
licenses
Median Salary
$93,600
BSN + 1-2 years ICU experience
Avg. Licensing Cost
$375
Avg. Timeline
2.1 years – 4.3 years
Ready to start your Anesthesiologist Assistant journey?
Compare approved training programs and find the best fit for your schedule and budget.
Median Salary
$64,030
Master's in anesthesia + NCCAA certification
Avg. Licensing Cost
$274
Avg. Timeline
6.7 years – 7.1 years
The nurse anesthesia career path is a professional progression from Registered Nurse to Anesthesiologist Assistant. It includes 2 licensing levels, each with increasing education, responsibility, and earning potential.
Advancing from Registered Nurse ($93,600 median) to Anesthesiologist Assistant ($64,030 median) represents a -32% salary increase based on BLS national median data.
Each step requires additional education and licensing. Registered Nurse: BSN + 1-2 years ICU experience. Anesthesiologist Assistant: Master's in anesthesia + NCCAA certification. The total time depends on the pace of your education and state-specific processing times.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 national medians. Licensing costs and timelines are averages across all US states derived from verified state licensing board data. Individual state requirements vary — see state-specific pages for details.