CaliforniaAnesthesiologist Assistant License Requirements

Anesthesiologist Assistant programs are master's-level programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Programs typically require 24-28 months of full-time study and include extensive clinical rotations in anesthesia. Admission requires a bachelor's degree with pre-medical science prerequisites including organic chemistry, physics, biology, and biochemistry. There are currently about 13 CAAHEP-accredited AA programs in the United States.

The AA-C (Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant) credential is granted by the NCCAA upon passing the national certification examination. All states that authorize Anesthesiologist Assistants require the AA-C credential. Candidates must graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant master's program before taking the examination. The AA-C must be maintained through continuing education credits and recertification every two years. Practice is limited to direct anesthesiologist supervision in all authorizing states.

Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAs) are licensed or authorized to practice in approximately 20 states. AAs work exclusively under the direct supervision of licensed anesthesiologists, providing anesthesia care in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. States that do not authorize AAs rely primarily on Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) for non-physician anesthesia services. Legislative efforts to expand AA authorization continue in many states.

Anesthesiologist Assistants work exclusively under the direct supervision of licensed anesthesiologists. Their scope of practice includes pre-anesthetic patient evaluation, obtaining vascular access, administering anesthetic agents, performing airway management, monitoring patients during anesthesia, assisting with regional anesthesia techniques, and providing post-anesthesia care. AAs practice in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and other approved medical facilities. The supervising anesthesiologist must be immediately available at all times during anesthesia care.

Reciprocity Requirements

• •California does not authorize Anesthesiologist Assistants

States that authorize Anesthesiologist Assistants generally accept the AA-C credential from the NCCAA for reciprocity purposes. Requirements typically include verification of current AA-C certification, graduation from a CAAHEP-accredited program, and a clean disciplinary record. Since the AA-C is a nationally standardized credential, transfer between authorizing states is generally straightforward, though specific requirements should be verified with each state's medical board.