What Is A Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant And Is It Right for Me?
Formerly a hidden gem within the medical field, the CAA profession is now growing rapidly to meet the high demand for anesthesia professionals.
What is a CAA?
A certified anesthesiologist assistant, abbreviated CAA and often referred to as an anesthetist, is a highly trained anesthesia professional who provides safety-focused anesthetic care throughout a patient's entire surgical experience - before, during, and after the procedure.
CAAs complete a premedical undergraduate education, followed by graduate-level training at an accredited institution. Currently, 19 states plus Washington DC allow for CAAs to practice, and the goal of the profession is to practice in all 50 states. To see a practice authorization map, click here, courtesy of the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants
CAAs work exclusively within the anesthesia care team (ACT) model. The ACT is led by an anesthesiologist, otherwise known as a medical doctor or physician specializing in anesthesia, pain management, and critical care. The physician-led ACT, in addition to CAAs, may also include resident physicians who are training to become anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists.
What do CAAs do?
CAAs' training equips them to:
- Perform pre-anesthetic evaluations that obtain medical history and includes a physical exam
- Perform airway management with techniques including bag mask ventilation, intubation, and laryngeal mask airway placement
- Obtain invasive access with intravenous lines, arterial lines, and central lines
- Monitor and interpret hemodynamic changes throughout a surgical procedure
- Select and administer appropriate medications in the perioperative period
- Perform regional anesthesia by administering both peripheral and neuraxial blocks, such as spinals and epidurals
Is the CAA profession right for me?
If you envision yourself in a career that requires hands-on skills, applied pharmacology, and team-based cooperation, considering a career as a CAA is a smart move.
Getting in the operating room for yourself and witnessing first-hand what anesthesia professionals do is one of the best ways to get clarity on whether the CAA profession is right for you. For guidance on how to prepare for shadowing, check out our Shadowing Prep Guide.
The CAA profession is expanding rapidly, so now is a great time to explore a potential career as part of the Anesthesia Care Team.
Interested in learning more about the CAA profession and how to become one? Check out the application checklist!
Sarah is the founder of Aspiring CAA, a practicing certified anesthesiologist assistant, clinical preceptor, and assistant professor at a master of medical science program. With admission committee experience and an intricate knowledge of the admissions process, she helps guide prospective CAA students on their career journey.
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About this blog
Aspiring CAA is the go-to blog for expert advice on how to become a CAA. Founded by a practicing certified anesthesiologist assistant, clinical preceptor, and assistant professor at a master of medical science program in anesthesiology, Aspiring CAA makes admissions guidance readily available to all aspiring anesthesiologist assistants. With admission committee experience and an intricate knowledge of the admissions process, Aspiring CAA takes the guess work out of applying to CAA school.
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