Career Overview: Roles and Responsibilities of a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA)
CAAs are highly trained, skilled professionals that work under the guidance of licensed anesthesiologists and alongside the entire anesthesia care team to coordinate care plans for their patients. They play a key role in preparing patients for anesthesia and supporting safe anesthesia delivery throughout surgical and medical procedures. Their responsibilities include obtaining and reviewing a patient’s complete medical history, performing physical examinations to identify factors that may affect the anesthesia care plan, and assisting with airway management and life support. CAAs calibrate and monitor anesthesia delivery systems, induce and adjust anesthesia levels as directed by the supervising physician, and continuously monitor patient vital signs using both invasive and noninvasive techniques. They may utilize specialized monitoring procedures such as electroencephalography, spectral analysis, echocardiography, evoked potential monitoring, and pulmonary artery catheterization. In addition, CAAs may administer diagnostic and laboratory tests, assist with patient care in intensive care units and pain clinics, and monitor patients during the postoperative recovery period. Beyond clinical care, they may also participate in administrative duties, research activities, and clinical instruction.
- Hospital Operating Rooms
- Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Centers
- Endoscopy suites
- Interventional radiology
- Cardiac catheterization labs
- Intensive Care Units
- Pain Management Clinics
(After earning a CAA credential)
- Cardiac Anesthesia
- Pediatric Anesthesia
- Obstetrical Anesthesia
- Neuroanesthesia
- Pain Management
- Trauma and Transplant Surgery
- Regional Anesthesia
- National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA)
- Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (ARC-AA)
- American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA)
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)
Most CAA programs require or strongly recommend:
- General Chemistry – 2 semesters with labs
- General Biology – 2 semesters with labs
- Organic Chemistry – 1 semester with the lab
- A second semester of Organic Chemistry OR Biochemistry with laboratory
- General Physics with laboratory
Calculus-based physics is preferred - Two semesters of Advanced Mathematics, including Calculus
AP/IB/DE Credit: Acceptance of these credits will vary depending on the program’s requirements. Please check the program’s site for further information.
- If those credits are accepted, you may satisfy the requirements by taking a higher-level science course of the class you have credits in, unless stated otherwise.
- If those credits are not accepted, you will need to retake that specific course again.
Coursework varies by school. Always verify specific requirements on each program’s website.
The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is a standardized exam used to assess critical thinking, problem-solving, and foundational knowledge in the sciences and behavioral sciences that are important for success in medical education.
The MCAT consists of four multiple-choice sections: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS), Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. Each section is scored on a scale from 118 to 132, resulting in a total score ranging from 472 to 528. Medical schools review both the overall score and the individual section scores when evaluating applicants. Policies regarding acceptable testing dates and the number of attempts may vary by program.
The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) is a standardized test designed to test your critical thinking skills in general categories rather than on specific “pre-requisite” content: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing.
After taking the GRE, you will receive a few different scores: a sub-score for your verbal and quantitative reasoning sections (scored between 130-170) as well as a combined score for your quantitative and qualitative reasoning sections (scored between 260-340). Additionally, you will receive a score for your analytical writing on a 6-point scale. Schools that require the GRE will likely report a minimum score needed to apply, or an average score of the previously admitted class/es. As you evaluate your scores, ensure that you are either at/above the minimum, or within a close range of the average.
Always check each school’s website to confirm testing requirements.
Application: Central Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants (CASAA)
- Personal Information
- Academic History
Transcript Entry
Standardized Tests - Supporting Information
Evaluations
Achievements
Essay
Experiences
Licenses and Certifications - Program Materials
Learn more about the CASAA application
Research Programs: Create a list of programs and review their individual requirements for prerequisite courses, healthcare experience hours, testing (MCAT/GRE), and letters of recommendation.
Obtain Shadowing/Observation Hours: Shadowing helps you understand the general organization and structure of a day in the healthcare field. Shadowing an anesthesiologist or anesthesiologist assistant can help introduce you to their roles and scope of practice.
Typical Expectations
- Recommended 100-150+ shadowing hours
- Be sure to accurately document and organize all your hours by listing the type of experience, with whom you shadowed, their contact information, and a small reflection of your experience.
Gain Research Experience: While not explicitly required, research can be an additional way to show your engagement with medicine.
For many applicants, research helps show that they can analyze data, think scientifically, and contribute to the advancement of healthcare knowledge. These experiences may involve working in laboratory science, clinical research, public health studies, or social science research related to healthcare. Students who participate in research often develop skills in literature review, data collection, statistical analysis, teamwork, and scientific communication. Long-term involvement that leads to presentations, posters, or publications can further strengthen an application, but these outcomes are not required.
Getting Started
- Visit the USC Office of Undergraduate Research for programs, funding, and project listings
- Talk to your professors after class or during office hours about possible openings
Letters of Recommendation: Most programs require 2-3. Common letter writers include professors, healthcare professionals, or supervisors. Always verify individual program requirements.
To obtain meaningful letters, build relationships early by actively participating in class or clinical experiences, seeking feedback, and demonstrating reliability and initiative. When requesting a letter, ask well in advance, provide your resume, your personal statement, and clearly share deadlines and submission instructions. Thoughtful, detailed recommendations from individuals who know you well can significantly strengthen your application by offering credible, personalized perspectives on your strengths and potential.