Pre-Anesthesiology Assistant
Certified Anesthesiology Assistants (CAAs) are highly skilled professionals who work under the direction of licensed anesthesiologists (specialist physicians) as part of the anesthesia care team to design and implement anesthesia care plans. CAAs work in hospitals and surgery centers under the direction of a licensed physician anesthesiologist. The profession maintains a typical workweek with options for on-call, evening, or weekend assignments. Currently, the profession is not recognized in the State of MI, so no training programs are available in MI. However, this is being worked on and will change in the future.
Learn more about what CAAs do at the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants.
What classes do I need to take?
CAA program requirements vary widely. Know your CAA programs early on. While most follow a typical pre-medical track course curriculum, you need to make sure you meet the expectations unique to each program. A list of CAA programs in the US and their prerequisites is found on the Association of Anesthesiologist Assistant Education Programs.
UM-Dearborn pre-requisite courses needed for Anesthesiology Assistant programs
What is the national standardized test?
Some CAA graduate programs require the ETS Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test (not any of the subject tests). The best way to prepare for the general GRE test is to use the ETS free test preparation material to prepare for the general GRE. Re-read what you just read. Free material! Don't buy prep material.
Some CAA graduate programs require the Medical College Admission Test, MCAT. The best way to prepare for the MCAT is to do well academically in all the pre-requisite courses before studying for the MCAT. The MCAT comprises General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, Critical Analysis & Reasoning, Statistics, Psychology and Sociology. To be more familiar with the MCAT exam, please read and understand the MCAT Essentials, published each year, on the MCAT URL.
What else should I know?
It is important that you learn and incorporate the Association of American Medical Colleges Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students in your prerequisite coursework and extracurricular activities. These competencies, especially the professional skills, are expected to be demonstrated in your application. For example, when a student volunteers in the community, the student gains professional skills in cultural humility and sensitivity as well as reliability and adaptability.
More information, such as what you should major in or how to handle repeats or withdrawals at UM-Dearborn, can be found in our FAQ section.