Anesthesia Assistants provide anesthesia care but are not physicians. To become a Certified Anesthesiology Assistant (CAA), students must first complete a bachelor’s degree, then be admitted to a master’s level Anesthesiology Assistant program. Most programs in this discipline last two years. After receiving their certification, CAAs serve under the supervision of a physician anesthesiologist. A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) performs a similar role to that of a CAA, however CRNAs are required to have a nursing degree and one year of clinical experience.
