How To Become An Anesthesiologist

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How Long Does It Take, What Degree Do You Need, and More

Anesthesiologists

Anesthesiologists administer anesthetics prior to, during, or after surgery or other medical procedures.

Salary
$271440
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Doctoral degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Table of contents
  1. Summary
  2. Steps to become one
  3. Popular degree levels
  4. How long does it take

Summary

Degree Anesthesiologists must earn a Bachelor’s Degree followed by a Medical Degree from a Medical School.
Degree field When earning a Bachelor’s Degree, most aspiring Anesthesiologists major in Pre-Medicine, Science, or a related field.
License or certification Anesthesiologists must pass a national exam to become board-certified after completing a four-year residency.
Duration to become one 12 years
Difficulty to become one Very Hard

Anesthesiologists Requirements

Step 1: Develop Your Science Skills in High School

Anesthesiologists require strong science skills, which you can start developing in high school. Most states require high school students to complete at least three credits of science. This typically includes Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

If possible, take science classes beyond the requirements. Some high schools may offer AP science classes, Human Anatomy, and other courses that are more directly related to the medical field.

Step 2: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Before enrolling in Medical School, you must obtain a Bachelor’s Degree. Most aspiring Anesthesiologists major in Pre-Medicine, Biology, or Chemistry. However, some Anesthesiologists obtain Liberal Arts Degrees. If you pursue a non-medical major, you should still complete relevant courses such as Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Enrollment as Medical Schools is competitive, requiring applicants to have high GPAs during their undergraduate studies. You may need a GPA of 3.5 to 4.0 when earning your Bachelor’s Degree.

Step 3: Pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

During your last year of undergraduate studies, you can sign up to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The MCAT is a requirement for Medical School admission. It tests your knowledge in a variety of relevant subjects including:

  • Physics
  • Biology
  • General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Writing Skills
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking

The exam includes multiple parts, including three multiple-choice sections. The three sections cover Biological Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and Physical Sciences. You must also complete a writing assignment. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) administers the test and provides online tools to help prepare students.

Step 4: Earn a Medical Degree

After earning a Bachelor’s Degree and passing the MCAT, you may enroll in Medical School. Medical Schools grant students Doctor of Medicine (MD) Degrees and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DOM) Degrees. Both options are suitable for aspiring Anesthesiologists.

The first two years of Medical School are spent in classrooms and science labs. You may study biochemistry, human anatomy, and other foundational courses. The second portion of your Medical School training also typically includes an internship. You will spend the next two years of Medical School working in hospitals and clinics. You will typically work under the supervision of experienced Doctors and Anesthesiologists.

Step 5: Prepare for the United States Medical Licensing Examination

Aspiring Anesthesiologists must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). This is a requirement for any job that requires medical licensure in the United States. The USMLE includes three separate exams. You may complete the first two exams during enrollment at Medical School. However, you need to wait until you graduate from the program and earn your Medical degree before completing the final part of the USMLE.

Step 6: Complete a Residency Program in Anesthesiology

After earning a Medical Degree, you can apply for a position in an Anesthesiology residency program. The residency programs typically last four years.

Step 7: Obtain a State License to Work as an Anesthesiologist

The final step before you can start looking for work as an Anesthesiologist is to become state-licensed. The requirements vary by state. However, almost every state requires you to complete the steps described above.

You must earn a Medical degree, pass the USMLE exams, and complete a residency program in Anesthesiology. Depending on the state, you may also need to become board-certified before obtaining a license.

Step 8: Pass the National Exam to Become Board-Certified

Many states require Anesthesiologists to become board-certified, which involves passing a national exam. As the requirements vary, you may need to pass the board certification exam before or after applying for your state license.

Board certification is handled by the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS). The requirements for board certification include the completion of a residency program along with the submission of 25 anesthesia case reports that are no older than 12 months.

You must also submit two letters of recommendation from board-certified members of the ABPS, ABMS, AOA, RCPSC, or the CFPC. After meeting these requirements and passing the exam, you become a board-certified Anesthesiologist.

Step 9: Apply for Jobs as an Anesthesiologist

You can now start looking for work as a full-time Anesthesiologist. Search for jobs with titles such as General Anesthesiologist or Anesthesia Technician. Some employers may require you to work under an experienced Anesthesiologist for a year.

Step 10: Continue Your Education

Experienced Anesthesiologists may choose to advance their careers by obtaining additional certifications and continuing their education. This requires the completion of an additional residency program, which takes another four years to complete. Some of the available subspecialties of Anesthesiology include:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  • Neurocritical Care
  • Pain Medicine
  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Sleep Medicine

After completing the required residency program for one of these subspecialties, you may complete a certification exam and start working in your area of specialty.

Along with these subspecialties, some Anesthesiologists choose to expand their career prospects by obtaining Nursing credentials. For example, you may choose to become certified as a Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or a Registered Nurse (RN).

As you have already completed Medical School, the path to becoming a Nurse is often much shorter compared to those entering the Nursing field. You may qualify for an accelerated Nursing program that takes one to two years to complete instead of the traditional four years.

After completing a Nursing program, you will need to earn a Master’s Degree in Nurse Anesthesia. Due to your existing credentials, this may take an additional one to two years instead of up to four years.

What degree do most Anesthesiologists have

Doctoral degree

We did a survey to ask other Anesthesiologists what degree they had when they first became one. Here are the results.

Post-Doctoral Training
69.18%

Doctoral degree
24.71%

First Professional degree
4.85%

How long does it take

12 years

An Anesthesiologist is an MD or a DO physician. He or she begins with undergraduate studies and obtaining medical pre-requisites (this takes 4 years) before applying to and getting accepted to medical school. Medical school takes an additional 4 years, where ultimately a graduate applies to and is accepted at an accredited Anesthesiology residency program. This is basically on-the-job training which lasts another four years, where the graduate finally leaves as a board-certified Anesthesiologist and can practice independently from supervision.

In short, becoming an Anesthesiologist may take about 12 years. You need to earn a Bachelor’s Degree, earn a Medical Degree, and complete a residency program, which each takes four years to complete.


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