Medical students take many exams and certifications, yet at what point do they decide on their career? The career path for physicians can vary greatly. Locum tenens providers have a large variety of specialties. People who want to work in surgeries but don’t want to be a surgeon can choose a career in anesthesiology.
What is the scope of practice for anesthesiologists?
Anesthesiologists (MDs and DOs) administer anesthesia and monitor patients before, during, and after the drug’s use. Their role involves using general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and local anesthetics.
They can also help manage pain relief by using nerve blocks and pain medicine. Anesthesiologists practice independently and can also supervise Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), however some states grant CRNAs full practice authority, meaning they don’t need anesthesiologist supervision.
How do I become an anesthesiologist?
Anesthesiologists follow the same general procedure as other physicians. First, they earn a 4-year bachelor’s degree in an appropriate major from an undergraduate institution. The next step would be to take the MCAT and attend four years of medical school, earning either an MD or a DO.
They must then pass a national board exam—either the USLME for MDs or COMLEX for DOs—and complete four years of residency training. The USMLE focuses on allopathic medicine, while the COMLEX focuses on osteopathic principles. Following a residency, anesthesiologists can choose to pursue a fellowship in a subspecialty, such as critical care or pain medicine. Once an anesthesiologist has passed these national board exam, they can then apply to a state’s medical board for licensing—be advised, there may be different requirements by state.
Residency programs must be certified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).
While it isn’t legally required, hospitals and other employers are increasingly requesting that anesthesiologists be board certified. The primary certifying body is the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), but there are alternatives such as the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) and the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology (AOBA).
How long does it take to become an anesthesiologist?
Generally it takes about 12 years to become an anesthesiologist. This includes the four years to earn an undergraduate degree, four years of medical school, and four years of residency. Earning a license as an anesthesiologist does not have a simple shortcut—as with all physician careers, it takes many years and dedication.
What exams do anesthesiologists need to take?
To be eligible for state licensure, anesthesiologists must take the USMLE (for MDs) or the COMLEX (for DOs). Passing these exams certifies to a state licensing body that the anesthesiologist is knowledgeable about anesthetic practice.
While certification isn’t legally required, the main certification body for anesthesiologists is the ABA, who offers three exams for physicians. The first is the BASIC Exam which focuses on the scientific foundations of anesthetic practice, such as pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, and more. The ADVANCED Exam is focused on the clinical details of anesthetic practice. The third exam is the APPLIED Exam, which consists of an oral exam and a structured clinical examination. Subspecialty Exams are also available, which anesthesiologists can use to certify themselves in specific areas of medicine such as critical care medicine, pediatric anesthesiology, and neurocritical care.
What licenses do anesthesiologists need?
Anesthesiologists must obtain a valid, unencumbered medical license in the state in which they are planning to practice. In many cases, anesthesiologists must also be board-certified, either by the ABA, ABPS, or AOBA.
What are the continuing education requirements for anesthesiologists?
To maintain ABA certification, an anesthesiologist must complete a total of 250 continuing medical education (CME) credits every 10 years, and 20 of these credits must be ABA-approved CMEs focused on patient safety.
Most states also require CME credits as a condition for medical licensure renewal, but this depends heavily on each state’s medical licensing board.
This article was written by Desirae Sin in 2024 and updated by Mike Connors in 2025.