Anesthesia Technician Schools
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A slug of whiskey was often the only pain relief a surgeon could offer before a patient went under the knife in the Wild West. While this may have been a simpler time, it was also a more painful one.
Today, surgeons and other healthcare professionals can offer many different types of anesthesia that are highly effective in numbing or dulling the pain of all types of surgery. An anesthesia technician (AT) with proper training can assist surgeons, anesthesiologists, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) with the delicate matter of administering these powerful drugs to patients in a safe way.
To work alongside doctors in the operating room, anesthesia technicians must dedicate themselves to proper training. With only a few anesthesia tech schools around the country that the American Society has approved of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT), pursuing this career takes perseverance. Although an incoming AT may only require an associate of science (AS) degree, the hands-on experience gained during the practicum portion of the degree is essential to career success.
Once a student has completed their anesthesia technician training, the job market should be ready for them. Increasing demand with no signs of abating means working for a well-educated AT for many years to come.
Anesthesia Technician Degree & Certification Programs
According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the preferred level of education for an entry-level position as an anesthesia technician is a high school diploma or a GED. That being said, the ASA also notes that as the demand for anesthesia technicians grows, so will the need for specialized skills among them. This means that more and more positions require a two-year degree for incoming anesthesia technicians.
These positions may even require official certification from the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT). To qualify for the anesthesia technologist certification, aspiring technicians must have completed an ASATT-approved program and pass the exam. The only certification currently offered by ASATT is the certified anesthesia technologist (Cer.A.T.T.) credential.
While not all positions require certification, graduating from an ASATT-approved program can be essential for career advancement and compensation. Some employers require that candidates hold this certification as a minimum qualification or earn it within two years of hire.
As of April 2023, only 11 ASATT-approved anesthesia tech schools offer degree and certificate programs that prepare anesthesia technicians to enter the workforce with relevant education. Seven of the ASATT-approved programs listed here hold accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), meaning successful completion of these programs makes graduates eligible for the Cer.A.T.T. exam. The Committee on Accreditation for Anesthesia Technology Education (CoA-ATE) keeps an updated list of all 11 ASATT-approved programs.
Columbia State Community College
Columbia State Community College offers an associate of applied science degree in anesthesia technology. The overall goal of this program is to prepare students for eligibility to take and pass the written ASATT national certification examination to become certified as anesthesia technologists.
This 69-credit program includes courses such as basic principles of anesthesia technology; basic principles of anesthesia equipment; advanced principles of anesthesia technology; anesthesia pharmacology; anatomy & physiology; medical terminology; introduction to anesthesia technology; and an anesthesia technician capstone.
- Location: Columbia, TN
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: Five academic semesters
- Estimated Tuition: In-state ($171 per credit); out-of-state ($705 per credit)
Graduates of Chemeketa Community College’s associate of applied science degree in anesthesia technology should be able to demonstrate competency and rationale with regard to anesthesia-related equipment, demonstrate the ability to service and maintain anesthesia equipment, demonstrate the principles of basic as well as advanced airway management, and assume the role of competent and caring anesthesia technologists in a variety of healthcare settings.
Based on ASATT and CAAHEP standards and guidelines, the program’s curriculum includes courses such as an introduction to anesthesia technology; operating room equipment; pharmacology for the anesthesia technologist; medical law and ethics for anesthesia technologists; anesthesia equipment: principles and applications; and anesthesia technology certification exam prep.
- Location: Salem, OR
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: Oregon and border state students ($136 per credit); out-of-state and international students ($307 per credit)
Milwaukee Area Technical College
The Milwaukee Area Technical College School of Health Sciences in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in anesthesia technology. Applicants must have completed at least one year of high school-level biology, chemistry, and algebra to be eligible for this program.
Students at MATC complete classroom-based courses in theoretical concepts and clinical rotations. Students are eligible for the Cer.A.T.T. exam after completing the program. The 64-credit curriculum includes courses such as introduction to anesthesia technology; culture of healthcare; EKG analysis; anesthetics; anesthesia technology clinical experience; anesthesia technology clinical seminar; and contemporary American society.
- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: Residents ($483.75 for three credits); non-residents ($698.94 for three credits)
On the west coast, aspiring anesthesia technicians can study at Pasadena City College in Pasadena, California. PCC offers a two-year program culminating in a certificate of achievement and an associate of science degree.
Students at PCC will take courses such as professional aspects of anesthesia technology; anesthesia pharmacology; basic principles of anesthesia technology; and advanced principles of anesthesia technology. They will also participate in clinical experiences and seminars demonstrating anesthesia care techniques.
Graduates of this program will be able to assist licensed anesthesia providers, provide support for surgical cases, perform maintenance on anesthesia equipment, and sterilize, clean, disinfect, order, stock, and maintain anesthesia equipment and supplies.
- Location: Pasadena, CA
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: Three semesters
- Estimated Tuition: $46 per unit
Wayne County Community College District
Wayne County Community College District offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in anesthesia technology, preparing students to enter the allied health field, focusing on advanced and fundamental clinical procedures assisting the anesthesia provider in the safe and efficient care of patients under anesthesia. This six-semester program prepares students for work in various clinical settings, such as hospital operating rooms, labor and delivery units, emergency rooms, intensive care units, ambulatory surgery centers, and outpatient procedure suites.
The program’s 68-credit curriculum includes courses such as an introduction to anesthesia technology; basic and advanced principles of anesthesia technology; anesthesia technology instrumentation; anesthesia technology pharmacology; anesthesia technology clinical; anesthesia technology seminar and certification preparation; and medical terminology.
- Location: Detroit, MI
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: WCCCD district residents ($109.10 per credit); other Michigan residents ($118.30 per credit); out-of-state residents ($148.90 per credit)
Community College of Allegheny County
Community College of Allegheny County offers an associate of science program in anesthesia technology preparing students to work under the supervision of anesthesia providers and as vital members of anesthesia care teams. Graduates will be ready to work in various clinical settings, including interventional and diagnostic radiology, hospital operating rooms, labor and delivery units, emergency rooms, intensive care units, ambulatory surgery centers, and outpatient procedure suites.
This 71- to 73-credit program includes courses such as basic principles of anesthesia technology; basic principles of anesthesia equipment; advanced principles of anesthesia technology; advanced anesthesia equipment; introductory chemistry; anesthesia technology clinical; anesthesia pharmacology; and professional issues for the anesthesia technologist.
- Location: Monroeville, PA
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: Allegheny county residents ($122 per credit); residents of other Pennsylvania counties ($244 per credit); out-of-state & international ($366 per credit)
Community College of Baltimore County
Community College of Baltimore County’s associate of applied science program in anesthesia technology prepares students to become important members of anesthesia patient care teams. This collaborative program is with the Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine.
Made up of 60 credits, the program includes courses such as fundamentals of anesthesia technology; concepts of anesthesia technology; anesthesia pharmacology; anesthesia technology equipment; anesthesia technology practicum; and anesthesia technology capstone.
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: In-county ($122 per credit); in-state, but out-of-county ($241 per credit); out-of-state and international ($372 per credit)
List of Anesthesia Technician Schools
| School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland | Ohio | www.case.edu | 60 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | www.nova.edu | 60 |
| Emory University | Atlanta | Georgia | www.emory.edu | 36 |
| South University, Savannah | Savannah | Georgia | www.southuniversity.edu | 23 |
| Renton Technical College | Renton | Washington | www.rtc.edu | 15 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | Kansas City | Missouri | www.umkc.edu | 12 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver | Colorado | www.ucdenver.edu | 11 |
| City College-Miami | Miami | Florida | www.citycollege.edu | 10 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Illinois | www.cod.edu | 10 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | matc.edu | 5 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden | Connecticut | www.qu.edu | 5 |
| Wayne County Community College District | Detroit | Michigan | www.wcccd.edu | 5 |
| City College-Altamonte Springs | Altamonte Springs | Florida | www.citycollege.edu | 4 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | www.ccac.edu | 4 |
| Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore | Maryland | www.ccbcmd.edu | 4 |
| City College-Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | www.citycollege.edu | 2 |
Hybrid & Online Programs in Anesthesia Technology
Although becoming an anesthesia technician can be a great way to start a new career, many ATs begin in other medical and allied healthcare fields. Therefore, an online or hybrid option may be the best choice for these students, especially if they wish to continue working while pursuing their AT education.
It should be noted that even for those programs that offer online courses, there is always a clinical component that students must complete in person. Online programs may help students find a local hospital or clinic in which to complete their practicum.
Further, there currently need to be online programs that the ASATT has approved. While completing an online anesthesia technician program can be a great way to learn more and advance their careers, more is needed to make graduates eligible to sit for the ASATT certification exam.
Anesthesia Technician Core & Elective Courses
Although every program for anesthesia technicians will differ somewhat, some core courses are standard across the board. Because many matriculating students may need to be experienced in the medical field, there are often courses offered in medical terminology and introductory courses to the area of anesthesia technology.
Further, methods in the specific technology and equipment a working AT uses are standard. Because anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists work so consistently with powerful medications, courses in anesthesia pharmacology are standardized across AT programs.
The vast majority of AT programs last just two years, with some lasting only a single year. These short programs leave very little time for electives in the curriculum since coursework must focus on the profession's most practical and broadest aspects. Aspiring ATs are introduced to different types of work environments and then have the opportunity to experience specialized clinical settings during their externships. Common specializations include emergency, intensive care, and outpatient surgery.
Anesthesia Technician Accreditation
A few professional organizations offer programmatic accreditation for anesthesia technicians, meaning the program has been evaluated against specific standards for curriculum, faculty, and learning outcomes. Finding an accredited program is not a guarantee of job opportunities or education. Still, it is an indication that the program has been evaluated by professionals in the field and deemed suitable by that particular organization.
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) provides accreditation to programs institution-wide and programmatic. The accreditation process for CAAHEP consists of an application, a self-study, and an on-site review from experts in the particular field or department.
It is important to recognize that ASATT approves programs in the initial stage of accreditation by CAAHEP, also known as letter of review (LoR) programs. Completing an ASATT-approved program allows graduates to sit for the Anesthesia Technologist exam offered by ASATT.
In addition to CAAHEP accreditation and ASATT approval, schools and programs may be accredited by any number of higher education accreditation bodies. For instance, the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) offers accreditation to schools that provide many types of health education. The ABHES is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The accreditation manual for the ABHES is available on their website.
Finally, accreditation organizations are not specific to health education or health care but instead offer institutional accreditation for an entire school. For instance, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a regional accrediting body that provides accreditation to "degree-granting institutions which offer one or more post-secondary educational programs, including those offered via distance education.”
Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not explicitly track the demand for anesthesia technicians. However, statistics for surgical technologists, who require similar educational backgrounds and work in similar clinical environments, are promising. Demand for surgical technologists is expected to grow 6 percent between 2021 and 2031, which is slightly faster than the national average (BLS 2022).
According to the ASATT, the specific demand for anesthesia technologists is also increasing. One of the primary reasons for the increased demand and the growth of the healthcare industry is the rising age of the U.S. population. As more baby boomers retire and require more medical attention, resources will continue to be strained in the healthcare industry. As a result, anesthesia technicians, who can work in pain management, surgery, and other clinical environments, will be in demand.
Surgical technologists earn an annual average salary of $53,590 (BLS May 2021). In the coming decade, 6,500 new positions will be added to the 110,700 currently employed surgical technologists. The top employing industries for surgical technologists are:
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 77,450 surgical techs employed
- Offices of Physicians: 12,350
- Outpatient Care Centers: 12,080
- Offices of Dentists: 1,830
- Specialty Hospitals: 1,530
| Career Facts | Anesthesia Technician |
|---|---|
| Related Careers | Surgical Technologist, Radiation Therapist, Endoscopy Technician, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Nuclear Medicine Technologist |
| Common Job Titles | Anesthesia Technician, Anesthesia Technologist, Anaesthetic Technician |
| Technology & Equipment | Anesthetic Machine, IV Therapy Administration Equipment, Anesthetic Monitoring Equipment (EKG, EEG, Blood Pressure), Endotracheal Tube, Laryngeal Mask |
| Sourced from BLS May 2021 | |
Licensing & Certification of Anesthesia Techs
Anesthesia technicians can become certified by sitting for an exam administered by the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists & Technicians (ASATT). As of 2022, the ASATT offers the certified anesthesia technologist (Cer.A.T.T) credential. Although the exam is computer-based, to complete an ASATT test, technicians must visit a physical testing facility.
There are more than 100 facilities around the U.S. and several locations outside of the country as well. The handbook for the technologist test is available on the ASATT website. There is no oral or practicum part of the certification exam.
ASATT certification is currently the only professional certification available to anesthesia technicians. This certification can benefit the job market as some hospitals and clinics require it. However, the certification is not required by any state or local government. State licensing requirements for anesthesia technicians vary by state, and anesthesia technicians are encouraged to research state licensure requirements for where they plan to work or reside.
Cer.A.T.T. certification holders must earn 30 continuing education requirements (CEUs) during the two-year certification period. Certification expires on December 31 every two years. Those who let their certification lapse can pursue three recertification methods: a refresher program, an advancement program, and a professional recertification program.
