British Columbia Society of Anesthesia Assistants
Improving access to surgical care
Our mission
The British Columbia Society of Anesthesia Assistants (BCSAA) aims to promote professional excellence in anesthesia assistance, foster professional development, and facilitate collaboration among our members.
What we do
Anesthesia Assistants (AAs) are critical-care-trained healthcare workers who have pursued post-graduate education and training in anesthesia assistance. AAs work in anesthesia care teams under the medical direction of a physician anesthesiologist to help optimize care for British Columbians requiring surgical services.
How to become an Anesthesia Assistant
Registered Respiratory Therapists and Registered Nurses
In BC, accredited post-graduate Anesthesia Assistant programs are offered through either Thompson Rivers University or Vancouver General Hospital to Registered Respiratory Therapists or Registered Nurses with critical care experience. Both programs follow the National Competency Framework for Anesthesia Assistance (NCF AA), the recognized national education standard created with input from the CAS, CSRT, ORNAC, NAPANc, ACUDA, CBRC(HPTC) and CoARTE. Graduates of accredited programs gain eligibility to become credentialed by the CSRT as Certified Clinical Anesthesia Assistants through Health Professionals Testing Canada’s National Certified Clinical Anesthesia Assistant examination (HPTC AA).
Internationally Trained Healthcare Professionals
In Canada, Anesthesia Assistants are credentialed by the CSRT after successfully passing the HPTC AA examination. To be eligible to write the national exam, individuals must first graduate from an accredited anesthesia assistant education program. The BCSAA is a provincial society responsible for professional advocacy and is not responsible for credentialing or regulating Anesthesia Assistants. For further information on how to become an Anesthesia Assistant as an internationally trained healthcare professional, please inquire with one of the accredited education programs below for direction.
Accredited Anesthesia Assistant Programs
“Anesthesia care teams in British Columbia which include both physician anesthesiologists and anesthesia assistants have been shown to significantly increase operating room efficiency, allowing more surgeries to be performed each day, while also improving outcomes for our patients.” ¹
Reference
British Columbia Anesthesiologists’ Society. (Nov 1, 2021). More anesthesia assistants to improve surgical efficiency and safety in B.C. [News Release]