Support for Anesthesia Assistants

The BC Society of Anesthesia Assistants (BCSAA) is pleased to offer bursaries of $150 each to support members in pursuing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities. These bursaries aim to foster professional growth and enhance the quality of anesthesia care across British Columbia.

BCSAA Bursary Application Form

Articles and News of Interest

Ward, Berry, Bou-Habib, Law, & Milne - Roles of anesthesia assistants within the code blue team at in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests: A retrospective analysis (2025)

CBC Radio - Want to be sedated (for surgery)? Anesthesia assistants could help shorten wait times (2025)

Orser, Wilson & Jivraj - Strategies to increase access to physician-led anesthesia care in Canada (2024)

Yang et al. - The evolution and formalization of anesthesia assistant roles across Canada (2024)

Filteau, Preston, & Seligman - A call to action—anesthesia assistants in Canada (2024)

Salvatori et al. - Safe use of a 5:1 coverage model for anesthesia assistants performing conscious sedation in an independent health facility (2024)

Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society - Strategies to address the surgical backlog and health human resource (HHR) issues in anesthesia (2023)

Ontario’s Anesthesiologists - The Anesthesia Care Team (ACT) Model: What Is It & Why Ontario Needs to Expand It (2023)

Anesthesia assistants at Providence: Allied health care providers since 1997 (2021)

Yang & Orser - Submission to Ontario Health: Advocacy for Anesthesia Assistants in Ontario (2021)

Law et al. - Canadian Airway Focus Group updated consensus-based recommendations for management of the difficult airway: part 1. Difficult airway management encountered in an unconscious patient(2021)

Law et al. - Canadian Airway Focus Group updated consensus-based recommendations for management of the difficult airway: part 2. Planning and implementing safe management of the patient with an anticipated difficult airway(2021)

Ward, Munro, Houser, & Brousseau - A survey of how the role and specialty training of anesthesia assistants in Canadian teaching hospitals have changed over the past 12 years (2021)

BCAS - “Far too long, far too many…” A discussion paper on B.C.’s worrisome increase in surgical wait-times(2019)

Lam, Lopez Filici, Middleton, & McGillicuddy - Exploring healthcare professionals’ perceptions of the anesthesia assistant role and its impact on patients and interprofessional collaboration (2018)

CAS - 2013 CAS allied health research study: Survey of Anesthesia Assistants(2014)

Head, Seib, Osborn, & Schwarz - A “swing room” model based on regional anesthesia reduces turnover time and increases case throughput (2011)

ACT Implementation Advisory Committee - A plan to evolve the anesthesia care team model in Ontario(2009)

The Certified Clinical Anesthesia Assistant (CCAA) designation is awarded to anesthesia assistants who have met all CSRT eligibility requirements including a commitment to maintaining proficiency and professionalism through continuing education (CE) and continuing professional development (CPD). To ensure all CCAA designation holders continue to meet these expectations, randomly selected CCAAs are audited yearly and are required to provide evidence of completed CE/CPD. The BCSAA Audit Form was developed to assist AAs in organizing their CPD credits in preparation for auditing.