How do I become a Anesthesia Technician?

Question

I thinking of being a anesthesiologist. I am currently doing my master in Biomedical Science. I want to get experience to see if this is the field I want to pursue.

Can I just work in Hospital for two years, then take the license exam? Does the hospital training program cost money? Can I work without paying for anything and then take the exam?

Would it be hard to find a Job ?

Answer 1

I have a hard time understanding why anyone who had completed a master's degree in any field would be interested in being an anesthesia technician.

Don't get me wrong!  Anesthesia techs perform a necessary service, but their job would hardly be considered stimulating from a mental standpoint for a person who has that level of education.

An anesthesia technician performs a variety of technical and supportive patient care tasks to assist attending anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists in performing anesthetic procedures. They prepare and maintains anesthesia equipment; clean anesthesia machines, monitors and equipment following procedures. They set-up anesthesia equipment and troubleshoot technical problems prior to procedures. They obtains supplies and equipment as requested by anesthesia providers.

Put in short terms; they clean the equipment and run for supplies. the salary range is $29,000 to $49,000 in the US.

You cannot be an anesthesiologist by this route.  To be an anesthesiologist requires 4 years of medical school, then a 5 year residency program (which includes a 1 year rotating clinical year) The salary range is $188.000 to $285,000 per year.

To be a Nurse Anesthetist requires a bachelor of science in nursing (4 year degree) then 2 years of experience in intensive care (though most RNs must work for 6 months to a year in medical surgical before they start in ICU) then a 28 month educational process the admission for which is more competitive than many medical schools. The salary range in the US is $107,000 to $321,000 per year.

Finally there is the Anesthesiologist Assistant.  This is a specially educated physician assistant, who can provide anesthesia under the supervision of an anesthesiologist.  They have a 24 moth training program at one of only 5 schools in the US and are not currently able to work in all 50 states.  Their scope of practice is similar to a CRNA, but they are not able to work without the supervision of an anesthesiologist unlike CRNAs who often perform using the surgeon as the physician collaborator. This causes their pay range to be lower.  The US salary range for AAs is $74,000 to $147,000 per year.

Hope you find a career which meets your needs.

Answer 2

each hospital will have a set of different set of requirements -- so check with the hospital that would be your first choice!!!