News & briefings
What's changing for aspiring CAAs — the expanding field, admissions, the CASAA application, money, and interviews. Searchable and grouped by topic, kept accurate cycle to cycle.
13 briefings
The CAA field is expanding — 23 states + D.C. and counting
Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants can now practice in 23 states plus Washington, D.C. (24 jurisdictions), and at any VA facility nationwide. Tennessee and Virginia were the most recent to authorize practice — and more are in motion each legislative session.
What is a CAA? →Any bachelor's background can apply — here's what you actually need
No nursing degree or ICU years required. What programs want is a strong science foundation, the prerequisite coursework, a competitive MCAT or GRE, documented shadowing, and a clear reason for choosing anesthesia.
See the requirements →Deadlines vary widely — and rolling admissions reward early
CAA deadlines range from October through summer, and many programs review on a rolling basis. A complete application submitted months early is materially stronger than a perfect one at the buzzer. Every program's deadline is now on its directory card.
Check deadlines →CAA earning potential: $180K+ — and higher in many states
Typical CAA pay runs roughly $180K–$250K, with entry-level around $190K+ and the highest-paying states exceeding $280K. Strong demand in the care-team model keeps compensation competitive.
Learn about the role →What a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant actually does
CAAs deliver anesthesia as part of the physician-led anesthesia care team — preoperative assessment, airway management, induction and maintenance, monitoring, and emergence — under the medical direction of an anesthesiologist. Same OR work as other providers; a different path in.
Read the overview →New CAA programs keep opening
The directory now tracks 30 accredited and emerging program campuses, including brand-new ones (Lipscomb's inaugural cohort, Mary Hardin-Baylor, and Burrell in planning). As the field grows, so do your options — and the competition.
Browse the directory →Your prerequisite science can expire — check the window
Many CAA programs require core science prerequisites completed within roughly the last 5–10 years. Coursework that's aging out can quietly sink an otherwise strong application — track it before it costs you a cycle.
Track your prereqs →MCAT or GRE? It depends on the program
Most CAA programs accept either the MCAT or the GRE; a few also take the DAT. Competitive is roughly an MCAT around 500+ or a GRE near/above the 50th percentile — but always confirm which exam each program requires.
Read the FAQ →See where you stand before you apply
An honest 0–100 candidacy read on your GPA, prerequisites, exam, and experience — with a prioritized list of what to fix first. Free, no card.
Score your candidacy →CASAA: the centralized application, demystified
Most accredited programs apply through CASAA — one application with transcripts, coursework, scores, experiences, letters, and a personal statement. Enter your coursework carefully: it drives your verified GPA.
Open the CASAA timeline →Free: CASAA checklist, timeline, and interview guide
Three printable PDFs — a step-by-step CASAA application checklist, a month-by-month timeline, and an interview prep guide — built from the same vetted guidance inside Boost CAA. No account required.
Get the downloads →Budget for the whole application, not just tuition
CASAA fees, secondary applications, transcripts, exam costs, and interview travel add up fast. Plan for them early so a deadline never comes down to cost — and compare program tuition side by side before you commit.
Compare programs →CAA interviews: what panels actually assess
Programs interview in panels or a multiple-mini-interview (MMI) format. They're testing informed motivation, your understanding of the care-team role, professionalism, and how you think under pressure — not clinical decisions you haven't been trained to make yet.
See the question bank →Get updates in your inbox
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