What Education Do I Need to Become an Anesthesiologist?

<h3 id="section---EducationOverview">Education Overview</h3> <p>Anesthesiologists need to graduate from medical school, obtain medical licensure and complete specialized anesthesiology residencies. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisCareer">Important Facts About this Career</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Median Salary (January 2023)</td><td> $319,912</td></tr> <tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td> 3% growth (<i>for all physicians and surgeons</i>)</td></tr> <tr><td>Licensure</td><td> Licensure is require by all states</td></tr> <tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td> Nurse anesthetist, chiropractor, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist, surgeon</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: PayScale.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---BachelorSDegree">Bachelor's Degree</h3> <p>Obtaining a bachelor's degree from an accredited school is the crucial first step in your preparation for a career as an anesthesiologist. Although a degree in pre-medicine is not always required for admission into medical school, it is a common pathway. Undergraduate degree programs in pre-medicine will allow you to choose your major, while ensuring that you take prerequisites for medical school. Within this degree program, you may end up choosing a major in biology, zoology, or a related field. </p> <p>If you decide on another major, make sure you are completing the prerequisite courses for admission into medical school, which typically include biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, and calculus. </p> <h3 id="section---MedicalSchool">Medical School</h3> <p>After completing a four-year undergraduate degree, you will need to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) before you can be accepted into a medical program to earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD), which is required for all anesthesiologists. </p> <p>Once you have been accepted into a school that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), you will complete a program that combines classroom instruction and clinical training, which typically takes four years of full-time study. According to the American Medical Association, while some programs have an anesthesiology rotation requirement, not every medical school offers the opportunity to study anesthesiology (<i>www.ama-assn.org</i>). </p> <h3 id="section---Residency">Residency</h3> <p>Once you've earned your MD, you can choose from a number of anesthesiology residency programs offered throughout the United States. You will typically complete a one-year internship in anesthesiology that involves clinical rotations to prepare you for a residency. A three-year residency generally includes on-campus simulations and on-site hospital training. Residents are guided by senior anesthesiologists in actual operating room settings. </p> <p>Some residents might decide to pursue additional studies, or a fellowship, in a subspecialty area. Subspecialties include cardiac anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, and pain management. However, some programs expose students to subspecialty areas as part of the three-year residency.</p>