Anesthesiologist assistant has become a high-demand profession in Ohio, making now the perfect time to enter this growing field. But first, you need the right program to set you on the path to success—and that’s exactly what I’ll be helping you with through this article.
I have conducted extensive research on anesthesiologist assistant programs available to Ohio residents, and I’m sure you will find one that aligns with your goals and aspirations.
With their rich course content and hands-on practical training, these programs will shoot you into the increasingly lucrative anesthesiologist assistant field in the shortest time possible.
If you do not mind schooling outside Ohio, see Become an Anesthesiologist Assistant: 10 Best Programs Online and Offline.
3 Best Anesthesiologist Assistant Programs in Ohio
Ohio Dominican University
Here is an overview of the program:
- Cost of the program: it will cost you a total of $121,396.
- Duration of the program: it will take you two years to complete.
- Mode of delivery: it is a strictly on-site program.
The Ohio Dominican University’s anesthesiologist assistant master’s program is designed to equip entry-level anesthesiologist assistants with the knowledge, skills, and behavior that will prepare them for a successful career.
The program meets industry standards as it is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (ARC-AA).
One thing I noticed about this program is the voluminous nature of its curriculum. While you will be getting the full learning experience, you may not be able to combine work and school.
For more information about the program, see Anesthesiologist Assistant Studies.
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Here is an overview of the program:
- Cost of the program: it will cost you about $720 per credit hour, excluding additional fees per semester.
- Duration of the program: it runs for 28 months.
- Mode of delivery: it is an on-site program.
Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) offers a comprehensive Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia. This program equips you with didactic, clinical, and simulation training needed to deliver patient-centered care as a certified anesthesiologist assistant.
NEOMED’s anesthesiologist assistant program is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistant. This ensures it meets the highest educational and professional standards.
For more information about the program, see Anesthesiologist Assistant Program.
Case Western Reserve University
Here is an overview of the program:
- Cost of the program: it will cost you $117,398.
- Duration of the program: it will take you two years to complete.
- Mode of delivery: it is rendered on-site.
The Anesthesia MS program at Case Western Reserve University prepares you for a career as a certified anesthesiologist assistant. With the accreditation of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistant, the program meets the highest standards.
By the end of this program, you will have gained not just practical skills for a progressive career, but the required compassion needed to give patients the best care possible. The program, however, has demanding requirements, so ensure you go through all of them before applying.
For more information about the program, see MSA Program at Case.
How to Become a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant in Ohio
To become an anesthesiologist assistant in Ohio, you need to meet certain eligibility requirements. I will break them down for you starting from the ground up.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
The journey to becoming an anesthesiologist assistant begins with earning a bachelor’s degree in a pre-med undergraduate program. Typical undergraduate programs that essentially make your transition to becoming an anesthesiologist assistant easier include the following:
- Nursing
- Respiratory therapy
- Medical technology
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
Bear in mind that you must obtain your undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college. You must also achieve an overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as the anesthesiologist assistant program is highly competitive.
Take the Graduate Admissions Test
The required graduate admissions tests for an anesthesiologist assistant program are the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
The MCAT is a 7.5-hour standardized multiple-choice exam that assesses your knowledge of science, reasoning, communication, and writing skills. On the other hand, the GRE takes 1 hour and 58 minutes and covers analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning.
Generally, an MCAT score greater than 490 or a GRE score of 150 (Verbal), 150 (Quantitative), or 4.0 (Analytical) is required for admission into an anesthesiologist assistant program.
Complete an Anesthesiologist Assistant Program
After completing an undergraduate program and the MCAT or GRE test, you can apply to any of the programs I have mentioned in this article. Each of the programs has specific requirements for entry. But generally, you will need to meet the following admission requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Prerequisite coursework with a good GPA.
- MCAT or GRE with recommended scores.
Prerequisite courses usually include the following:
- Inorganic/General Chemistry with Lab
- Organic Chemistry with Lab
- Biochemistry
- General Biology 1
- General Biology 2
- Physics 1 with Lab
- Physics 2 with Lab
- Calculus
- Statistics
- English
- Humanities. For example, English, Foreign Language, Theatre, Arts, Music, History, Theology, Philosophy, and Religion
- Microbiology, cell biology, molecular biology, anatomy, and physiology are recommended but not required.
These courses require at least three semester credit hours except Inorganic Chemistry which requires 4 credit hours and Humanities which requires 12 credit hours.
Having met these requirements, the application would demand varying procedures. However, in Ohio, you must complete the Centralised Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants (CASAA) application.
The college or university of choice will also require you to submit three recommendation letters and official transcripts from all institutions from which you have taken courses.
Obtain Licensing and Certification
Upon successful completion of the anesthesiologist assistant program, you will need to take and pass the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) exam. The exam assesses general medical and anesthesiology knowledge.
Aside from these requirements already mentioned, other eligibility criteria demanded by the State Medical Board of Ohio include the following:
- You must be at least twenty-one (21) years old.
- You must submit criminal records checks from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
With all these in place, you can freely practice as an anesthesiologist assistant in Ohio.
Salary of an Anesthesiologist Assistant in Ohio
According to ZipRecruiter, an anesthesiologist assistant earns an average of $133,825 per year (about $64.34 per hour). However, top earners across the state receive up to $214,382 annual salary.
Where you work determines how much you earn, but one fact remains: you can make a decent living in Ohio by being an anesthesiologist assistant.
FAQs On Best Anesthesiologist Assistant Programs in Ohio
What is the Best Major for an Anesthesiologist Assistant?
There is no strict rule on your major, but choosing a science field can make things easier since it covers key prerequisites like chemistry, biology, and anatomy.
How Much Does Anesthesiologist Assistant Schools Cost?
Anesthesiologist assistant schools cost around $1,147 per credit hour and $121,396 for the entire duration of the program. However, the cost differs depending on the school.
Conclusion
In this article, I have shown you the best anesthesiologist assistant programs available in Ohio. While these programs may have varying structures, they all meet educational and industry standards as they are accredited by the CAAHEP.
With my years of experience in online education/education, I know exactly what to look for, so you can bet the programs listed in this article are nothing but the best.