Anesthesiologists are physicians who, after graduating from college with a strong background in physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics, obtain a medical doctorate degree at the end of four years of medical school. After medical school, anesthesiologists learn the medical specialty of anesthesiology during an additional four years of post-graduate training. The first year is an internship which provides training in diagnosis and treatment in other areas of medicine - such as internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics, pediatrics or surgery. Some choose a rotating internship where they spend an equal amount of time training in each of the other areas of medicine.

Following internship, the remaining three intensive years of residency training in anesthesiology are spent building knowledge and proficiency in the medical and technical aspects of the specialty. In addition, anesthesiologists may further specialize in a subspecialty, such as neurosurgical anesthesiology, by completing one to two more years in a subspecialty training program.

But, even when residency training is completed, anesthesiologists continue to spend a great deal of time in special courses and seminars studying new medical advances and anesthetic techniques throughout their careers.

The remaining credential obtained by most anesthesiologists is Board Certification.  The certification process is designed as a year-long undertaking beginning with a comprehensive written exam.  Upon passage of the exam, candidates are then eligible to take an oral examination.  This oral examination tests the candidate’s ability to manage questions and clinical problems presented to them “on the spot.”  The dynamic requirements of daily anesthesia practice have proven the value of this system.  More than 90 percent of the active membership of the American Society of Anesthesiologists have been certified as diplomates of the American Board of Anesthesiology. 

Anesthesia FAQ