Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

• Collect and interpret relevant patient data to prepare an appropriate anesthetic plan and perform proper procedures, operating room setup, equipment setup and drug setup.
• Apply knowledge from biomedical and anesthesia sciences in the clinical setting for safe and efficacious delivery of anesthesia.
• Demonstrate clinical proficiency in anesthetic management and multitasking in a wide variety of patient populations and surgical specialties. Demonstrated clinical proficiencies include 1) overall case management, 2) multitasking, 3) diagnostic and problem-solving skills, 4) monitoring and responding to changes in patient status, 5) patient positioning, and 6) documentation of anesthesia care.
• Perform current anesthetic procedures including 1) mask ventilation, 2) advanced airway insertion, 3) vascular access, 4) regional anesthesia, 5) other anesthetic related procedures (e.g., gastric tube insertion, oral/nasal airway insertion, gowning and gloving, aseptic technique).
• Exhibit professionalism through continuous self-learning, ethical conduct, and the practice of evidence-based medicine. Take part in the anesthesia care team and effectively communicate with preceptors, operating room staff, and patients.

Program Description

The Master of Science in Anesthesia program at the UMKC School of Medicine prepares students to become anesthesiologist assistants (AAs). The program mission is to graduate AAs with advanced specialized knowledge and skills and who are compassionate, competent, ethical and patient-centered AAs who work within an Anesthesia Care Team.

Degree Requirements

To complete the program students must complete a 7 semester plan of study, which involves 119.5 credit hours of coursework, and at least 2000 clinical hours (obtained during Anesthesia Clinical Experience courses). The minimum patient case requirements are outlined in the student handbook. Students must also maintain a 3.0 or better grade point average to earn the Master of Science in Anesthesia degree.

Required Courses Include:

Semester 1 (January to May) (19.5 credit hours)

Semester 2 (May to August) (14 credit hours)

Semester 3 (August to December) (18 credit hours)

Semester 4 (January to May) (21 credit hours)

Semester 5 (June to July) (9 credit hours)

Semester 6 (August to December) (21 credit hours)

Semester 7 (January to May) (17 credit hours)

Admission Requirements

Please visit our Admissions Page to learn about our requirements.

Licensure Disclosure

To become certified, Anesthesiologist Assistants must:

1. Obtain an anesthesia-related master’s degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
2. Pass a national certifying exam administered by the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA).
3. Meet minimum standards for clinical hours, types of anesthetics and surgical procedures, and clinical procedures as specified by the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA).

Upon receipt of certification, graduates can apply for licensing in states where CAA's can practice.

The purpose of the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) includes ensuring that Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs) have the necessary knowledge and skills to practice safely and effectively. For entry level CAAs, the NCCAA verifies academic qualifications with each academic program for certification eligibility and tests knowledge by using a Certification exam. As a prerequisite for certification eligibility and to maintain and protect the strength of the CAA credential, the NCCAA collects a record of clinical experience from student anesthesiologist assistants (SAAs) to verify entry level clinical standards are met for new CAAs. Clinical hours and experiences are self-reported to the NCCAA via a digital mobile application. The clinical experience record is verified with academic institutions and reviewed to determine certification eligibility. SAAs are required to complete education and clinical training minimums prior to becoming eligible for board certification by examination.

UMKC strongly recommends that students review the applicable licensure board(s) in their state of residence or in the state where they intend to obtain a license before beginning an academic program that results in licensure or certification and prior to beginning any practicum/internship. See UMKC's Professional Licensure Disclosures page for more information. 

Program Director

Lance Carter, MSA, CAA

States in Which the Curriculum Meets the Educational Requirements for Licensure

AL, CO, DC, FL, GA, IN, KY, MI, MO, NM, NC, OH, OK, SC, TX, VT, WI.

States in Which the Curriculum Does Not Meets the Educational Requirements for Licensure

Anesthesia practices in the states below do not employ Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAA) as part of their anesthesia care team. CAAs cannot be licensed.

AK, AZ, AR, CA, CT, DE, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, USVI, VA, WA, WV, WY.