High School

If you are interested in becoming an anesthesiologist, focus your high school education on college preparatory courses. Mathematics classes and science classes, especially biology and chemistry, should be helpful. In addition, English classes will help you improve your communication and research skills. Also, consider taking a foreign language, since you may be required to show proficiency in another language later on in your schooling.

Postsecondary Training

You must first earn an M.D. degree and pass an examination to become licensed to practice medicine. This requires eight to 10 years of additional education and training after high school. Then you must complete a four-year residency. The first year is spent training in an area of clinical medicine other than anesthesia, such as internal or emergency medicine, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics, or neurology. The final three years of study are then spent in an anesthesiology residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. You can find a list of accredited residency programs at the council’s Web site, https://www.acgme.org or through the American Medical Association.

Many anesthesiologists also complete an additional fellowship year of specialty training in specific areas such as pain management, neuroanesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, cardiac anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, or critical care medicine.

Certification

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) offers the Executive Physician Leadership Program in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. The program "provides aspiring to mid-level leaders with necessary leadership skills development in the areas of influence and motivation, change management, corporate finance and health care system strategy." Contact ASA for more information. 

Other Education or Training

The ASA offers continuing education opportunities on topics such as clinical ethics, new medical developments, and practice management. The American Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association also offer a variety of webinars, seminars, and workshops. Contact these organizations for more information.

Certification or Licensing

All physicians in the United States must be licensed to practice. Some states have reciprocity agreements with other states so that a physician licensed in one state may be automatically licensed in another without being required to pass another examination.

Anesthesiologists receive certification from the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA). Nearly 90 percent of anesthesiologists are board certified, according to the ABA. In addition to being licensed, the board requires applicants to have completed training in an accredited program and to pass an exam. Applicants must also have a certificate of clinical competence. This certificate, filed by the residency training program, attests to the applicant's clinical competence.

There is no way to obtain direct experience in anesthesiology in high school, but it's a good idea to take as many health and science classes as possible and participate in science clubs. During your medical training, you will gain experience by completing a residency in anesthesiology and possibly a fellowship.

Every surgery requires anesthesiologists to pay careful attention and to remain alert. An anesthesiologist sometimes encounters emergency situations, requiring quick, clear-headed responses. The work, however, can also be slower paced and require patience to comfort people preparing for surgery. Not only must anesthesiologists be able to explain the surgery clearly to patients, but they must be able to direct other members of the anesthesia team.