Anesthesiology requires years of education and training, but practitioners often build rewarding careers spent helping people.
Anesthesiologists help patients manage pain through medications, especially during and after surgical procedures. Successful anesthesiologists must be experts in the field of pharmacology, which is the study of the human body's response to certain drugs.
This page explores the skills, training, and experience required to become an anesthesiologist. It also includes an interview from an anesthesiologist who explains the ins and outs of a typical day in this profession. Finally, this guide also covers compensation rates for the field.
What Do Anesthesiologists Do?
Anesthesiologists are physicians who specialize in sensation and pain management. They typically administer and monitor local, regional, or general anesthesia or sedation before, during, or after medical procedures, like surgery. Other responsibilities include creating patient-specific care plans, monitoring patient vital signs during medical procedures, and supporting patients through recovery.
There are many anesthesiological techniques, with local, regional, general, and epidural anesthesiology being the most common. Full sedation is usually provided for patients undergoing major procedures, like joint replacement or open heart surgery, while regional anesthesia is typically provided for childbirth and surgeries of the extremities or the abdomen.
Depending on the technique, anesthesiologists may use tools like masks or needles, along with monitors to track patient vitals. Anesthesiologists typically work alongside surgeons, nurse anesthetists, and other doctors.
Where Do Anesthesiologists Work?
Anesthesiologists typically work in hospitals, clinics, private offices, and ambulatory care facilities, both rural and urban.
An anesthesiologist's schedule varies considerably, even across similar settings. Some private practices offer traditional Monday-Friday hours, but most anesthesiologists work 40-60 hours per week, either on-call or on rotational, night, and weekend shifts. Anesthesiologists can also work in universities, training the next generation of professionals.
Skills
Prospective anesthesiologists need to be dedicated and detail-oriented. They also need to work well under pressure and have excellent problem-solving skills. Because patient satisfaction with anesthesia is a key measure of quality healthcare, anesthesiologists also need strong interpersonal and communication skills.
How to Become an Anesthesiologist
Becoming an anesthesiologist involves several stages of training, each described in detail below. In general, anesthesiologists must complete a four-year bachelors' degree, a four-year medical degree, and four years of residency. Next, they must pass the national Board exam, complete a fellowship program or spend two years in private practice, acquire certification, and take a licensing exam.
Once licensed, all anesthesiologists must regularly complete continuing education courses to maintain and update their skills.
Education
Physicians who specialize in anesthesiology begin their academic careers with an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, typically majoring in pre-med or science. They take courses in biology, calculus, chemistry, and physics, which all prepare students for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and medical school.
However, most medical schools do not require applicants to take these courses nor have a bachelor's degree in any of these subjects for admission. Successful physicians could have undergraduate degrees in any number of subjects, including anthropology, English, or pre-law. Instead, MCAT scores are the main determining factor.
The MCAT is required for admission to medical school. Along with evaluating candidates' analytical skills, it tests their knowledge of biology, chemistry, psychology, and sociology. With MCAT scores in hand, prospective anesthesiologists can apply to medical school, where they must earn either a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO).
At the end of two years of coursework, students take a test called Step 1 — often referred to as "Boards." Boards are required by the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) for MDs and by the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) for DOs to obtain a medical license and practice medicine.
After the Boards, anesthesiology students must complete two years of clinical training, working with patients suffering a variety of ailments under the supervision of an experienced physician.
Clinical training concludes with the Step 2 test, which has two parts: a written test on internal medicine, gynecology, preventive medicine, and surgery; and an assessment of clinical skills, including communication and interpersonal skills and proficiency in English.
Residency
To enroll in a residency program, prospective anesthesiologists must complete an application that highlights their competitive USMLE or COMLEX scores, perform well during anesthesiology rotations, and provide strong letters of recommendation. On an annual Match Day, a computer program aligns candidates with residency programs based on the preferences and performances of both.
Once a match is made, residency programs for anesthesiologists take four years to complete. The first year is a "base year" of non-anesthesia training, followed by three years of focused clinical anesthesia training.
Residents take the final exam of Boards at the end of their base year. This Step 3 exam involves both a written portion and case simulations, which test whether physicians can apply their training in ambulatory settings, while treating a wound or diagnosing a patient.
Certification and Licensure
Like all physicians, anesthesiologists must earn and maintain a national Board license and meet any state-specific requirements before they can practice, which generally requires 1-4 years of postgraduate training. To practice within a specialty, anesthesiologists must earn additional specialist certifications.
Anesthesiologists have a couple options when it comes to earning certifications. One certifying body is the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA). Its process requires a one-year internship in anesthesia, followed by a fellowship program or two years in private practice and successful completion of three exams.
Prospective anesthesiologists take the first written exam — the Basic exam — after the first year of their internship and the second — the Advanced exam — at the end of their residency. The final exam is the Applied exam, and it has two elements: a standardized oral examination and an objective structured clinical examination.
A second certifying body is the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS). To earn this certification, candidates must meet eligibility requirements and complete both a written and an oral exam.
Once licensed, an anesthesiologist's schooling is not over. All physicians must regularly complete continuing education courses to maintain and update their specialized certifications.
To maintain valid certification with the ABA, anesthesiologists must earn 125 continuing medical education credits (CMEs) by the end of their fifth year and another 125 by the end of their tenth. ABPS license renewal requirements also include CMEs, plus completed self-assessment questions and medical ethics courses.
What to Look for in a Program
When selecting an MD or a DO, prospective anesthesiologists should only consider accredited programs. Attending an unaccredited program will not qualify you for licensure.
Both MDs and DOs can specialize in anesthesiology, so students should consider whether they want to receive specialized training in whole-person patient care and preventive medicine, as in a DO program, or whether they prefer the conventional Western training of an MD program.
Prospective medical students should also weigh the reputation, location, and cost of potential medical schools, along with the benefits of programs with online components.
Career Information
Becoming an anesthesiologist is a time-consuming and expensive process, so it makes sense to wonder, "how much does an anesthesiologist make?" The answer varies by location, but all that that required training translates into a median anesthesiologist salary rates of well over $200,000. In major cities, anesthesiologist salaries can top $300,000 annually.
Salary and Job Growth for Anesthesiologists
Median Salary
$261,730
Job Growth (2019-2029)
4.3%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Highest Paying Cities for Anesthesiologists
Similar Careers
Surgeons
Like anesthesiologists, surgeons are specialized physicians who perform operations to treat disease or correct injuries. Some work as general surgeons, while others specialize in areas like orthopedics, neurology, or plastic surgery.
Surgeons make diagnoses, perform operations, and provide post-operative care. They often work alongside anesthesiologists, operating room nurses, and physician assistants. The residency period for surgeons typically lasts 3-8 years, and they are among the most highly paid professionals in the medical field.
Nurse Anesthetists
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice nurses who work alongside anesthesiologists. Typical responsibilities include administering anesthesia or analgesics before, during, and after medical procedures; providing pain management; and offering emergency services.
Becoming a CRNA requires a master's degree from an accredited program, which takes 2-3 years to complete. CRNAs are in high demand, especially in rural areas, and are among the most highly paid healthcare professionals. Depending upon where they work, CRNAs may be their facility's only anesthesia provider.
General Practitioners
General practitioners are also known as family doctors or primary care physicians (PCPs). These physicians have earned either an MD or a DO and have completed their residencies, typically while working in family or internal medicine. As a result, their medical knowledge base is broad.
Like anesthesiologists, general practitioners can work in a variety of settings, including private practice and hospitals. General practitioners see patients for acute or short-term care, preventative medicine, and general health maintenance. They are responsible for making diagnoses, prescribing treatments, ordering tests, and interpreting results, and they often refer patients to specialists after making an initial diagnosis.
Ask an Expert
To understand what a career in anesthesiology looks like, we have interviewed an expert. Read about his experiences below.

Dr. Taylor Graber
Dr. Taylor Graber is an MD with a background in anesthesiology. Born and raised in Arizona, Dr. Graber attended Arizona State University and received a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering. He completed medical school at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix and residency training in anesthesiology at the University of California - San Diego.
Dr. Graber founded ASAP IVs because he wanted to help patients receive the benefits of IVs without the time, cost, and energy of going to the emergency room. When not working, he enjoys staying active by running, golfing, hiking, playing basketball, and enjoying all of the sun San Diego has to offer.
Why Become an Anesthesiologist?
How to Get Hired
Accounting Organizations
- American Society of Anesthesiologists ASA is a medical association focused on education and research related to anesthesiology. It is dedicated to improving standards of patient care and supporting anesthesiologists in their careers.
- American Medical Association AMA is the largest association of physicians in the United States. Its mission is to drive medicine "toward a more equitable future, removing obstacles that interfere with patient care, and confronting the nation's greatest public health crises."
- The Anesthesia Foundation This nonprofit organization provides low-interest loans to support residents pursuing anesthesiology who need financial assistance. It also supports research and development projects related to anesthesiology.
Frequently Asked Questions
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