To ensure anesthesiologists can provide optimal and safe care to patients, they undergo extensive education and training. Which is why Anesthesiologists spend 12 to 14 years in school and after high school. Anesthesiologists spend 4 years in undergraduate school, 4 years in medical school, and 4 years in residency.
To work as an Anesthesiologist you would need to:
- have a high school diploma or equivalent
- have a bachelor's degree
- graduate from medical school
- complete an internship
- complete a residency program in anesthesiology
- pass additional exams to become board certified
Anesthesiologists in the United States complete a four year undergraduate college degree. Like other medical doctors, they follow undergraduate education with four years of medical school. After medical school, a physician specializing in anesthesiology completes a four-year anesthesiology residency program. After the residency program, residents now can sit for the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) exam. Almost 75 percent of physician anesthesiologists are board certified. Although physician anesthesiologists complete a minimum of eight years of medical training after college, following residency, they also might complete an additional fellowship year of specialty training in specific areas.
