RCW: Chapter 18.71D RCW: ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANTS

WAC: Chapter 246-921 WAC:

 

Licensing Requirements	Verification Documents
Graduation from an accredited and approved Anesthesiologist Assistant program	Official transcript with degree and date posted, received directly from applicant’s program. Transcripts not in English must have an official translation. Program director evaluation report.
Must have successfully passed the NCCAA examination.	Must hold a current certification from the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA).
Work history (professional training and experience)	Must have complete chronology from receipt of anesthesiologist assistant degree to the date of application. All time breaks of 90 days or more must be accounted for.
State license verification	Applicant lists all states where credentials are or were held, including where applicant has applied but a credential was not granted. If the Licensing Unit cannot get verification of these credentials, the applicant will be held responsible to obtain verification from the state in question.
Statement about: physical and mental health status lack of impairment due to chemical dependency/substance abuse history of loss of license, certification or registration felony convictions loss or limitations of privileges disciplinary actions professional liability claims history.	Applicant must answer personal data questions. An appropriate explanation and required documentation must be sent with positive answers. If there is a positive answer to the professional liability claims history question, the applicant must send an explanation of the nature of the case, data and summary of care given, copies of the original complaint and the settlement or final disposition. If pending, applicant must indicate status.

 

Practice Plan and Supervision

Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants may only practice under the direction and supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist as outlined in
WAC 246-921.

Before beginning practice, a practice plan must be established between the supervising anesthesiologist and the CAA. The WMC does not collect or approve practice plans.

For more information about supervision requirements, please refer to WAC 246-921-165.

 

Process for Approving/Denying Applications

Documents from the AMA and Federation of State Medical Boards and documents verifying hospital privileges and state licenses which are over one year old from the date of application must be re-verified.

 

The licensing manager reviews and approves applications as authorized by the commission except for applications that have the following:

 

a. positive answers on state, hospital or post-graduate training verifications;

b. applicants without an active license who have not worked for more than three years; and/or

c. positive answers to personal data questions, except for questions regarding malpractice history.

 

Applications with malpractice history are reviewed by a medical consultant. If the medical consultant determines there is no basis for denying the application, the licensing manager reviews the application and if there are no other positive answers or “red flags”, approves application for licensure. If the medical consultant determines additional information is needed or that a member of the commission should review the file, the application is forward to a reviewing member for a decision.

 

Applications with positive answers or that are considered “red flag” applications are reviewed by the legal unit and then forwarded to a reviewing board member who presents it to a panel of the commission for a decision. An applicant is formally notified of a denial and has the opportunity for a hearing.

 

Renewal Requirements

Anesthesiologist assistants will be granted a license initially valid until the applicant’s first birthday after issuance. If the license is issued within 90 days, the expiration date will be pushed to the following year. After the first renewal, the Anesthesiologist assistants must renew their license every two years on or before their birthday. They're required to submit the appropriate fee and renewal card. Anesthesiologist assistants must complete 100 hours of continuing education every two years. Anesthesiologist assistants must also complete the Demographic Census for Workforce Planning.