Florida has two universities running accredited anesthesiologist assistant programs, spread across six campuses, which gives you more in-state options than almost anywhere else in the country. Both are master’s-level programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the sole accrediting body for AA education in the United States. From the day you start classes to the day your Florida license is issued, plan on roughly three years: about two years in the program, then the national certification exam, then state licensure.
Where You Can Study in Florida
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) offers its Master of Science in Anesthesia at four campuses: Fort Lauderdale/Davie, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa Bay.1Nova Southeastern University. Master of Science in Anesthesia The program is fully CAAHEP-accredited.2Nova Southeastern University. Master of Science in Anesthesia Tampa Bay
South University offers a Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science at two Florida locations: West Palm Beach and Orlando.3South University. Anesthesiologist Assistant Milestones Between the two universities, five Florida metro areas host a program, so most in-state applicants can train without relocating out of state.
Getting Into an AA Program
Applications go through the Central Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants (CASAA), a common portal that lets you designate which programs receive your file.4Association of Anesthesiologist Assistant Education Programs. CASAA You’ll need a bachelor’s degree and a set of science-heavy prerequisites. Requirements differ between NSU and South University, so check your target program’s catalog directly.
At NSU, prerequisite coursework includes:
- Two semesters of anatomy and physiology with labs, or separate human anatomy and human physiology courses with labs
- Two semesters of general chemistry with labs
- At least one semester of organic chemistry with lab
- One semester of biochemistry
- Two semesters of physics with labs (trigonometry-, precalculus-, or calculus-based)
- One English course
NSU also lists preferred courses that strengthen an application: biology, cell and molecular biology, calculus, microbiology, and a biochemistry lab.5Nova Southeastern University. Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Pre-Anesthesiologist Assistant Studies Every prerequisite needs a C or better, and introductory or survey-level science courses will not count.
Beyond coursework, expect to submit GRE or MCAT scores. Programs also typically want clinical shadowing hours with a certified anesthesiologist assistant or an anesthesiologist, though the exact number varies. Competitive applications tend to combine solid science grades, strong test scores, and real exposure to anesthesia practice.
What the Program Looks Like
AA programs run roughly 24 to 28 months in two phases.6Purdue University. Anesthesiologist Assistant The first year is nearly all classroom and lab: advanced physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, and biochemistry, with heavy emphasis on the cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems. Simulation labs let you practice airway management, patient monitoring, and equipment setup before you touch a real patient.
The second phase is clinical. Rotations cover general surgery, cardiac surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, neurosurgery, and outpatient procedures, and you learn to adapt anesthetic technique to different patient populations under direct physician supervision. Most students participate in well over a thousand cases by graduation.
Passing the National Certification Exam
Graduating is not the finish line. You must pass the entry-level certification exam administered by the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) to earn the Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) credential.7National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants. Certification Handbook – Certification Process for Anesthesiologist Assistants Florida, like every other licensing state, requires the CAA credential before you can practice.
Certification is not permanent. The NCCAA requires the Continued Demonstration of Qualifications (CDQ) exam starting in year four after initial certification, offered twice a year, with three consecutive offerings to pass. Miss that window and you lose certification, which means you can no longer practice.8National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants. Continued Demonstration of Qualifications Examination Handbook
Getting Your Florida License
Florida licenses anesthesiologist assistants under two parallel statutes: Section 458.3475 (Board of Medicine) and Section 459.023 (Board of Osteopathic Medicine), and the two boards jointly oversee AA practice.9Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 459 Section 023 – Anesthesiologist Assistants You apply through the Florida Department of Health. The application must include your NCCAA certification, proof you graduated from a CAAHEP-accredited program, and current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification. A criminal background screening is part of the process.
Application Fees
The standard fee schedule is $300 for application, $500 for initial licensure, and a $5 unlicensed activity fee, for a total of $805. Reduced fees are in effect through February 1, 2027: $150 application and $100 initial licensure, which brings the current total for new applicants to $255 with the $5 unlicensed activity fee included.10Justia. Florida Administrative Code 64B15-7-012 If you apply in 2026 you get the reduced rate, but budget for the standard fees in case they resume after that deadline.
Renewal
Your Florida license renews every two years. To renew, you must either complete 40 hours of continuing medical education or hold a current NCCAA certification.11Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 458 Section 3475 – Anesthesiologist Assistants Accepted CME providers include the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education, among others. You’ll also submit a sworn statement confirming no felony convictions in the preceding two years.
How You’ll Practice in Florida
An anesthesiologist assistant in Florida performs medical services delegated by and directly supervised by a licensed anesthesiologist. Direct supervision means the anesthesiologist is physically present in the same office, surgical suite, or obstetrical suite and immediately available to intervene.12Online Sunshine. Florida Statutes 458.3475 – Anesthesiologist Assistants A single anesthesiologist can supervise no more than two AAs at the same time.9Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 459 Section 023 – Anesthesiologist Assistants
Within that framework, AAs can place peripheral and central venous and arterial lines, administer intravenous drugs and fluids (including controlled substances), give inhalation and other anesthetic agents, and manage blood product administration, all as ordered by the supervising anesthesiologist.12Online Sunshine. Florida Statutes 458.3475 – Anesthesiologist Assistants You must clearly identify yourself to patients as an anesthesiologist assistant, not a physician.
Written Practice Protocol
Before you can begin practicing with a supervising anesthesiologist, the two of you must draft a written practice protocol spelling out which services you are authorized to perform and how supervision will work. The protocol must be filed with the Board of Medicine before you see patients, and a new one is required each time you change employers or supervising anesthesiologists.13Cornell Law Institute. Florida Administrative Code 64B8-31-005 – Anesthesiologist Assistant Supervisory Protocol New graduates sometimes overlook this administrative step in the rush to start working.
Tuition and the 2026 Federal Loan Cap
AA programs are expensive. Total tuition for a master’s in anesthesia nationally ranges from roughly $90,000 to over $130,000 depending on residency status and institution. On top of tuition, budget for ACLS certification, the NCCAA exam fee, AAAA student membership (around $200), and Florida licensing costs.
One change deserves attention before you enroll. Beginning July 1, 2026, new federal student loan limits take effect for graduate programs: graduate students are capped at $20,500 per year and $100,000 aggregate. Professional degree students get higher limits ($50,000 per year, $200,000 aggregate), but the Department of Education may classify AA programs under the lower graduate caps rather than the professional category.14American Hospital Association. Federal Student Loan Limits for Graduate and Professional Programs If your program costs $100,000 or more, federal loans alone may not cover it. Ask your program’s financial aid office early about institutional scholarships, private loan options, and whether the final DOE rule affects how much you can borrow.
Salary and Demand
As of early 2026, anesthesiologist assistants in the United States earn an average salary of roughly $190,000 per year. The top 10 percent earn over $220,000, and the 25th percentile still brings in about $178,000.15AST. Anesthesiologist Assistant Salary Florida’s surgical volume across hospital systems, ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty practices supports consistent demand for qualified AAs, and the number of states authorizing AA practice has been growing.