CAAs can practice in 22 states and Washington, DC.
In 18 states and DC, certified anesthesiologist assistants hold a state license. Four more, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas, let them work under a physician's delegated authority without a state license. Virginia has passed a licensing law but isn't issuing licenses yet. In the other 27, CAAs can't practice.
Pick a state for the statute, any bill working its way through the legislature, and the date it was last checked. Current as of October 10, 2026.
Licensed (19) Physician delegation (4) Law passed, rules pending (1) Not authorized (27)
The programs
CAAs train at 30 campuses run by 18 institutions in 15 states. Of those, 25 are accredited by CAAHEP and five are still working toward it. Classes are small: the largest, Bluefield University at VCOM — Auburn, takes 44 students a year, and three take 15.
The program table lines up deadlines, tuition and length side by side. Course requirements have their own comparison, and so do the applicant counts and GPAs that programs have chosen to publish.
Guides
- What a CAA is
- The job, the training, and how the credential is kept current.
- How to become a CAA
- From prerequisites to a state license: the steps, the time, and what it costs.
- CAA or CRNA?
- Two routes into anesthesia, compared on training, time and pay.
- CAA salary
- What postings and programs report, and why the number Google shows is a physician assistant figure.
- CASAA deadlines
- The 2026–27 cycle month by month, with every program's deadline.
- Accreditation
- What "seeking accreditation" means, and what your license depends on.
Deadlines coming up
- Bluefield University at VCOM (Auburn and Carolinas)
- Case Western Reserve University (Austin, Cleveland, Houston, and Washington, DC)
- Emory University — Atlanta
- University of New Mexico — Albuquerque
- Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee
- Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Nevada, Orlando, and Tampa Bay)