Anaesthesiology is a prominent and popular medical specialisation. It offers the opportunity to work in diverse environments, where no two days are the same, with a focus on patient care. Becoming an anaesthetist will lead to an intellectually stimulating and rewarding career, but how exactly do you specialise in this field? We’re here to explain how you can become an anaesthetist, including the qualifications you need, what you’ll do, and what you could earn.
What does an anaesthetist do?
Anaesthetists administer different types of anaesthesia to patients undergoing operations and procedures. They are responsible for pain management and critical care across the whole medical spectrum. For example, women can be offered an epidural during childbirth to ease the pain. This is a type of anaesthetic which requires a skilled and experienced anaesthetist. Anaesthetists are also needed for hip or knee operations, heart surgeries, dental surgery and so on.
There are three main types of anaesthesia: general, local, and regional.
- General anaesthesia: Patients are unconscious and can feel no sensations. This might be induced using an IV, gas, or vapour.
- Local anaesthesia: Used for minor procedures such as sewing a cut on the skin or for dental treatment. This numbs a small area of a patient’s body to prevent pain.
- Regional anaesthesia: Numbing a specific area on a patient’s body to allow for surgery without the need for the patient to be unconscious. For example, spinal anaesthesia or an epidural.
How do I qualify to become an anaesthetist?
To qualify as an anaesthetist, you first need to study medicine which varies in duration depending on where you choose to study. In the UK, it generally takes five years on a full-time basis plus a further eight years of specialist training. To study medicine, you need top grades at A-level or equivalent as it is a highly competitive course. You also need to study relevant subjects such as biology, chemistry, psychology, and/or maths.
If you already have a related degree such as biomedical science, biology, or psychology, you can apply for a four-year graduate medicine course. This is then followed by a two-year programme of general training which involves working in a hospital as a junior doctor. In your second year, you can apply for a postgraduate qualification in anaesthesia.
In the USA and Canada, you need to study for a four-year undergraduate degree followed by a further four years at medical school. According to the American Medical Association, students with a GPA (Grade Point Average) of 3.5 or 4.0 are most likely to be accepted for a place at medical school.
Once you graduate, you will then need to pass the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) before completing a four to five year residency programme. The first year will involve working in different hospital departments while the final three years can be used to learn more about anaesthesia specifically.
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Are there any anaesthesiology specialisations?
All anaesthetists are trained to administer anaesthetics in all kinds of surgery, but many choose to specialise in particular areas such as:
- Obstetrics (pain relief during childbirth)
- Cardiac anaesthesia (heart surgery)
- Paediatric anaesthesia (pain management and treatment of children)
- Neuroanesthesia (for the nervous system, spine, and brain)
Some anaesthetists also choose to specialise in intensive care medicine in addition to anaesthesia. Those who specialise have typically completed all the necessary training and can then become consultants. At this level, you may also lead teams, taking on higher levels of responsibility.
Interested in the UK for your medical studies? Check out the following institutions for medicine and anaesthesia qualifications:
What skills do anaesthetists need?
After a long period of studying medicine, you will gain many useful skills and a huge breadth of medical knowledge that can be applied in many healthcare roles. As anaesthetists are specialised medical practitioners, you will acquire the following skills, some of which are unique to anaesthesia:
- Leadership
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Problem-solving
- Decision-making
- Attention to detail
- Collaboration
- Effective communication
- Compassion
- Physical stamina
This last point refers to the long hours you will be expected to work. In general, 40 to 60 hours per week is common for anaesthetists so you need to make sure that you can cope with long shifts. You may also be required to work nights and weekends. However, once you become established at a hospital, you may be allowed to work on a part-time basis.
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What do anaesthetists earn?
Although becoming an anaesthetist requires a lot of education and training, the salary reflects this high level of expertise. In the UK, you can expect to earn:
- Junior doctors: GBP 29,000 to GBP 33,000 plus extra for any additional time you work.
- Qualified doctors undertaking specialist training: GBP 40,000 to GBP 53,000.
- Consultants: GBP 82,000 to GBP 110,000 (depending on experience)
As you can see, there is room for career progression and salary growth as you gain more experience within the field. Salaries will also differ according to where you practice.
In the US, the median salary for anaesthetists is USD 208,000 per year (US News and World Report 2022) while in Canada, the average salary for an anaesthetist is CAD 327,000 per year (Indeed 2022).
Although becoming an anaesthetist isn’t easy, it can be a fulfilling and satisfying career with opportunities to learn and develop within the medical field. You will also be saving lives and helping to improve the healthcare system.
If you think you might be interested in pursuing medicine or anaesthetics, start by using our site search tool today. You can also get more information about what to expect when studying medicine, the benefits of becoming a doctor, and more about medical specialisations.
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