Can Anesthesiologist Assistants Practice in Pennsylvania?
Yes — CAAs practice in Pennsylvania under physician delegation.
Pennsylvania does not issue a specific CAA license, but some hospital systems employ CAAs through physician delegation protocols under the supervising anesthesiologist's license. Practice availability depends entirely on local hospital bylaws and group credentialing.
Where CAAs can practice nearby
CAAs can also practice in 1 of Pennsylvania's 6 neighboring states.
CAA Programs in Pennsylvania
Accredited training options and pathways for applicants from Pennsylvania.
No CAA programs are currently located in Pennsylvania
While Pennsylvania does not have an in-state CAAHEP-accredited program campus, prospective students from Pennsylvania attend accredited master's programs across the United States. Graduates of any accredited program are eligible to sit for the NCCAA board exam and practice in Pennsylvania or any other authorized state.
Compare cohort sizes, tuition, and deadlines across all active campuses.
Check required science, math, and general courses for every campus.
Step-by-step guidance from undergrad prep and shadowing to licensing.
Supervision & Practice Authority in Pennsylvania
Supervision Requirements
Supervision falls under Pennsylvania's general physician delegation rules (49 Pa. Code § 18.402): the delegating anesthesiologist must ensure the CAA's competency and remains responsible for the delegated care, with the specifics set by each facility's policies.
State Context & Regulatory Notes
No Pennsylvania statute, license, or board rule names anesthesiologist assistants; § 18.402 is a general delegation regulation. National groups (ASA and AAAA) describe Pennsylvania as a delegation-practice state, but even the Pennsylvania Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants' own FAQ names only Texas and Michigan as delegation states, so treat practice authority here as dependent on the employer and its counsel. Licensure bills HB 1956/SB 1258 (2021-22) died, no CAA bill appeared in 2025-26, and the state CRNA association (PANA) actively opposes licensure.
Statutory Summary
- Legal Authority
- 49 Pa. Code § 18.402 (physician delegation of medical services)
- Effective
- —
- Practice Mechanism
- Physician delegation