Can Anesthesiologist Assistants Practice in Washington?
Yes — CAAs are licensed in Washington.
Washington licenses CAAs through the Washington Medical Commission under RCW ch. 18.71D (SB 5184, ch. 362, Laws of 2024, effective June 6, 2024). Implementing rules in WAC ch. 246-921 took effect July 27, 2025 and licensing is operational. The Commission accepts applications requiring an accredited AA program plus current NCCAA certification.
Where CAAs can practice nearby
None of Washington's 2 neighboring states authorize CAA practice yet.
CAA Programs in Washington
Accredited training options and pathways for applicants from Washington.
No CAA programs are currently located in Washington
While Washington does not have an in-state CAAHEP-accredited program campus, prospective students from Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington
Supervision Requirements
The supervising anesthesiologist must be immediately available on-site, close enough for direct patient contact (remote supervision is prohibited), and must personally take part in the most demanding procedures. At most four AAs may be supervised at once unless the commission approves an exception (WAC 246-921-165).
State Context & Regulatory Notes
Licensing is fully operational: the statute took effect in June 2024, final rules followed in July 2025, and the commission's application packet is live. A practice plan between the CAA and supervising anesthesiologist is required before practice but is not filed with the commission. Licenses renew every two years on a birthday cycle. Washington is the first CAA state in the Pacific Northwest, and no 2025-2026 legislation affecting CAA practice is pending.
Statutory Summary
- Legal Authority
- RCW ch. 18.71D
- Effective
- 2024
- Practice Mechanism
- Licensed