When is
the application deadline? |
All application materials
must be postmarked by October 1 to be considered for admission
to the following Summer semester which begins in June. This includes:
• official transcripts
• statement of
objectives
• recommendations
• official Medical
College Admission Test (MCAT) scores. MCAT scores
must be submitted as a paper copy containing the
Verification Code for schools. The program does not
receive scores from the MCAT Test History System.
|
| Does the
Master of Science in Anesthesia (MSA) Program at Case
Western Reserve University (Case) offer a part-time program
of study? |
No.
The MSA Program is designed exclusively for full-time
study.
|
| Must all
prerequisite courses be completed at the time of application
(October 1)? |
|
No, however, all course prerequisites must be completed
prior to the start of the program of study (1st week
of June). Verification of anticipated undergraduate
sequence of study for the senior year must be presented
to the Admissions Committee during the interview process. |
| Can
previous health care or medical course work transfer and/or
replace any courses required by the MSA Program at Case? |
No. The curriculum is
specifically designed for training the anesthesiologist
assistant (AA) professional. Although other course work
may be similar, the MSA Program offers courses with a
unique emphasis in anesthesiology and the Anesthesia
Care Team (ACT) environment as described by the American
Society of Anesthesiologists.
|
| Is credit
given for previous clinical experience toward the MSA
degree? |
No. Students must complete
the entire MSA curriculum. The clinical experience is
designed for the Anesthesia Care Team environment and
anesthesiologist assistant professionals.
|
| May
I take another standardized test in place of the MCAT? |
No. The MSA Admissions
Committee will only accept the MCAT.
|
| When is the MCAT
offered? |
The computerized MCAT is offered approximately 20
times a year. See
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/schedulingfaq.htm for a listing
of dates and times the MCAT exam is offered. The MCAT must be taken prior
to the application deadline.
|
|
What is the average MCAT score and GPA of students admitted to the MSA Program? |
The average MCAT composite score of our 2008 incoming class is 27.3. Their average overall GPA is 3.59, and their average GPA in their prerequisite courses is 3.58.
|
| What is the typical
class size? |
A class of 15 students begins the program of study the
first week of June. There are 28-30 students enrolled in the program at
any given time.
|
| Are regional
anesthesia techniques included in the clinical curriculum? |
Yes. Techniques for general,
epidural, spinal and peripheral nerve blockade are taught
throughout the 2-year program of study.
|
| What is the average
salary for a new graduate? |
Salaries vary depending
on the experience of the individual and the regional cost
of living. The average starting salary for a newly graduated
anesthesiologist assistant is approximately $115,000 for
a 40-hour work week plus benefits and consideration of
on-call activity. An increase of approximately 5% to 15%
should be expected after the first 1 to 2 years post graduation.
Salaries are comparable to compensation paid to Certified
Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) employed within the
ACT nationally.
|
| Is the job
description for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) profession
equivalent to that for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
(CRNA)? |
Yes. When AAs are employed
within the same organizations as CRNAs, the job description
is usually identical. One fundamental difference is that
AAs must work under the medical supervision of a licensed
anesthesiologist. Conversely, in some unique clinical
settings (usually not at tertiary care centers), a CRNA
can practice under the medical supervision of any physician
(not necessarily an anesthesiologist).
|
| What is the MSA Program's admission criteria? |
| Admission requirements are available on the Prospective Students & Admissions page. |
|
