An Anesthesia Technician (AT) is not a doctor or a nurse. The role of
the AT is to support the work done by the professional anesthesia
personnel. ATs are responsible for managing the anesthesia equipment and
for its proper maintenance.
Depending on individual expertise and training, the task of the AT, Certified
Anesthesia Technician (Cer.A.T.) and Certified Anesthesia Technologist
(Cer.A.T.T.) may include equipment maintenance and servicing such as cleaning,
sterilizing, assembling, calibrating and testing, troubleshooting,
requisitioning and recording of inspections and maintenance. They may operate a
variety of mechanical, pneumatic and electronic equipment used to monitor,
evaluate and manage the patient undergoing anesthesia.
The scope of practice and duties assigned to an AT will vary from state to
state and from one facility to another. Most ATs are employed at larger acute
care hospitals, particularly in trauma, transplant, and teaching facilities, but
can also be found in outpatient surgery clinics.
The preferred entry level education for an AT is a high school diploma or
GED. In some cases a two year degree in healthcare may be required.
The responsibilities of ATs have increased over the years, and the trend
seems to favor increased demand for their specialized skills, along with greater
awareness of anesthesia technology as a career. According to the American
Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT)
www.asatt.org, job opportunities are
anticipated to grow in the area of anesthesiology as the geriatric population
increases and healthcare delivery in America evolves and changes.
The Certified Anesthesia Technician (Cer.A.T.) is a technician who has
successfully completed the examination requirements established by the
ASATT. The Cer.A.T. is an allied healthcare professional who is an
essential member of the anesthesia patient care team, as observed by the
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the American Association of
Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and the Association of periOperative
Registered Nurses (AORN). The Cer.A.T. performs duties under the
supervision of the licensed anesthesia care providers.
A Certified Anesthesia Technologist (Cer.A.T.T.) is a technician who has
successfully completed both the Certified Anesthesia Technician and Technologist
Examinations per the requirements established by the ASATT. The Cer.A.T.T. is
distinguished from the Cer.A.T. by additional levels of training and experience.
The official recognition for Anesthesia Technologists is the American Society
of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT) national certification. This
certification is currently not required by any states, but some employers
require it either prior to or within two years of hire.
