Licensure

Anesthesiologist Assistants

Requirements

This outlines the appropriate requirements for obtaining an Anesthesiologist Assistant license. The Board reserves the right to make whatever additional demands on the applicant for licensure the Board deems appropriate at the time. Below is a summary of what is listed in the rules of Chapter 32 of the North Carolina Administrative Code.

Submit all materials to:
North Carolina Medical Board, PO Box 20007, Raleigh, NC 27619 (919.326.1100), or
North Carolina Medical Board, 3127 Smoketree Court, Raleigh, NC 27604
Please do not submit photocopies or facsimiles unless specifically permitted.

1. Completed application form.

  • CIRCLE the correct answer for all questions.
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  • Provide DETAILED explanations for affirmative answers.  A claim form must be completed for EACH malpractice suit or settlement (form enclosed-photocopy as needed).  Attach a photocopy of plaintiffs complaints and settlement orders for each incident.
  • Sign applicant’s oath and have signature NOTARIZED.  Make sure the original application form is submitted to the Board.  Applications will be sent back to the applicant if the dates do not match. 
  • Include name change documentation, if applicable.
    •  

2. One Certified Photograph:  no smaller than 2 ½” x 3 ¼”, head and shoulders shot, taken within the past sixty (60) days, of durable quality, (not a snapshot or home Polaroid) to be certified by your   anesthesiologist assistant program on the Anesthesiologist Assistant Program Certification form.  This   certification must bear the original signature of the Dean or other Official of your program, their official title and the seal of the school must be placed over the photo and mailed to the Board’s address. THIS REQUIREMENT CANNOT BE WAIVED.

3. You must secure a report from each state, Canadian province or US territory regarding status of licensure. All licenses, active and/or inactive, must be verified. Most licensing agencies charge a fee for this service. The verifications should be sent directly to the NC Medical Board. NCMB accepts license verification through the veridoc service.

  • If you have ever been licensed in Connecticut, you must send the consent for release of confidential disciplinary records form, along with the NC licensure verification form to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. If you have never been licensed in Connecticut, disregard the form.

4. Verification of certification from the National Commission for the Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA).  Verifications may be obtained by going to the NCCAA website (http://www.aa-nccaa.org/cgi-bin/cert.pl). 

5. Three current reference forms.  These forms must be sent from the reference sources directly to the North Carolina Medical Board.

      The forms must originals with original signatures of the authors, addressed to the NC Medical Board (not “To Whom it may concern”).
      At least one form must be from an anesthesiologist with whom you have worked or trained regarding your competence to practice as an AA.
      Recommendations must not be from a relative.

6. Applicants must submit two completed fingerprint cards along with their application form, application fee and authority for release of information form for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.  Expect a minimum of 8 weeks for the report to be received.  Since rejections are common, the SBI has suggested that applicants use lotion or witch hazel on their hands before being fingerprinted.  Fingerprint cards are submitted for processing twice a week.  The SBI has suggested that using live scan when available may be a more reliable choice.  When possible have different officials complete each card.

7. Data Bank Query (applies to all pathways). NCMB staff will request a current report from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) AND the Healthcare Integrity Practitioner Data Bank (HIPDB)

8. Continuing Medical Education. Documentation must be provided to show that the Anesthesiologist Assistant is in compliance with all continuing education requirements and recertification requirements of the National Commission for the Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants or its successor organization. 

Registration. North Carolina Law requires licensed anesthesiologist assistants to register with the Board within 30 days of their birth date, every year, no matter when the license is issued. A registration fee is required.