Begin Certification
Earn your certification through a series of exams: BASIC, ADVANCED and APPLIED.
Continue Certification
Sharpen your knowledge and advance your practice through MOCA.
Training Programs
Prepare for certification exams through a variety of training options.
About
Setting standards and leading innovation for the practice of anesthesiology since 1938
Customize your training to match your goals by adding a research or specialization onto your training, integrating international training or pursuing certification for more than one specialty.
Institutions have myriad ways to support their residents and ensure they’re prepared for academic and professional excellence. Find all you’ll need to build strong proposals for hosting these training options below.
As residents and fellows, you have several options for training to help you best prepare for your future. Find your fit and check to see what programs support your path below.
In-Training Examinations (ITEs)
The In-Training Exams are designed to help programs evaluate residents’ and fellows’ progress as they advance through the training necessary for anesthesiology and subspecialty certification.
Research during residency
Residents enrolled in an ACGME-accredited program can pursue research initiatives while training. As much as 25% of a three- or four-year training program or 38% of a five-year program can be devoted to research.
Special training
Programs approved for special training allow residents to add up to a year of research or specialized training outside of the standard 12 months of clinical base and 36 months of clinical anesthesia training. Training may focus on critical care medicine, pain medicine, adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology, hospice and palliative medicine, sleep medicine or pediatric anesthesiology.
Alternate Entry Pathways (AEP)
The AEP program provides outstanding international medical program graduates and certified anesthesiologists with specialized, four-year pathways to pursue ABA certification, either as clinician-educators or through research and fellowship. Learn more about these pathways, their requirements and how to apply.
Training Away
After completing at least one year of CA training, residents can complete their training away from an ACGME-accredited anesthesiology program. Learn more about Training Away, its requirements and how to apply.
Looking to combine your focus on clinical anesthesia with another specialty? The ABA has joined with other medical boards to build programs preparing residents and fellows for their specific careers.
Combined Training Programs
Pursue a variety of multi-specialty training through this program, including emergency medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. Participants can take the certifying exam for either board once they successfully complete training. These programs consist of a minimum of five years of residency training.
Please consult your institution for further information on these programs.
Anesthesiology and Critical Care
In 2013, the ABMS Board of Directors approved joint sponsorship between the ABA and the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) of certification in Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine (ACCM). Emergency physicians can now apply for ACGME-accredited ACCM fellowship training after their emergency medicine residency training. Upon completing a 24-month fellowship, they can seek board certification.
Anesthesiology and Pediatrics
Complete training in pediatric critical care medicine (PCCM) and anesthesiology in a shorter period of time than is required for separate training in each of the disciplines. This Dual Pathway program is sponsored by a partnership between the ABA and the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP).
