How to Become an Anesthesiologist?

Anaesthesiology is a medical speciality that deals with the whole perioperative treatment of patients before, during, and after a surgery is performed. It is one of the most beneficial disciplines in the medical field. Anesthesiologists have a wide range of career options. They can work at medical universities or colleges, government agencies, outpatient care centres, specialized hospitals, and physician offices. In this blog, we will see how to become an Anesthesiologist as well as the best colleges in India and abroad that can help you in becoming an Anesthesiologist.

Who is an Anesthesiologist?

Anaesthesia and Anaesthetics are treated by an Anesthesiologist, a branch of medicine. Anaesthesia is regulated and produces conditions of temporary loss of feeling, awareness, and consciousness for medical purposes. An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor with a postgraduate degree who is board-certified and legally qualified to administer anaesthetics and associated methods to patients.

What Does an Anesthesiologist Do?

Anesthesiologists must be well-versed in not just anaesthetics, but also Pharmacology, Physiology, and other topics related to providing Anesthesia to patients and monitoring them throughout the surgery. During a medical procedure, they must be able to monitor a patient’s blood pressure, airways, and respiration rates, as well as their pulmonary and cardiovascular health. If any of these areas fail, an anesthesiologist must be able to revive the patient or use other methods to ensure the patient’s recovery.

Skills Required to Become an Anesthesiologist

The following abilities are required to be a successful anesthesiologist:

Patience

Anaesthesiology is an extremely broad and difficult field. Candidates must have sufficient patience to put out the necessary effort and understand the topic. The individual’s drive and desire to succeed are strengthened by patience, which benefits the candidate in the long run.

Detailed Understanding of Physiology and Anatomy Understanding

An anesthesiologist must have a solid understanding of biological sciences. This involves a thorough grasp of cellular processes, tissue integration, and organ function. Candidates must have significant expertise in this discipline to understand the drug’s limit and scope of application.

Analytical Skills

To understand how to administer anaesthetic safely and in which situations, the candidate must have appropriate analytical skills. Analytical skills are essential for determining the anaesthesia protocol to use and the precise amount of medication to deliver to a patient with a specific physiological state, body weight, BMI, and other factors.

Communication Skills

Communication helps in the bridging of understanding gaps and the development of productive work relationships. It is essential for an anesthesiologist to deliver accurate information while also gathering the required knowledge for professional growth.

Anesthesiology Courses

You can enrol in a range of anaesthetic diploma, graduate, and postgraduate courses. However, not every college offers every course.

• Diploma Course in Anesthesia
• A three-year duration Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) course in Anesthesia.
• B.Sc. course in Anesthesia Technology
• B.Sc. course in Operation Theatre and Anesthesia Technology
• B.Sc. course in Anesthesia and Operation Theatre Techniques
• B.Sc. course in Medical Technology (OT and Anesthesia Technology)
• Doctor of Medicine in Anesthesia
• Doctor of Medicine in Anesthesiology
• A two years program of Post Graduate Diploma course in Anesthesia.

Anesthesiology Specializations

To assist in surgeries, an anesthesiologist needs to have the necessary training. In addition to that, an anesthesiologist needs to have specialised in and gained experience in a number of other fields. Of these, some are.

• Cardiac Anesthesia: assisting the medical staff during cardiac operations.
• Neuro Anesthesia: An anesthesiologist with training in neuro anaesthesia is required for procedures involving the brain, nervous system, or spinal cord.
• Pediatric Anesthesia: For providing pain relief to kids during operations.
• Obstetrics training: Anesthesiologists must have obstetrics training to help gynaecologists during childbirth or labour.

How to Become an Anesthesiologist?

To become an anesthesiologist, a person must go through a series of steps. To work as an anesthesiologist, you must typically note the following points:

Eligibility to Become an Anesthesiologist

1. Candidates must clear the Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics sections of the 10+2 test.
2. Students must get an MBBS degree from a recognized university after completing 10+2.
3. Students can enrol in a postgraduate program in anaesthesia after earning their MBBS degree.

Note: Before beginning medical training, aspiring anesthesiologists must first acquire their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The majority of people opt to pursue degrees in Biology, Natural Sciences, or a related subject. Students must perform exceptionally well in education in order to be effective Anesthesiologists.

Admission Process to be an Anesthesiologist

To become an Anesthesiologist, you must have a strong understanding of all basic medical subjects as well as extensive study and practical experience in the field of Anesthesiology.

Below is the admission process if you wish to study Anesthesiology in India:

1. After completing or sitting in the 12th examination with science, apply for a medical entrance exam such as NEET 2021.
2. An anesthesiologist’s career begins after earning an MBBS degree.
3. Candidates must complete a postgraduate specialization in anesthesiology.

Entrance Exams in Anesthesiology

Candidates might need to pass some admission tests that will evaluate their knowledge and abilities to pursue a degree in anaesthesiology such as:

• NEET Exam: The National Testing Agency conducts the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET. The admission exam is conducted entirely online. It consists of a series of multiple-choice questions meant to assess applicants’ knowledge of biology and related areas quantitatively. 

Anesthesiology Books & Study Materials

• Anesthesia Oral Board Review: Knocking Out the Boards 1st Edition by Jessica A. Lovich-Sapola
• Rapid Review Anesthesiology Oral Boards 1st Edition by Ruchir Gupta
• Anesthesiology Oral Board Flash Cards 1st Edition by Jeff Gadsden
• Basics of Anesthesia, 6th edition by Ronald D. Miller
• Clinical Anesthesia, 7th edition by Paul G. Barash
• Anesthesiologists Manual of Surgical Procedures by Richard S. Jaffe

Top Colleges Abroad Offering Courses in Anesthesiology

Name of the University	Tuition Fees
Charles Sturt University, Australia	INR 58 lakhs
University of St. Andrews, UK	INR 21 lakhs
Cardiff University, UK	INR 32 lakhs
Ulster University, UK	INR 14 lakhs
National University of Ireland, Galway	INR 51 lakhs
TAFE Queensland, Australia	INR 11 lakhs
University of Wolverhampton, UK	INR 40 lakhs
University of Buckingham, UK	INR 22 lakhs

Top Colleges in India Offering Courses in Anesthesiology

Name of the University	Tuition Fees
CMC, Vellore	INR 4.3 lakhs
KMC, Mangalore	INR 6 lakhs
St Johns Medical College, Bangalore	INR 2.5 lakhs
AIIMS, Delhi	INR 5,000
KMC, Manipal	INR 6 lakhs
CMC, Ludhiana	INR 6.5 lakhs
Ramaiah College, Bangalore	INR 11 lakhs
University College for Medical Science, Delhi	INR 40,000
Lady Hardinge Medical College	INR 18,000
Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Mumbai	INR 93,000

How Long Does it Take to be an Anaesthetist?

After passing your 10+2 test, it normally takes nine years to become an anaesthetist. This takes into account the time it takes to earn your MBBS, as well as post-graduation and internships. However, depending on your skills and learning capacity, it can take you a few more years to establish yourself in this field.

Anesthesiologist Salary in India

A certified and licensed anesthesiologist may expect to earn between INR 5 lakhs and INR 12 lakhs per year as a beginning salary. An experienced anesthesiologist may expect to earn between INR 8 lakhs and INR 20 lakhs per year.

Scope of Anesthesiology in India & Abroad

In India, the healthcare industry, particularly the hospital segment, is developing at a phenomenal rate (16%-17% CAGR) and is anticipated to reach US$ 132 billion by 2023, up from US$ 61.8 billion in 2017. It is already one of the most important industries in the country, both in terms of income and employment.

Apart from India, where the healthcare sector or industry is increasing for a variety of reasons, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, Czech Republic, South Korea, Germany, Spain, and Mexico are all gaining traction in providing inexpensive healthcare. Students interested in anaesthesia who want to work in one of these countries might choose from a variety of options. In simple words, the need for qualified Anesthesiologists is more than ever right now.

In this blog, we have discussed the career pathway to becoming an Anesthesiologist. Hopefully, you now have the knowledge and confidence to begin your career as an Anesthesiologist. For any more assistance, feel free to contact Leverage Edu to book your slot for the consultation.