COAAA — Colorado CAA Programs
Education in Colorado

Colorado CAA Programs

Colorado is home to two CAAHEP-accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant programs in the Denver metro area. Both award a Master's degree and prepare graduates for the National Certifying Examination administered by NCCAA.

University of Colorado School of Medicine

Master of Medical Science in Anesthesiology

Aurora, CO28 MonthsPublicCU Anschutz Campus
Program Highlights
  • Located on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
  • Clinical rotations begin Semester 1 with state-of-the-art simulation labs
  • 100% board certification exam pass rate; 100% employment rate
  • Faculty includes physician anesthesiologists and practicing CAAs
  • Integrated student wellness and professional development program
Admission Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree with B– or higher in all premedical prerequisites
  • MCAT required (GRE not accepted); apply via CASAA (opens mid-April)
  • Minimum 8 documented hours of anesthetist shadowing
  • CASPer situational judgment test required
  • 3 letters of recommendation; certified background check (CastleBranch)
Core Prerequisites
  • Biology I & II with Lab; Gen. Chemistry I & II with Lab
  • Organic Chemistry I & II with Lab; Physics I & II with Lab
  • Biochemistry; Statistics; Human Anatomy & Physiology
  • English (1 semester); Calculus (preferred)
Visit Program Website →
Nova Southeastern University

Master of Science in Anesthesia — Denver Campus

Centennial, CO27 MonthsPrivateStarts January
Program Highlights
  • Cohort begins each January; 117 credit hours; minimum 2,000 clinical hours
  • State-of-the-art mock OR with high-fidelity anesthesia simulator
  • Low faculty-to-student ratio; faculty are licensed MDs and CAAs
  • Dedicated wellness curriculum and professional mentorship
  • Graduates have received multiple job offers before completing the program
Admission Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree; minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA, increasing to 3.0 for an upcoming cohort
  • GRE or MCAT required (within 5 years; competitive GRE is 40th percentile or higher in verbal and quantitative)
  • Apply via CASAA (Denver cycle closes approximately October 1)
  • Minimum 8 documented hours of OR shadowing
  • Resume, anesthesia literature summary, applicable certifications
Core Prerequisites
  • Anatomy & Physiology I & II with Lab; Chemistry I & II with Lab
  • Physics I & II with Lab; Organic Chemistry I with Lab; Biochemistry; Calculus I
  • English composition; minimum grade of C required in all prerequisites
Visit Program Website →

How to Apply: Both Colorado programs use the Centralized Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants (CASAA). Applications open each spring. Contact each program directly for current cycle deadlines, prerequisite waivers, and interview timelines. For a complete list of accredited programs nationwide, visit the AAAA website.

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