About the BCA’s Anesthesiology Exam for Board Certification

The certification and recertification examination offered by the Board of Certification in Anesthesiology (BCA) is designed to help candidates demonstrate their expertise in the core competencies required to provide the finest care possible in their chosen specialty. The exam consists of written and oral questions.

The written portion of the Anesthesiology exam includes 200 questions, divided by subject matter. The following subject areas are covered in the written exam:

Pharmacology
Anesthetic management
Anesthetic preparation
Anatomy and physiology
Diseases
Anesthesia subspecialties
Perioperative complications

The oral component consists of four or five case studies requiring expertise in Anesthesiology. The candidate will be presented information based on real or hypothetical patients. A brief case history will be presented to the candidate, at which point the candidate will have an opportunity to inquire for more information, describe the treatment process, and defend those decisions. For each Anesthesiology case study, the oral exam will cover:

Patient history
Physical exam
Lab tests and diagnostic examinations
Patient management
Disposition/pathophysiology

To learn more about the subjects, click here for a more detailed outline of the written exam and a more in-depth description of the oral section. For information about eligibility requirements for the Anesthesiology examination, testing dates, and more, contact the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS). The ABPS is the official multi-specialty board certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.

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Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

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Emergency Medicine

When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

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Administrative Medicine

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