Anesthesia practice rules by state
This page lists state rules for anesthesiologist assistant practice and CRNA Medicare opt-out, each linked to the official source we checked. States we have not verified say Not verified.
| State | CAA pathway | CRNA Medicare opt-out | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama (AL) | Licensed | Not verified | ALBME: License and Registration to Practice as an Assistant to Physicians |
| Alaska (AK) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Arizona (AZ) | Not verified | Opted out of Medicare supervision | Arizona AG Opinion I21-006 (R21-009) |
| Arkansas (AR) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| California (CA) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Colorado (CO) | Licensed | Not verified | Colorado DPO: Medical Applications and Forms |
| Connecticut (CT) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Delaware (DE) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Florida (FL) | Licensed | Not verified | Florida Statutes 458.3475 Anesthesiologist assistantsFlorida Board of Medicine: Anesthesiologist Assistants |
| Georgia (GA) | Licensed | Not verified | Georgia Composite Medical Board: Physician & Anesthesiologist Assistant (PAs and AAs) |
| Hawaii (HI) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Idaho (ID) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Illinois (IL) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Indiana (IN) | Licensed | Not verified | Indiana PLA: Anesthesiologist Assistant Licensing Information |
| Iowa (IA) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Kansas (KS) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Kentucky (KY) | Through a PA license | Not verified | KRS 311.862 Practice as anesthesiology assistant |
| Louisiana (LA) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Maine (ME) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Maryland (MD) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Massachusetts (MA) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Michigan (MI) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Minnesota (MN) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Mississippi (MS) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Missouri (MO) | Licensed | Not verified | RSMo 334.400 Definitions |
| Montana (MT) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Nebraska (NE) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Nevada (NV) | Licensed | Not verified | NRS Chapter 630Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners: Anesthesiologist Assistant |
| New Hampshire (NH) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| New Jersey (NJ) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| New Mexico (NM) | Licensed | Not verified | 16.10.19 NMAC Anesthesiologist Assistants |
| New York (NY) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| North Carolina (NC) | Licensed | Not verified | G.S. 90-9.4 Requirements for licensure as an anesthesiologist assistantNC Medical Board: Anesthesiologist Assistants |
| North Dakota (ND) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Ohio (OH) | Licensed | Not verified | ORC Chapter 4760ORC 4760.03 Filing application for license |
| Oklahoma (OK) | Licensed | Not verified | Oklahoma Anesthesiologist Assistants |
| Oregon (OR) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Rhode Island (RI) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| South Carolina (SC) | Licensed | Not verified | SC LLR Board of Medical Examiners: Anesthesiologist Assistant |
| South Dakota (SD) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Tennessee (TN) | Licensed | Not verified | Tennessee Department of Health: Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants |
| Texas (TX) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Utah (UT) | Licensed | Not verified | Utah DOPL: Anesthesiologist Assistant |
| Vermont (VT) | Certified (not licensed) | Not verified | 26 V.S.A. 1653 ApplicationVermont Board of Medical Practice: Applications, Licensing and Fees |
| Virginia (VA) | Law passed, licenses not open yet | Not verified | Va. Code 54.1-2957.23Virginia Regulatory Town Hall: 18VAC85-180 |
| Washington (WA) | Licensed | Not verified | RCW 18.71DWAC 246-921WMC: Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) |
| West Virginia (WV) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Wisconsin (WI) | Licensed | Not verified | Wisconsin DSPS: Anesthesiologist Assistant |
| Wyoming (WY) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| District of Columbia (DC) | Licensed | Not verified | DC Health: Anesthesiologist Assistants Licensing |
Notes
Federal rule: CRNA supervision under Medicare is governed by 42 CFR 482.52. Medicare requires physician supervision of CRNAs unless the governor sends CMS a letter, after consulting the state medical and nursing boards, saying an opt-out is in the state's interest and consistent with state law. The opt-out is effective on submission. An opt-out does not change state supervision law.
An opt-out does not change state law. See Arizona AG Opinion I21-006 (R21-009).
The Nurse Licensure Compact (nursecompact.com) lists 43 member jurisdictions. It covers RN licenses only, not CRNA or CAA practice.
This page summarizes official sources. It is not legal advice.
Last checked 2026-10-26.