All candidates shall be required to pass appropriate examinations planned to evaluate their understanding of the scientific bases of the problems involved, familiarity with current advances, possession of sound judgment and a high degree of skill in the diagnostic and administrative procedures involved in the practice of anesthesiology. The examinations shall be designed, constructed and conducted in such a manner as to evaluate the candidate’s knowledge of the basic sciences, anesthetic principles and the osteopathic philosophy as it applies to the care and management of the anesthetized patient and to determine the applicant's ability within a clinical setting.

SECTION 1. WRITTEN EXAMINATION

The written examination may be taken on completion of the second year of the required three or four year formal training program and on compliance with the requirements for examination. Completion of the second year of the residency requires submission to the AOCA of all required documents. Questions will be multiple choice based on factual information relating to the science of anesthetic practice, including the application of the basic sciences to anesthesiology. The written examination shall be designed to evaluate academic knowledge. Specifics for the examination may be found on the AOBA website. (B-02/03)

SECTION 2. ORAL EXAMINATION

The oral examination may be taken on completion of the required third year of formal training following successful completion of the written examination and on compliance with the requirements for examination. Questions on practical, clinical problems shall be introduced by the examiners following an answer outline developed and referenced by the Board. The oral examination shall be designed to evaluate thought processes and ability to solve problems. (B-02/03)

SECTION 3. CLINICAL EXAMINATION

The clinical examination may be taken following successful completion of the written and oral examinations, completion of one (1) year of clinical practice, and on compliance with the requirements for examination.

The clinical examination shall consist of appropriate anesthetic procedures of a diversified character. In addition, the clinical examiners shall request hospital charts selected from the list of anesthetic cases submitted by the candidate. These charts shall be reviewed with respect to the standards established by the Board.

The clinical examination shall be an evaluation of actual performance to determine the level of anesthetic specialty practice in relation to the standards expected of a diplomate of the Board. 

The clinical examination shall be conducted by an osteopathic physician certified in anesthesiology by the American Osteopathic Association and the following regulations shall be observed:

  • The Corresponding Secretary shall notify each applicant of the appointed clinical examiner.
  • Prior to the performance of the anesthetic procedures, the candidate shall provide the clinical examiner with a list of all anesthetic procedures for the period specified by the Board immediately preceding the clinical examination. This list shall include the date, name of the hospital and case number, patient's initials, operative procedure and anesthetics administered. A spreadsheet for this purpose may be downloaded from the AOBA website.
  • After the clinical examination, the examiner may request a copy of any part of the patient(s) record. The examiner shall set the deadline for receipt of this report.
  • The examiner shall review the patients' records and prepare a detailed summary and evaluation of the clinical examination on report forms provided by the Board, recording a grade of pass or fail. A written explanation is required as part of the report for a fail grade.

SECTION 4. EXAMINATION SCORING

A scaled score of seventy (70) shall be considered passing for all written examinations. Determination of a passing score on the written examination will be through the use of the Angoff Method.

A scaled score of seventy (70) shall be considered passing for the oral examination. In addition, failure to successfully complete five (5) of the ten (10) oral questions, even in the presence of a score of seventy (70) or greater, demonstrates deficiency of a well-rounded fund of knowledge of anesthesiology, and will result in failure of the oral examination. (B-02/03)

A raw score of seventy (70) shall be considered passing for the clinical examination. This is broken down into the following:

  • Medical Records Review. 40% of the grade will consist of a review of ten (10) medical records of the Examiner(s) choosing.
  • Observed Cases. 60% of the grade will consist of the Examiner(s) observing clinical cases.
  • A written explanation is required as part of the report for a failing grade.

All examination records shall be submitted to the Chairman of the Examination Committee by the Corresponding Secretary. The Chairman of the Examination Committee shall present these records to the Board. The Board shall determine the final grade for each portion of the examinations. The Corresponding Secretary shall notify each applicant of their examination results within ninety (90) days.

SECTION 5. EXAMINATION FEES

  • The fee submitted with the application for the written examination shall be the fee for the written examination.
  • The fee submitted with the application for the oral examination shall be the fee for the oral examination.
  • The fee for the clinical examination shall be determined by the Board and may vary from time to time.
  • No examination shall be considered complete until all fees have been paid.
  • Cancellation and reapplication fees may apply. A current fee schedule may be found on the AOBA website.