The CSRT Certified Clinical Anesthesia Assistant certification recognizes registered and associate members working in the field of anesthesia, who have completed additional education and clinical training to become an anesthesia assistant, who demonstrate involvement in continuing professional development activities and who display a commitment to maintaining proficiency and professionalism as an anesthesia assistant.

Certification incorporates an external and independent practice-focused evaluation based on the validated National Competency Framework for Anesthesia Assistance. The CCAA designation is the only national benchmark for AA practice in Canada and serves as an independent and impartial assessment of ongoing competency.

 
 

CCAA Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the CCAA certificate, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Must have graduated from a CSRT-accredited AA education program
  • Must pass the CSRT AA exam (see below for information on the CSRT AA Exam)
  • Must be a registered member or an associate member in good standing with the CSRT
    • Registered respiratory therapists (RRT) who have met the criteria to work in Canada must be registered members
    • Registered nurses (RN), Clinical Assistants, and International Medical Graduates must be associate members
  • Must have the appropriate license to practice from the individual’s Canadian provincial licensing/regulatory body
    • The license must not impose any restrictions, terms, limitations or conditions.
  • Commit to remaining a member of the CSRT, maintaining proficiency and professionalism as an anesthesia assistant, and to achieving 25 relevant continuing education credits each membership year (April 1-March 31). Continuing education activities and their respective credits are outlined in the CSRT credit tracking system.



CCAA Eligibility Timelines for candidates who have passed the CSRT AA Exam:

  • Upon successful completion of the CSRT AA examination, application for the CCAA certification must occur within one year.
  • Applications must be made online.
  • In the case of applicants who apply for the CCAA after the one-year eligibility deadline has passed, a continuing education audit must be completed to determine that the eligibility requirements have been satisfied in each membership year beyond the one-year eligibility deadline. An administration fee of $200 will apply for the assessment.

Maintaining the CCAA

To maintain the CCAA certification, an individual must maintain all of the following criteria:

  • Continue to be a member is good standing with the CSRT
  • Maintain the appropriate license to practice as noted under “CCAA Eligibility Requirements”
  • Complete 25 relevant professional development credits each membership year (April 1-March 31) as outlined in the CSRT credit tracking system.
  • Participate in the annual CCAA audit, whenever selected

  • In the instance where an individual who has been previously granted the CCAA designation and who does not maintain one of more of the above criteria, their CCAA designation will be deemed “lapsed” (see below). Such individual may no longer use the CCAA designation unless this lapse is resolved and the CSRT confirms that the designation has been re-instated.

    Annual CCAA Audit:
    Ten percent of CCAA certificate holders will be randomly selected each year for an audit to ensure they continue to meet all eligibility criteria. Certificate holders who do not demonstrate that they meet all CCAA requirements will have their CCAA certificate revoked. An individual that has had their CCAA revoked on grounds of not passing the audit may make a special request in writing to the CSRT Board of Directors to be considered for reinstatement.

    Lapsed CCAA:
    In the case of individuals whose CCAA status has lapsed for three months to three years, a continuing education audit must be completed to determine that specific eligibility requirements remained satisfied in each lapsed membership year, before eligibility for the CCAA may be re-established. An administration fee of $200 will apply for the assessment.

    In the case of individuals whose CCAA status has lapsed for more than three years, they must write and pass the CSRT AA Examination (at their own expense), and undertake a continuing education audit to determine that specific eligibility requirements remained satisfied, in each lapsed membership year, before eligibility for the CCAA may be re-established. An administration fee of $200 will apply for the assessment.


    Some important information on CCAA Maintenance Requirements Relating to CE Credits

    • Activities that have not been accredited by the CSRT must meet the CSRT accreditation threshold as outlined here.
    • Preceptorship may only account for 5 credits of the total 25 credits.
    • Annual workplace recertifications may only account for 5 credits of the total 25 credits.
    • It is recommended that you maintain evidence of completion of continuining professional development activites. This may include, but is not limited to, certificates of achievement, links to/citations for publications, URLs for websites, etc. that demoinstrate your participation in the activity.

     

    CSRT AA Exam Information

     

    AA Exam Eligibility Requirements
    New graduates from a CSRT-accredited anesthesia assistance program are automatically eligible for the first write attempt at the CSRT AA exam. This eligibility will be confirmed by the Health Professionals Testing Canada (HPTC) (previously the Canadian Board for Respiratory Care - CBRC) through communication with each accredited AA program. New graduates, who were not successful on their first attempt at the AA exam, must have their eligibility verified by the CSRT before they may re-write the exam. 

    • Individuals who do not meet traditional eligibility requirements (e.g., foreign-trained professionals in Canada) may contact csrt@csrt.com


    How to Apply to Write the CSRT AA Exam
    The CSRT AA exam will be administered by the Health Professionals Testing Canada (HPTC), therefore an application to write the examination must be submitted to HPTC via their website. Applications must be received and prescribed fees as required by the HPTC must be paid within all published timelines. Please refer to the HPTC Information Manual for details, fees and deadlines.

    Relevant AA Exam Eligibility Timelines

    • Once eligibility to write the CSRT AA exam has been determined, the candidate must make the first attempt at writing the examination within eighteen (18) months of their graduation from a CSRT accredited anesthesia assistance program. (The graduation date will be that displayed on the applicant’s diploma.)
    • Successful completion of the CSRT AA examination must be made within three (3) years of graduation from a CSRT accredited anesthesia assistance program.
    • Candidates are permitted up to three (3) attempts to write the exam.
    • A candidate who does not successfully complete the CSRT AA examination within three (3) years, or who does not successfully pass the exam after three (3) attempts, will no longer be eligible to write the examination without repeating their education at a CSRT accredited anesthesia assistance program. Once the repeated education has been successfully completed, an individual is eligible for three (3) attempts at the CSRT AA exam within a three (3) year period following the second graduation as outlined above.