Exploring NSU’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Pre-Anesthesiologist Assistant Studies

 Hi everyone! Today’s blog post is all about an amazing opportunity for students interested in becoming anesthesiologist assistants: the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Pre-Anesthesiologist Assistant Studies at Nova Southeastern University (NSU).

If you applied to AA school but didn’t get accepted in the last cycle, this one-year certificate program could be the perfect way to strengthen your application during your gap year. Even better, it offers a potential guaranteed pathway to acceptance or an interview at NSU’s Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) program.

Program Overview

• Location: Palm Beach, Florida

• Format: Mostly online (except for lab courses)

• Duration: One year (starts every Fall in August)

• Labs: Conducted in person over one weekend during the winter semester

The structure is designed with flexibility in mind — you don’t need to relocate unless you want to. The limited in-person commitment makes this program accessible for those balancing work, family, or living outside of Florida.

Perks of the Program

• Guaranteed interview or acceptance if you meet GPA benchmarks

• Choose your campus upon auto-acceptance — NSU has five, including Fort Lauderdale

• Financial aid is available, including federal student loans up to the cost of attendance

• No need to repeat the AA application immediately — this program strengthens your profile for the next cycle

If you’re passionate about becoming an AA and didn’t get in this year, this could be your second chance. Personally, I’m planning to apply myself when applications open mid-May every year!

Important Note:

To be eligible for this program, you must have applied to the previous CASAA cycle and had a verified application submitted by the prior deadline.

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Admission Requirements

• $50 application fee (non-refundable)

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

• Minimum 2.75 GPA, but stronger performance is recommended

• GRE or MCAT scores

• 8 hours of shadowing

• Resume

• Interview

• Summary of a medical or anesthesia-related article

Course Prerequisites (all with a grade of C or higher):

• English: 3 credits

• Anatomy & Physiology I & II (with labs): 8 credits

• General Chemistry I & II (with labs): 8 credits

• Organic Chemistry (with lab): 4 credits

• Biochemistry (lecture): 3 credits

• Physics I & II (with labs, no algebra-based physics): 8 credits

• Calculus: 3 credits

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Auto-Acceptance & Interview GPA Thresholds

• Auto Acceptance: Cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher

• Auto Interview: GPA between 3.3 and 3.59

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Program Curriculum

Fall Semester:

• RCP 5081 – Introduction to the AA Profession (2 credits)

• RCP 4011 – Intro to Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology (3 credits)

• RCP 5462 – Introduction to Pharmacology (3 credits)

Spring Semester:

• RCP 5012 – Basics of Medical Equipment with Lab (3 credits)

• RCP 5013 – Basics of Ventilation with Lab (3 credits)

• RCP 5014 – Patient Monitoring & Assessment with Lab (4 credits)

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Final Thoughts

The only real downsides are the added tuition (~$13,000) and the fact that it makes your anesthesia school journey feel more like 3 years instead of 2. But if you’re truly committed to becoming an AA and didn’t get accepted this cycle, I believe this program is 100% worth considering.

Just keep in mind — it’s a competitive program with only 24 seats, so apply early and put your best foot forward.

If you didn’t get any interviews at all, this might be a great route. However, if you did get interviews, it may be smarter to refine your application and reapply directly, depending on your finances.

Best of luck to everyone applying — and don’t forget, applications open mid-May!