CAA Rules & Regulations

While the Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant bill was passed in 2024, the rules and regulations for CAA licensure are still in progress.

In January 2025, the state Medical Commission unanimously approved the draft regulatory language for CAA licensure and agreed to proceed to the next step in the rule making process (CR-102). The rules hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 9, 2025.

As part of the process, there will be a five-week public comment period leading up to the hearing. Comments received during this time will need to be addressed at the hearing, with Commissioners determining whether to make changes to the rule based on the feedback, or providing a rationale for maintaining the language as drafted.

The goal is to have the rules completed by August.

Please reach out to the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA) or the Washington chapter, WAAAA, for further information on current rules, regulations, and licensing questions.

The Washington Medical Commission (WMC) is issuing an urgent reminder to all healthcare practitioners about the rising prevalence of scams targeting licensed professionals. These fraud attempts have become increasingly sophisticated, with scammers posing as official representatives of the WMC. Key Details of the Scam: Scammers often know detailed information about practitioners, such as license numbers, disciplinary history, and even the Medical Commission’s contact information. Their tactics are designed to appear highly legitimate, including official-sounding calls and convincing documents. Unfortunately, these schemes have already caused significant financial losses, with one recent victim losing $14,000. Red Flags to Watch Out For: The WMC emphasizes that it will never:

• Request money over the phone or via fax, wire, or cryptocurrency.
• Demand immediate responses (less than 20 days).
• Discourage you from consulting with a lawyer.
• Request sensitive information like passwords or Social Security numbers.
• Threaten license suspension or restrict prescription privileges for non-payment. Protect Yourself:

1. Verify Suspicious Contacts: If you receive a questionable request, contact the WMC directly at (360) 236-2750.
2. Be Cautious of Urgency: Scammers often pressure victims with deadlines—don’t be rushed.
3. Use Official Channels: Licensing fees are only handled through the Department of Health’s online portal or via mail.
4. Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: Do not download attachments or engage with unexpected requests.

Spread the Word: The WMC urges healthcare practitioners to share this information widely with colleagues to prevent further victimization. If you have suggestions on how to better disseminate this message, Executive Director Kyle Karinen welcomes your input at (360) 236-4810.

For more detailed information on this and other updates, check the WMC Winter 2024 Update and view the redacted scam letters below.

WMC Winter 2024 Update

Redacted Scam Letters

Rules Workshop Fee Documents Available Anesthesiologist Assistants

The WMC filed a CR-101, Preproposal Statement of Inquiry, to establish licensing regulations for anesthesiologist assistants in response to Senate Bill (SB) 5184 (Chapter 362, Laws of 2024) codified in chapter 18.71D RCW. The CR-101 was filed on August 28, 2024, as WSR #24-18-057. For more details about this rulemaking, please refer to the CR-101 document linked below. 

CR-101 Document

Licensing Fees for Anesthesiologist Assistants CR-101 Filed 
The Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with the WMC, filed a CR-101, Preproposal Statement of Inquiry, on November 17, 2024 (WSR #24-23-060) to establish licensing fees for anesthesiologist assistants

In response to these filings, the WMC and DOH held a rules workshop on Friday, December 6, 2024. A recording of the workshop is available on the WMC's YouTube channel at the link provided below.

12/6/2024 Workshop Recording

The materials for this workshop can be found at the link below.

12/6/2024 Workshop Materials

The draft language approved during the workshop to proceed to the next step in the rulemaking process, the CR-102 or Proposed Rulemaking, is available here or on this rules' dedicated page on our website: Anesthesiologist Assistants | Washington Medical Commission. 

Fee Documents Available

• The CR-101 for fees, WSR# 24-23-060, is linked earlier in this announcement.
• The one-pager about the fee rulemaking is now available here.
• The presentation on fees is also now available here. 

Learn More