Registration 

Following successful completion of the AA training programme, a qualified AA can register and add their names on the AA Managed Voluntary Register (MVR) which is currently held with the RCoA. The AA MVR is updated on the last Friday of each month.

When AAs become regulated in December 2024, the register will sit with the General Medical Council (GMC). Ahead of this, all practising, qualified AAs should ensure they have added their names onto the MVR and completed the AA registration form. 

Once regulated, in order to register with the GMC, existing AAs already practising will be required to provide evidence of successful completion of an approved AA training programme. In addition, the GMC is working with the RCoA, AA course providers and others to develop an AA Registration Assessment (AARA) which will become a mandatory requirement at some point in the future. Further details are available on the GMC website.

For any enquiries, please email: ksikka@rcoa.ac.uk 

Enhanced roles

In February 2024, the College requested that clinical leaders pause the development of enhanced roles for AAs. Enhanced roles are those that extend beyond the scope of practice for an AA on qualification, as set out in the 2016 guidance: Planning the introduction and training for anaesthesia associates. Our letter to clinical leaders explains this in more detail, including where exemptions may apply for experienced AAs who have been undertaking enhanced roles for some time.

We recognise that recently qualified AAs and current students are likely to have been trained in line with the draft AA curriculum, which includes elements of regional anaesthesia as a learning domain (simple peripheral blocks and spinal anaesthesia). However, regional anaesthesia is not included in the 2016 scope of practice on qualification and is therefore considered extended practice. This means that you may have been trained to perform procedures that you cannot now undertake as part of your role as a qualified AA.  

We understand that this may be a difficult situation for you. The College is currently developing a comprehensive scope of practice for enhanced roles – in consultation with stakeholders – to take effect when statutory regulation of AAs is in place.

Membership

Both student and qualified AAs are eligible to become Affiliate members of the RCoA.

Become an Affiliate member of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and take advantage of our member benefits, including discount on College events (including our flagship event Anaesthesia), access to the British Journal of Anaesthesia and BJA Education, and access to the College’s e-Learning system and Logbook. To find out more about the benefits you gain as an Affiliate member see here.

Lifelong Learning Platform: Logbook and CPD 

AAs and student AAs who are Affiliate members of the College are also eligible to gain access to the Logbook and CPD function of the Lifelong Learning Platform. With fields including the age of the patient, the priority of their treatment, the primary specialty and the type of supervision, the Logbook feature enables you to record and report upon all cases in which you have had a significant input.  

The CPD functionality allows you to record and reflect on your completed CPD activities and to generate a customised PDF report. You will also be able to search through a wide range of courses and events which have been CPD-accredited, identifying those which are particularly appropriate to your clinical practice.