Anesthesia Technology, A.A.A.S.

The Collaborative Anesthesia Technology Consortium program model allows for both apprentices and traditional college students to attain an Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences degree in Anesthesiology Technology and take the National board exam. Students will take their didactic courses online as a cohort, through both synchronous and asynchronous instruction models.  Lab and Clinical education will be dependent on student location. 

The program is designed to meet the needs of employers.  The program is five semesters long beginning in the Fall semester. There are 8 general education courses to ensure students are prepared for the rigorous Anesthesia Tech courses.  In addition to the general education courses there are 9 anesthesia tech program courses.  

Consortium students will take their general education courses through their Degree-granting College, then transition to the Michigan College Online Michigan Colleges Online (MCO) (micollegesonline.org) for all program courses. The MCO allows for seamless transfer of courses between in the Provider College and Degree-granting institution.  Each partner College will provide clinical education sites within their service district for the number of students they accept into the program.

The mission and purpose of the EPiC Anesthesia Technology Program is to provide for both the personal and professional career development of each Anesthesia Technology Tech student. The general goals of the program are:

1. Graduates will demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary for competency as an entry level Anesthesia Technologist.
2. Graduates will exhibit professional growth and development through the values, attitudes and behaviors necessary of an entry-level Anesthesia Technologist.
3. To prepare graduates to demonstrate the ability to apply critical thinking skills and problem solving in their field.
4. To prepare graduate to communicate effectively and professionally.

Upon program completion, students will:

1. Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology and positioning to accurately perform anesthesia procedures.
2. Evaluate patient conditions to ensure safe practices during procedures.
3. Recognize emergency patient conditions and initiate lifesaving first aid and basic life-support procedures.
4.  Evaluate the performance of anesthesia equipment and know the safe limits of equipment operation, and report malfunctions to the proper authority.
5. Participate in anesthesia equipment quality assurance programs.
6.  Provide care and comfort in regard to the holistic health of the patient, technologist, and others.
7. Provide patient education related to Anesthesia procedures.

Pre-admissions requirements:

• Be a high school graduate or have passed the high school equivalency GED (General Educational Development) Test.
  • Have a high school or college GPA of at least 2.0.
  • Demonstrate Math competency within the last 5 years.  Math competency must be demonstrated through the following ways: 
  • Math Placement Test (ALEKS) with a score of 30 or higher or
  • Completion of MA 098 or higher with a grade of C or higher
  • If the ALEKS placement test score is less than 30, it is recommended that the student choose one of the following:
    • Utilize the ALEKS preparation and learning module provided in ALEKS. With this module students can review on their own at their own pace.  After a student is confident that they have sufficiently reviewed topics to refresh their prior knowledge, they can retake the assessment for a new placement.
    • Utilize tutorial support provided by GRCC in collaboration with the ALEKS preparation and learning module provided in ALEKS. With this module students can review on their own at their own pace with a tutor.  After a student is confident that they have sufficiently reviewed topics to refresh their prior knowledge, they can retake the assessment for a new placement.
    • Register for MA 70 if a student wants dedicated class time with a faculty member to help them set goals.  In MA 70, students will utilize the ALEKS preparation and learning module provided in ALEKS, with this module students can review and learn topics in class and in the tutorial lab.  After a student is confident that they have sufficiently reviewed topics to refresh their prior knowledge, they can retake the assessment for a new placement.
  • Reading and writing requirement competency must be demonstrated through any one of the following ways: 
    • EN 101 with a grade of C or better or
    • Score of 26 on ACT or 400+ on SAT within the last five years  or
    • Blackboard essay scores of 40 or higher within the last five years.
  • Earn a grade of C or higher within two attempts in the following courses (a withdrawal is considered an attempt):
    • BI 121: Human Anatomy & Physiology 1.
    • BI 122: Human Anatomy & Physiology 2.
    • *Must be completed within 7 years of program acceptance. 
  • In order to be eligible for admission into the Anesthesia Technology Program, students must have successfully completed any required foundational courses with a grade of at least C.
  • In order to be eligible for graduation, Anesthesia Technology Program students must earn a minimum of “C-” in each ANE program course.
  • Apprenticeship students will be conditionally admitted into the program and take the required pre-program courses in their first two semesters. Continued participation in the program will be dependent upon satisfying the above course requirements.

The entire packet can be delivered to GRCC MTEC Campus, Attn: Summer Madrid, at 622 Godfrey Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or emailed to alliedhealth@grcc.edu. Applications will be evaluated on June 1 for the next cohort. 

The packet can also be emailed to alliedhealth@grcc.edu by the deadline. 

Please contact alliedhealth@grcc.edu for start dates for the next cohort.

The Anesthesia Technology Program requires students to have the following vaccinations, CPR, and health insurance once admitted into the program.

• TB test results, or Chest X-ray date and report* 
• Hepatitis B series
• Tdap
• Date of Chicken pox or Varicella immunization
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Flu vaccine*
• COVID - 19 Vaccine*
• CPR - American Red Cross:  BLS/CPR for Health Insurance or American Heart Association:  BLS provider only must also be completed.  No other types of providers will be accepted
• Health Insurance - proof of documented and maintained through the duration of the program.

*A flu immunization and TB test or screening must be completed yearly. The TB must not lapse, and the flu vaccine must be acquired no later than November 1.

*GRCC medical exemptions will be addressed once in the program. However, the program cannot guarantee GRCC awarded exemptions will be accepted at every clinical site.

Contact Summer Madrid at summermadrid@grcc.edu for specific vaccination requirements.

Written Arrangements Disclosures for the Anesthesia Technology at GRCC

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), requires colleges participating in federal student aid programs to make certain disclosures. In compliance with these federal laws, Grand Rapids Community College is providing information for specific programs offered at GRCC, which incur additional costs of attendance due to a portion of the program being completed at an off-campus location. The Anesthesia Technology Program requires off-site instruction, which accounts for approximately 10% of the program courses and includes  externship hours at major hospitals in West Michigan. The off-site locations are located within a 69 mile radius of the GRCC’s main Grand Rapids campus. Students are responsible for transportation to the off site locations and any other costs associated with attending the off-campus location. Costs range from $1.00 to $26.00 per trip and may include mileage, parking, and other costs related to the off-site placement (e.g., uniform). 

The following list includes possible sites where a student could be assigned to complete their off-campus requirements for the program. The following information is accurate as of March 2024. 

Anesthesia Technology, A.A.A.S. Application Process

 Applications will be accepted year round. All received applications will be reviewed no later than June 1, 2024 for the following fall cohort.

Please contact:

• Summer Madrid at summermadrid@grcc.edu, (616) 234-3154