To become an anesthesiologistin France, you need to complete a long course of medical studies. This training enables students to acquire all the technical skills and human qualities essential to the practice of this specialty. This is what we detailed in our job description for anesthesiologists. Since it's not always easy to find one's way through the many stages of this career path, we thought it essential to write an article to help clarify matters.
What is an anesthesiologist?
The anesthesiologist is a specialist in pain management, anesthesia prior to surgery and resuscitation of patients in critical situations. They work in a variety of settings: operating theatres, intensive care units, maternity wards and emergency wards. This medical professional is at the heart of patient safety systems, able to manage extreme emergencies thanks to his technical mastery and responsiveness. This expertise is the fruit of extensive training.
How to become an anesthesiologist?
General medical studies
Before entering higher education, the aspiring anesthesiologist must obtain a scientific baccalaureate. Once this has been completed, students wishing to pursue health studies can choose between two options:
- The Parcours Accès Santé Spécifique (PASS)
- Introduced in 2020 to replace the former Première Année Commune aux Études de Santé (PACES), the PASS is a year of study combining a health major with a minor from another discipline. This structure makes it possible to diversify skills and offer avenues for reorientation.
- Students are assessed on the basis of continuous assessment and final exams.
- Those who pass can go on to study in the health sector.
- Those who fail can reorient themselves towards their minor before, if they so wish, trying their luck again.
- The PASS approach reduces the pressure of the former PACES exam, while diversifying students' skills.
- The Licence with Health Access (L.AS)
- Introduced in 2020 to diversify the range of training courses available in health studies, the L.AS is a course combining any major (law, humanities, economics, etc.) with a specific health minor (biology, physiology, etc.).
- At the end of the first, second or third year, and if they have passed the minimum requirements, students can apply for health studies. They then sit specific exams. Depending on their performance, they may be rejected or admitted to the second year of medical school.
- The L.AS allows students to follow a diversified pathway, encouraging skills development and reorientation.
After the PASS or the L.AS (see above), general medical studies are divided into two parts:
- The Diplôme de Formation Générale en Sciences Médicales (DFGSM) : a three-year course (the PASS and L.AS count as the first) comprising theoretical courses in medical sciences and clinical placements in hospitals.
- Diplôme de Formation Approfondie en Sciences Médicales (DFASM): a direct continuation of the DFGSM, this is a three-year course of study incorporating specialist courses and advanced internships in various hospital departments.
Externship examinations
During the final year of the second cycle, students must pass a series of tests which, depending on their results and rankings, will enable them to choose their specialty, as well as their city. Here's the list:
- Épreuves dématérialisées nationales (EDN): these take place in October and account for 60% of the final grade. To pass, students must obtain a mark of at least 14/20 in the theoretical knowledge required by all doctors, regardless of their specialty.
- Objective and Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE): these are held in May and account for 30% of the final grade. They test students' ability to develop clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills. The minimum grade is 10/20.
- Academic progress grade: this continuous assessment takes into account the student's commitment, curriculum, mobility and level of English, and accounts for 10% of the final grade.
Specialization in anesthesia and intensive care
Once they have completed their general medical studies , students specializing in anesthesia enter a five-year residency program. This course is divided into theoretical and practical training:
- theoreticaltraining: interns follow theoretical courses covering the various aspects of anesthesia. They attend seminars and conferences to keep abreast of the latest advances and research in the field.
- Practicaltraining : anesthesia interns participate in the work of various health departments.
In addition, anesthesia interns must write and defend a thesis in order to obtain their doctorate. On completion of this specialization, interns are awarded the Diplôme d'Études Spécialisées en Anesthésie-Réanimation (DES) and can apply for jobs as anesthesiologists.
Further training
After obtaining their DES and registering with the Ordre des Médecins, practitioners can pursue further specialization through Diplômes d'Études Spécialisées Complémentaires (DESC) or DU-DIU in fields such as :
- surgical resuscitation
- pediatric anesthesia
- pain management
- obstetric anesthesia
- perioperative medicine
These training courses open the way to positions of great responsibility, and provide the opportunity to develop specific expertise.
The skills needed to become an anesthetist
The anesthesiologist must :
- master anesthetic products, intubation, ventilation and resuscitation techniques;
- ensure patient safety before, during and after surgery;
- anticipate and manage critical situations in a matter of seconds;
- collaborate with surgeons, nurse anesthetists, emergency physicians, etc.
In-depth knowledge of human physiology, drug reactions and emergency protocols is essential.
The anesthetist's human qualities
The anesthesiologist's job requires resistance to stress, great composure and the ability to make quick decisions. It also requires empathy and rigor, as patients are often anxious in the run-up to an operation. Communication with the rest of the medical team is of course essential, especially in life-threatening emergencies.
Jobs and prospects
Anaesthetists can work in :
- public hospitals
- private clinics
- private operating theatres
- emergency or intensive care units
It's a highly sought-after specialty, offering many opportunities for advancement, including in teaching or research (see our article on installation assistance).
Although the path to this specialty is long (around 11 years), anesthesia-intensive care medicine is a rewarding profession, at the heart of acute and critical care issues. Every year, it attracts students motivated by the technical aspects, the adrenalin, and the crucial role they play in the chain of care.
If you're interested in this article, take a look at our anaesthetist salary sheet!