Program Requirements & Selection Criteria

Selection Criteria

Requirements for Admission:

ALL applicants are required to have the following:

Completion of the following with a grade of "C" or better:

  • General Biology Course (PCC Biology - BIOL 003, 010A, 011 or higher OR Chemistry - (PCC CHEM 001A, or CHEM 002A, CHEM 022 or higher)

And ANY TWO courses of the following

  • Anatomy - (PCC ANAT 025)
  • Physiology - (PCC PYSO 001, or PYSO 100)
  • Medical Terminology (PCC HLSC 115)

AP scores in lieu of prerequisite courses are acceptable ONLY IF AP scores are greater than 3, you must consult with your counselor to verify eligibility. Applicant must submit an Advanced Placement transcript with your application.

Recency is not a requirement. We strongly recommend prerequisite courses be completed within seven (7) years of application to the program. It is also strongly recommended that students review the Technical Standards before application to the program to ensure they meet the criterion.

  1. Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent.
  2. Completion of required general education coursework* to be eligible to obtain an Associate's degree upon completion of the Anesthesia Technology Program, if no previous degree has been awarded.
  3. Current CPR/Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification from the American Heart Association.
  4. Completion of application for admission into the Anesthesia Technology Program.
  5. Submission of a Statement of Purpose.

*General Education Coursework:

We strongly advise the applicant/student to consult their academic counselor for guidance for the proper General Education coursework for an Associate of Science degree track.

Either of the following will be applicable:

  1. PCC Local General Education Pattern
  2. California State University (CSU) General Education Pattern
  3. Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) General Education Pattern
  4. Bachelor's degree from a U.S. Institutionally accredited institution

Students who have previously been awarded a bachelor's degree from a U.S. institutionally accredited institution shall be waived from the general education requirement and earn an associate degree upon completion of the AT program. However, students must still complete the additional program prerequisites before consideration for admission.

Students who have previously been awarded an associate degree from a U.S. institutionally accredited institution are not required to complete additional general education. However, only a certificate of achievement will be granted upon completion of the AT program. Students must still complete the additional program prerequisites before consideration for admission.

Note that some students may need to submit to more courses depending on their General Education track to garner an Associate degree before completion of the program.

Verify the GE pattern you are pursuing, if you do not verify it may result in improper fulfillment of general education courses, which may impede your admission to or completion of the program.

For students without a degree, please consult with a PCC academic counselor to determine which classes are appropriate according to your catalog rights and which general education pattern you are completing.

Eligible applicants will be randomly selected following all State and Federal Laws.

Course Equivalency:

Questions regarding course equivalency for coursework taken at colleges other than Pasadena City College should be directed to the Counseling Office.  The Counseling Office can be reached at https://pasadena.edu/academics/support/counseling/index.php

General Requirements

  1. Anesthesia Technologist students must have the ability to communicate safely, accurately, and effectively in both written and spoken English.

  2. Upon acceptance to the AT program you are required to complete:

    • A health clearance and all required immunizations and titers
    • A clear drug screen
    • Maintain a valid American Heart Association CPR card
    • A two-step TB test
    • Covid vaccination is required
    • A complete a criminal background check is required to be able to attend clinical experiences. We will provide you details regarding these clearances in the acceptance packet upon selection. If you have questions or concerns about the background check are encouraged to make an appointment to discuss these concerns with the Anesthesia Technologist Program Director.
    • Each student must possess a laptop with certain specifications for online lectures and computer-based examinations.