Hold onto your textbooks pre-anesthesiologist assistants! There’s a wild legal saga unfolding that impacts your future funding. Get the scoop, stay sharp, and skip the legal rollercoaster — or at least scream with your eyes open.

In this episode:

• The latest updates on federal court stalling the "narrower professional degree list" law
• How these legal hiccups impact pre-AAs
• Practical Steps and actions you can take right now as a Pre-AA
• Why engaging in advocacy is more important than ever for future anesthesiologist assistants
• How the fight over professional degree definitions controls your funding and status

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to the wild world of pre-AA legislation

00:20 - The federal court stay explained: pause, not endgame

01:00 - How the "Rise Final Rule" shrank professional degree definitions — and how courts put it on hold

01:40 - What this legal pause means for your student loans and funding limits

02:20 - Adrienne’s perspective on why the list jumped from 11 to 29 fields

03:00 - Impact of the court stay on loan limits: what’s changed on paper

04:00 - The end of Grad Plus loans

04:45 - How the federal caps, income, savings, and co-signers shape your financial future

05:30 - The critical importance of reading official documents yourself

06:20 - How you can kickstart advocacy today as a Pre-AA

07:10 - Why your voice matters in rulemaking and litigation

08:00 - Final recap: stay informed, get involved, and protect your future

Resources & Links:

• Ready-made Pre-AA advocacy letters
• StudentAid.gov Federal Student Loan Limits
• American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA) Advocacy Page
• The Formal Update to the List of Professional Degree Programs Due to Court Order (Electronic Announcement, June 29, 2026)
• StudentAid.gov — Big Updates: Loan Limits Interim Exception (eligibility for continuing borrowers)
• StudentAid.gov — Big Updates: Student Borrower Scenarios (find the example closest to your situation
• StudentAid.gov — Big Updates hub (overview of all OBBBA/RISE changes)
• National Student Loan Data System - Use if you have a history of already borrowing federal student loans

Remember: Voices create change, so don’t wait for the diploma to start speaking up. Your future depends on it.

Ever wondered how much volunteer work you actually need as a pre-AA, or what kind of volunteering even counts? You're not alone! Tiffany and Adri discuss these questions and more, to help you navigate the wild world of volunteering as a Pre-Anesthesiologist Assistant student.

In this episode:

• How many volunteer hours are needed
• What kind of volunteering activities counts
• The link between volunteering and clinical experience
• The true value of volunteering as a Pre-AA
  

Timestamps:

00:00 - Debunking the volunteer hours myth — no set minimum!

00:20 - Standard Intro & Disclaimer

01:36 - Episode Start & Types of Volunteering

02:12 - Volunteering hours, how many are needed?

02:50 - What kind of volunteering counts?

03:15 - How genuine community involvement beats hospital shifts every time

04:35 - Adri’s volunteering experience example

05:55 - Tiffany’s experiences with volunteering and non-volunteering community

07:21 - How volunteering lowers barriers to clinical experience

08:42 - How authenticity in volunteering helps

10:02 - Challenges of volunteering as a Pre-AA

12:24 - Key takeaways

Connect with Pre-AA Pathways:

• TikTok
• Instagram
• YouTube
  

Music Attributions: EJJGYNSZ1AEPSKXD, 8TT2QTUI8M5MPKV9, Y1YMZNGDHX8QHM7H, GDDOM0NWBV0ZKGRH

In this episode, Tiffany and Adrienne walk through shadowing from two pre-AA perspectives: how they found anesthesia observation hours, where to look, how to frame a request that gets a "yes," and how to show up once you're in the room.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:52 — The shadowing question that shows up constantly in pre-AA spaces

01:42 — 24 jurisdictions: why this is a structural access gap, not a personal failure

03:03 — Where to look first: hospitals, volunteer offices, and your state AA board

03:51 — AA programs that facilitate shadowing + the info-session pro tip

04:26 — Shadowing other anesthesia providers (MD/DO, CRNA): not a consolation prize

05:20 — Networking shadowing at the AAAA Conference

05:53 — The four things to confirm before you send a single email

06:32 — Building a prep kit so you can reply fast when someone says yes

08:12 — Read this before day one: Anesthesia Made Easy

09:57 — No responses for months: what to do next

10:54 — Teaching hospitals, the Department of Anesthesiology, and matching their language

12:13 — Why ambulatory surgery centers are underrated

12:53 — Using LinkedIn the right way

14:08 — Shadowing vs. clinical experience: the distinction that matters

17:01 — The 5-part structured request framework

18:46 — A sample shadowing email, start to finish

20:50 — The frustrated "please let me shadow" post, said with empathy

23:05 — The travel reality of a regionalized profession

25:01 — OR etiquette: don't touch anything blue

26:31 — Sarah Whitfield's shadowing prep guide on body language

27:32 — Asking specific questions that get real answers

28:27 — Why you forget the details within 48 hours, and what to do about it

29:17 — Contact info, signed forms, and the 24-hour thank-you email

29:51 — Key takeaways

31:58 — Next time: volunteering in the pre-AA context

RESOURCES MENTIONED

- Anesthesia Made Easy by Jeff Steiner — a digestible first pass on induction, maintenance, emergence, medications, and monitoring.

- Sarah Whitfield's Shadowing Prep Guide — practicing CAA at AspiringCAA.com, on shadowing etiquette and body language.

- AAAA Conference — covered in earlier Pre-AA Pathways episodes; an in-person route to shadowing connections.

- Episode 7 (All Things Clinical Experience) — the deeper breakdown of shadowing vs. clinical experience vs. patient care experience.

CONNECT WITH US

Sent a shadowing request that went nowhere? Run it against the 5-part framework and DM us what you'd change — we read everything. And tell us the state you're applying from.

Instagram: @PreAAPathways

TikTok: @PreAAPathways

YouTube: @PreAAPathways

Web: preaapathways.com

COMING UP NEXT — EPISODE 9

Volunteering in the pre-AA context: what it actually looks like, how it's distinct from clinical experience and shadowing, and why programs keep mentioning it.

DISCLAIMER

Both hosts are pre-AA applicants in the current CASAA cycle, not program-accepted CAAs. Nothing in this episode is application advice, admissions guidance, or a guarantee of outcomes. Logistical details should be verified directly with the source. Pre-AA Pathways is not affiliated with CASAA, AAAA, any AA program, or CAAHEP.

Pre-AA Pathways — Turning ambition into admission.

Music Attribution: QL9LXCGP5Y9BUTTD

Adrienne and Tiffany break down what it actually takes to build clinical experience from the outside — the real barriers, the most common entry points in pre-AA communities, and what seems to matter once you're building hours.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why getting your first clinical role is harder than "just get your hours" suggests

• The pay cut and scheduling realities that don't get talked about enough

• Common clinical roles in pre-AA communities

• Healthcare experience vs. direct patient care — and why the distinction matters

• What seems to carry weight when building toward AA school

• How to document your hours before application time

Chapters

00:53 — Why clinical experience can be the hardest part of your pre-AA journey

02:31 — The real cost of gaining clinical experience

03:17 — Strategic patience & building healthcare experience

05:16 — Common entry roles introduced & information on Medical Assistant positions

07:51 — Certified Nursing Assistants and Patient Care Technicians

10:17 — EMT, paramedic, and OR tech options

11:15 — Anesthesia Tech positions

14:05 — The difference between healthcare experience and patient care hours

16:00 — Shortcuts or stepping stones? Phlebotomy, scribing, volunteering, and their roles

21:02 — What we think really matters

24:10 — Tracking, Documenting & Preparing Early

28:27 — Final takeaways & Closing

Resources & Links:

🔗 Learn more at preaapathways.com

Connect with PreAA Pathways:

• Instagram

• TikTok

• YouTube

@preaapathways

Adrienne and Tiffany are pre-AA applicants in the 2026 CASAA (Centralized Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants) cycle. Nothing here is application advice or a guarantee of any outcome. Program requirements change — always verify directly with each program. Not affiliated with CASAA, the AAAA, any AA program, or CAAHEP.

Music license code: 6JJQRMA689NY4NTL

Episode 7 — Pre-AA Perspectives on Prerequisites

Adrienne and Tiffany both started here — pulling up a program page, doing the math on their transcripts, and realizing there was more ground to cover than expected. This episode breaks down what AA program prerequisites actually consist of, where the details get complicated, and how to build a real inventory of where you stand.

Chapters

00:00 — Intro & disclaimer
01:12 — The moment prerequisites got real
02:34 — What are AA program prerequisites?
03:27 — Why the science foundation matters in the Operating Room
04:00 — Recency requirements & course age
05:25 — Course level, labs, and what programs are actually evaluating
07:08 — The prerequisite nuances that trip people up
09:30 — Online prerequisites & transfer credits
11:05 — How to build your actual transcript inventory
12:17 — Sequencing your plan
16:57 — Grades, competitiveness, and the CAA Readiness Index
20:48 — Real barriers
25:46 — On timelines being longer than planned
27:06 — One thing to do after this episode
27:36 — Closing

Resources

🔗 CAA Readiness Index — criscore.org
🔗 Adrienne's course & university reviews — slptocaa.com/course-reviews
🔗 Episode 3: GPA, GRE, MCAT & Competitiveness — preaapathways.riverside.com/e/episode-3-all-things-pre-aa-statistics-gpa-gre-mcat-competitiveness

🔗 Awakened Anesthetists’ — Emily Mycyk interview — buzzsprout.com/1219709/episodes/19165712
🔗 Learn more at preaapathways.com

Adrienne and Tiffany are pre-AA applicants in the 2026 CASAA (Centralized Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants) cycle. Nothing here is application advice or a guarantee of any outcome. Program requirements change — always verify directly with each program. Not affiliated with CASAA, the AAAA, any AA program, or CAAHEP.

In this episode, we discuss CASAA with a successful AA applicant and incoming S-AA for the 2026 school year:

• How CASAA is structured
• Why timing matters to apply & prep letters of recommendation
• Financial Considerations
• Decoding the CASAA GPA
• Common pitfalls
• Application strategy
• & Practical tools used

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome and what CASAA is all about
02:01 - Features of the updated CASAA portal and new sections
04:13 - Why timing your application to school cycles can make or break your chances
07:02 - How to strategize program selection while managing costs
11:18 - Letters of recommendation: when to ask and who makes a strong reference
17:05 - Navigating the sections of the portal — what each tab contains
19:56 - Tools for organization: spreadsheets and tracking hours
23:19 - How CASAA calculates the GPA and what can surprise you
25:31 - Common challenges: standardized testing
27:44 - Timeline tricks: when and how to input transcripts and supporting documents
29:56 - Drafting your personal statement and avoiding last-minute stress
31:52 - Strategic Takeaways & Next Steps

Resources & Links:

• CASAA Portal — your centralized application portal for AA applications
• Anesthesia OneSource — program details and requirements listed here
• Personal Statement Book Recommendation - Graduate Admissions Essays, Fourth Edition by Donald Asher — your go-to resource to for your personal statement
• Google Sheets — your new best friend for tracking hours
• Pre-AA Pathways Episode 3: All Things Pre-AA Statistics-GPA, GRE, MCAT & Competitiveness

Key Takeaways:

• Make an account on CASAA early—familiarity reduces stress
• Plan your timeline based on program openings and cycle variations
• Start collecting recommendation letters at least 2 months ahead
• Use tools like Google Sheets to organize hours and experiences
• Remember: applying late doesn’t mean you’re out, but strategic early submissions help
  
  *Disclaimer: Tiffany and Adrienne are pre-AA applicants in the 2026 CASAA cycle. Victoria is an accepted incoming S-AA. Everything shared comes from personal experience, personal perspectives, and publicly available information. Pre-AA Pathways is not affiliated with CASAA, the AAAA, any AA program, or CAAHEP.

This episode is about why showing up before you're accepted isn't just allowed. It's the point.

What we cover:

• What the AAAA (American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants) National Conference is
• Why in-person professional exposure builds a different kind of context than content consumption (and the cognitive science behind why)
• How to actually show up: introducing yourself, which sessions to prioritize, what to ask practicing CAAs
• 7 myths about attending as a pre-AA, busted
• ... and MORE

Links & Resources

• AAAA website + affiliate membership
• Pre-AA Pathways website
• Follow us on our socials HERE
• Tiffany's Coffee Break episode about the AAAA (Ep 3.5)

Advocacy for CAAs

• To learn more about advocacy, start HERE.
• For Adri's framework on HOW to educate and advocate, visit HERE.

Disclaimer: Tiffany and Adrienne are pre-AA applicants in the 2026 CASAA cycle — not program-accepted CAAs. Nothing here is admissions guidance or a guarantee of outcomes. Verify all dates, fees, and membership details directly with the AAAA. Pre-AA Pathways is not affiliated with CASAA, the AAAA, any AA program, or CAAHEP.

Tiff goes solo and gets out some highlights while they’re still warm for this one while Adri’s recovering from gum surgery.

• The clinical sessions — what Tiff learned from Dr. Rishi Kumar's session on the physiologically challenging airway (and why the breathing tube going in is not the finish line), and Sarah Whitfield's breakdown of pacemakers vs. ICDs and why that distinction matters more than most people realize
• Legislation — Washington state became the first state on the West Coast to license CAAs. What that fight actually looked like, what Representative Taylor said that every pre-AA needs to hear
• The keynote — Shenandoah Chefalo on ACEs, belonging as the number one predictor of life outcomes, and why Tiff got personal
• Mary Jeanne — watching your mentor show up as her truest self and achieve a lifelong dream in front of you
• Emily Mycyk — the AAAA president who used to tend bar and started AA school at 29, and why her story matters for every non-traditional pre-AA listening

Shenandoah Chefalo Keynote speaker | Trauma-informed wellness expert https://www.chefaloconsulting.com/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/shenandoahchefalo

Dr. Rishi Kumar Speaker | Physiologically challenging airway session https://www.instagram.com/rishimd/

Sarah Whitfield, CAA Speaker | Cardiovascular implantable electronic device & Founder of AspiringCAA.com → aspiringcaa.com | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahwhitfield

Representative Jamila Taylor Washington State Legislature | 30th Legislative District Championed Washington's CAA licensure bill

Chabely’s CAA Map: https://caa-state-practice-map.streamlit.app/

Mary Jeanne Roberts CAA | https://www.instagram.com/awakenedanesthetist/

Emily Mycyk AAAA President 2026

The Anesthesia for All Act — HR6545 Federal legislation pushing for expanded CAA recognition. You can contact your congressional representative about this today. Find your representative: house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/preAApathways

Tiktok → http://tiktok.com/@preaapathways

Website → preAApathways.com