Anethesia Assistant to CRNA

There are no short cuts for an AA to become a CRNA here. You must become an RN, enter and complete a nurse anesthesia program and pass boards no matter what your background is. From a little reading I've done about the new program in Canada, it is for RNs to be specialized in anesthesia. As I understand the practice is designed to always be under the direction of an anesthesiologist, so I understand you saying it is an AA. I think it is considered an advanced practice nurse role though.

Our AAs are not nurses here in the states. If they wanted to become a CRNA they'd have to go to nursing school and get their RN. Then they'd have to go to anesthesia school and sit for their CRNA boards. So, as you can see it would be a long road for this type of transition. I've known some Canadian nurses who have come to the US, gotten their ICU experience and then applied to our anesthesia schools. Good luck.

Didn't the U. of Toronto just introduce the first ever CRNA program?

Anesthesia Assistant and CRNAs can do the same things the pay is the same also. Both are Master degree programs
The differences are
Crnas become nurses first
AAs do not have to have any healthcare experience to apply to schools
Anesthesia Assistants have a bachelors degree with premedical courses (since traditional this position was to be the anesthesiologists "ASN -BSN situation" it was supposed to be a given that these students were to go on to med school) CRNAs do not have to have a degree in Nursing
Many states still do not recognize the Anesthesia Assistant It may be less than 20
CRNAs are accepted in all states
only 700 AAs vs 24,000 CRNAs
85 CRNA schools and counting vs 7 AA schools Mcat is reqired for 2 or 3 of those schools. I think)
Anesthesia Assistants have to work under an Anesthesiologist only, while CRNAs need only a doctor
AAs have to do continuing ed credits biannually plus have Continued Demonstration of Qualification exam EVERY 6 months, that would suck (has to do with that 'ol intention to be a anesthesiologist stuff)
It wouldn't do to be an AA then go CRNA because it would be in most parts redundant. You would have gotten the bachelors degree or if you already had one, take the required courses to learn to perform AA duties and get your Masters TO then become a nurse (more classes and clinicals), THEN enter a CRNA program to learn stuff you already KNOW and DO to have the CRNA after your name.
It would be a choice of one of the other not both
I would personally go the CRNA route since they are more widely accepted in all states and for accessibility (having to work ONLY under an Anesthesiologist) for cost cutting hospitals.

Where did you get this information? What do you mean by an anesthesia assistant program? I've seen the Canadian advanced practice nursing role described as functioning similar to a CRNA in the anesthesia care team model here in the US. I've also read that the initial students will all be NP's prior to completing the anesthesia portion, but in the future RNs could enter and complete the program.

While the Toronto program is not the same as a CRNA in the US, it is a start.

Looks like you have a couple of options. You can come to the US, go through a program and become a CRNA here (I have no idea what the immigration issues are). Or you could go to Toronto program and put your efforts into growing the nurse anesthesia profession there in Canada. It won't just happen without nurse anesthetist leaders in the field. The CRNA role here in the US didn't just happen without a lot of continuous effort from a lot of CRNAs over the past 100 years. How about working to make it happen there?

I would not go for the AA program in Ontario, that's just a way to reduce the APN status.