Anaesthesia associate registration assessment for internationally-qualified anaesthesia associates
The anaesthesia associate registration assessment (AARA) is set at the level of a newly-qualified anaesthesia associate (AA). It helps us make sure eligible AAs have the right knowledge and skills to demonstrate their readiness to practise in the UK.
Do you need to take the assessment?
If you are an AA who qualified outside of the UK, after having your qualification reviewed by our Associate Professions Applications team, you’ll need to sit the AARA before you are able to apply for registration.
What does the assessment involve?
There are two parts to the AARA:
- Part 1 – a written knowledge test – known as the AARA-KT
- Part 2 – an assessment of clinical skills known as the clinical capability assessment, or the AARA-CCA for internationally-qualified AAs.
You must pass part 1 of the AARA before you can sit part 2.
What do you need before you can take the assessment?
Before you can take the AARA, you’ll first need to have your qualification assessed.
Once your qualification is deemed acceptable, you’ll have to provide evidence of your knowledge of English language before you are eligible to book the AARA-KT.
AARA knowledge test (AARA-KT)
The AARA-KT is a written exam made up of 150 multiple choice questions, which you must answer within three hours. Each starts with a short scenario followed by a question. You need to choose the single best answer out of a range of possible options.
An AARA-KT pass will remain valid for two years from the date the test is taken. If you do not pass the AARA-CCA in this time, you may need to re-sit the AARA-KT.
AARA clinical capability assessment (AARA-CCA)
The AARA-CCA is a clinical capability assessment designed to test your knowledge on a range of scenarios a newly-qualified AA should be capable of performing with appropriate supervision.
The AARA-CCA pass will remain valid for two years from the date the test is taken.
What happens after you’ve passed both the AARA-KT and AARA-CCA?
Please read our registration guidance for internationally-qualified anaesthesia associates for guidance on what to do after you have passed both the AARA-KT and AARA-CCA.
