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Doctors

How to become an Anaesthesiologist

Also called: Doctor

Mainly manages anaesthesia during surgery and looks after the patient's overall condition.

How to become one

To work as an anaesthesiologist, you must first graduate from a university medical school (6 years), pass the National Medical Practitioners Examination and gain a medical licence. As well as completing at least 2 years of clinical training at a designated training hospital, to practise under the title of anaesthesiology you must either (1) train for at least 2 years at a hospital or similar where you can get thorough training in giving anaesthesia (standard I), or (2) work in anaesthesia for at least 2 years and, as the doctor mainly responsible, give at least 300 general anaesthetics with tracheal intubation (standard II), and then, after review, get permission from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare to practise under the title of anaesthesiology. You can become a board-certified anaesthesiologist by completing the 4-year specialist training programme in anaesthesiology set by the Japanese Medical Specialty Board and passing the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists' certification exam. The specialist certification is renewed after 5 years, and you can then become a supervising anaesthesiologist by application. For self-directed learning, you can present research at conferences and in journals and attend case conferences and training run by societies to learn about new drugs and medical techniques. There are also society-certified specialist qualifications in anaesthesia, such as cardiovascular anaesthesia specialist, paediatric anaesthesia certified doctor, regional anaesthesia certified doctor and intensive care specialist (subspecialty). At a university hospital you would hold posts such as assistant professor, lecturer, associate professor and professor. At a general hospital you would hold posts set by the hospital, such as deputy head of anaesthesiology, head of anaesthesiology, deputy director and hospital director. Anaesthesiologists need specialist knowledge of anaesthesiology, physiology and pharmacology, and must build up wide experience, not only in specialist areas such as cardiovascular, obstetric and paediatric anaesthesia but also in anaesthesia for chest surgery, neurosurgery and more. Anaesthesiologists need accurate clinical reasoning to judge quickly what is happening in an emergency, and the ability to act quickly and skilfully. They also build trust with anxious patients and support them after surgery. During surgery you must communicate well with surgeons and nurses, so empathy and people skills are needed.

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Anaesthesiologist?

To work as an anaesthesiologist, you must first graduate from a university medical school (6 years), pass the National Medical Practitioners Examination and gain a medical licence. As well as completing at least 2 years of clinical training at a designated training hospital, to practise under the title of anaesthesiology you must either (1) train for at least 2 years at a hospital or similar where you can get thorough training in giving anaesthesia (standard I), or (2) work in anaesthesia for at least 2 years and, as the doctor mainly responsible, give at least 300 general anaesthetics with tracheal intubation (standard II), and then, after review, get permission from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare to practise under the title of anaesthesiology. You can become a board-certified anaesthesiologist by completing the 4-year specialist training programme in anaesthesiology set by the Japanese Medical Specialty Board and passing the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists' certification exam. The specialist certification is renewed after 5 years, and you can then become a supervising anaesthesiologist by application. For self-directed learning, you can present research at conferences and in journals and attend case conferences and training run by societies to learn about new drugs and medical techniques. There are also society-certified specialist qualifications in anaesthesia, such as cardiovascular anaesthesia specialist, paediatric anaesthesia certified doctor, regional anaesthesia certified doctor and intensive care specialist (subspecialty). At a university hospital you would hold posts such as assistant professor, lecturer, associate professor and professor. At a general hospital you would hold posts set by the hospital, such as deputy head of anaesthesiology, head of anaesthesiology, deputy director and hospital director. Anaesthesiologists need specialist knowledge of anaesthesiology, physiology and pharmacology, and must build up wide experience, not only in specialist areas such as cardiovascular, obstetric and paediatric anaesthesia but also in anaesthesia for chest surgery, neurosurgery and more. Anaesthesiologists need accurate clinical reasoning to judge quickly what is happening in an emergency, and the ability to act quickly and skilfully. They also build trust with anxious patients and support them after surgery. During surgery you must communicate well with surgeons and nurses, so empathy and people skills are needed.

How much does an Anaesthesiologist earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥15,122,500 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Doctors, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become an Anaesthesiologist?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 99% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of an Anaesthesiologist?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026