100+ Free ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) Practice Questions
Pass your ABPS Anesthesiology Certification Examination (Board of Certification in Anesthesiology) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
What is the approximate MAC (minimum alveolar concentration) of sevoflurane in 100% oxygen for a healthy 40-year-old adult?
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Key Facts: ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) Exam
~200
Total MCQ Items
ABPS BCA Anesthesiology exam
~4 hr
Total Exam Time
Computer-based testing
~15%
Pharmacology Weight
Largest single domain on 2026 BCA content outline
~$1,800
2026 Exam Fee
ABPS/BCA (verify current schedule)
2.5 mg/kg
Dantrolene MH Bolus
MHAUS protocol — repeat to 10 mg/kg
1.5 mL/kg
20% Lipid Emulsion LAST Bolus
ASRA 2020 LAST checklist (then 0.25 mL/kg/min)
The ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) Certification Exam is a 200-item, ~4-hour computer-based test administered by BCA/ABPS for residency-trained anesthesiologists. The blueprint weighs Pharmacology (~15%), Physiology (~12%), Equipment (~10%), Monitoring (~10%), Regional/Neuraxial (~10%), Airway (~10%), Cardiac/Thoracic (~8%), Obstetric (~8%), Pediatric (~7%), Critical Care/Pain (~5%), and Perioperative Complications (~5%). The 2026 fee is approximately $1,800; eligibility requires MD/DO with unrestricted license and anesthesiology residency completion.
Sample ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1What is the approximate MAC (minimum alveolar concentration) of sevoflurane in 100% oxygen for a healthy 40-year-old adult?
2A 70-kg patient develops seizures and ventricular arrhythmia immediately after an interscalene block with bupivacaine. Per ASRA, the recommended initial bolus dose of 20% lipid emulsion is:
3What is the recommended initial IV bolus dose of dantrolene for an acute malignant hyperthermia crisis?
4Mallampati class III is defined by visualization of which oropharyngeal structures with the patient seated, mouth open, and tongue protruded?
5Per ASA Standards for Basic Anesthetic Monitoring, continuous monitoring of which parameter is required during all anesthetics involving an artificial airway?
6A 28-year-old woman develops a positional frontal headache 24 hours after spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery with a 25-gauge Quincke needle. The most appropriate first-line treatment for this post-dural puncture headache is:
7Which of the following respiratory changes occurs in normal term pregnancy?
8Compared to adults, the pediatric airway in children under age 8 has which distinguishing anatomic feature?
9The hemodynamic management goals for a patient with severe aortic stenosis undergoing non-cardiac surgery include:
10What is the recommended dose of sugammadex for immediate reversal of profound rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade (i.e., a 'cannot intubate, cannot ventilate' rescue scenario)?
About the ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) Exam
The ABPS Anesthesiology Certification Examination, administered by the Board of Certification in Anesthesiology (BCA) under the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) — a non-ABMS multi-specialty certifying body distinct from the American Board of Plastic Surgery — validates the competencies required for anesthesiologists. Content spans pharmacology (volatile MAC, IV induction agents, opioids, NMBAs, local anesthetics with LAST/lipid emulsion 20% rescue), physiology (cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, neurophysiology), anesthesia equipment (machine checkout, vaporizers, breathing circuits, scavenging), monitoring (ASA Standards I-V, capnography, BIS, neuromuscular TOF), regional and neuraxial anesthesia (spinal, epidural, ultrasound-guided peripheral blocks, ASRA 2026 anticoagulation), airway management (Mallampati, ASA Difficult Airway Algorithm 2022, video laryngoscopy, supraglottic devices, FONA), cardiovascular and thoracic anesthesia (CABG, valve disease, OLV, TEE), obstetric anesthesia (preeclampsia, neuraxial labor analgesia, postpartum hemorrhage, AFE), pediatric anesthesia (uncuffed vs cuffed ETT, MH triggers, FDA 2017 warning under age 3), critical care, acute and chronic pain medicine, and perioperative complications (MH dantrolene 2.5 mg/kg, anaphylaxis epinephrine, PONV Apfel, ARDS, AKI, delirium). Eligibility requires an MD/DO with valid unrestricted license and completion of an anesthesiology residency.
Questions
200 scored questions
Time Limit
~4 hours CBT
Passing Score
Criterion-referenced scaled score set by BCA (modified Angoff standard)
Exam Fee
~$1,800 examination fee (ABPS/BCA 2026 — verify current schedule) (American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) — Board of Certification in Anesthesiology (BCA))
ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) Exam Content Outline
Pharmacology
Volatile anesthetics (sevoflurane, desflurane, isoflurane) and MAC values, IV induction agents (propofol, ketamine, etomidate, dexmedetomidine), opioids (fentanyl, remifentanil, morphine, hydromorphone), neuromuscular blockers (succinylcholine, rocuronium, vecuronium, cisatracurium) and reversal (neostigmine/glycopyrrolate, sugammadex 2-4 mg/kg moderate vs 16 mg/kg immediate), local anesthetics (lidocaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine) and LAST treatment with 20% lipid emulsion (1.5 mL/kg bolus, 0.25 mL/kg/min infusion per ASRA 2020), benzodiazepines and reversal (flumazenil), vasoactive drugs (phenylephrine, ephedrine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, vasopressin).
Physiology
Cardiovascular physiology (cardiac output, preload/afterload, Frank-Starling, coronary perfusion pressure), respiratory physiology (V/Q matching, dead space, shunt, oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, FRC and closing capacity), renal physiology (GFR, RBF, autoregulation), neurophysiology (CBF, CPP, ICP, pressure-flow autoregulation), autonomic nervous system, acid-base balance and Stewart approach, hepatic and endocrine physiology, fluid/electrolyte balance, blood and coagulation cascade.
Anesthesia Equipment & Delivery
Anesthesia machine checkout (FDA 1993, ASA 2008 pre-use), vaporizers (variable bypass, desflurane Tec 6 heated and pressurized), breathing circuits (Mapleson A-F, circle system), CO2 absorbers (Compound A formation with sevoflurane in soda lime vs Amsorb), oxygen supply and pipeline failsafe, scavenging systems, ventilator modes (volume-control, pressure-control, PCV-VG), gas analyzers (paramagnetic O2, IR for CO2 and volatiles), infusion pumps and TCI, ASA closed-claims hazards, fire safety triad (oxidizer + fuel + ignition source).
Monitoring
ASA Standards for Basic Anesthetic Monitoring (oxygenation, ventilation, circulation, temperature), capnography waveform interpretation (phases I-IV, plateau slope), pulse oximetry physics and limitations (carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, motion, perfusion), invasive arterial line placement and waveform analysis (pulse pressure variation), central venous and PA catheterization, processed EEG (BIS 40-60 target, SedLine, Patient State Index), neuromuscular monitoring (TOF, double-burst, post-tetanic count), SSEP/MEP for spine surgery, point-of-care ultrasound (FAST, lung, gastric).
Regional & Neuraxial Anesthesia
Spinal anesthesia (subarachnoid LA distribution, baricity, complications including PDPH and high spinal), epidural (loss of resistance, test dose with epinephrine 15 mcg, top-up vs infusion), combined spinal-epidural and dural puncture epidural, peripheral nerve blocks (interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, axillary, femoral, sciatic, popliteal, TAP, ESP, PECS), ultrasound-guided regional, ASRA 2026 anticoagulation guidelines for neuraxial/deep blocks (LMWH, DOACs, warfarin, antiplatelets), contraindications and infection risk.
Airway Management
Airway assessment (Mallampati class I-IV, thyromental distance, mouth opening, neck extension, upper lip bite test), ASA Difficult Airway Algorithm 2022 updates (emphasis on awake intubation when difficulty predicted, limit DL attempts to optimize first-pass), preoxygenation and apneic oxygenation, direct vs video laryngoscopy (Glidescope, McGrath, C-MAC), supraglottic airways (LMA Classic, ProSeal, Supreme, i-gel — second-generation with gastric port), awake fiberoptic intubation, front-of-neck access (cricothyrotomy), extubation criteria and high-risk extubation.
Cardiovascular & Thoracic Anesthesia
CABG anesthetic management, valvular heart disease (AS — slow/full/tight; AR — fast/full/forward; MS — slow/tight/RV care; MR — fast/full/forward), cardiomyopathies (HOCM, restrictive), heart transplantation, mechanical circulatory support (IABP, Impella, ECMO, LVAD), cardiopulmonary bypass physiology and protamine reversal, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) standard 28 views per ASE/SCA, one-lung ventilation (DLT vs bronchial blocker), thoracic epidural for thoracotomy, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.
Obstetric Anesthesia
Maternal physiologic changes of pregnancy (increased CO 50%, increased MV 50%, decreased FRC 20%, hypercoagulability), aortocaval compression and left uterine displacement >20 weeks, neuraxial labor analgesia (epidural, CSE, dural puncture epidural), cesarean delivery (spinal vs epidural vs general — spinal preferred), preeclampsia/eclampsia and HELLP, magnesium sulfate seizure prophylaxis, postpartum hemorrhage uterotonics (oxytocin first-line, methergine, hemabate avoid in asthma, misoprostol), amniotic fluid embolism, ACOG/SOAP guidelines, neonatal resuscitation, fetal heart rate monitoring.
Pediatric Anesthesia
Pediatric airway differences (large occiput, anterior larynx, large tongue, cricoid as narrowest point in infants, omega-shaped epiglottis), ETT sizing (uncuffed vs cuffed — modern preference for cuffed with low cuff pressure ≤20 cmH2O), MAC variation by age (highest in infants 1-6 months), IV vs inhalational induction with sevoflurane, MH-triggering agents (all volatiles, succinylcholine), congenital heart disease anesthesia, neonatal physiology and persistent fetal circulation, FDA 2017 warning for repeated/prolonged general anesthesia under age 3, parental presence at induction, post-op apnea risk in former preterm infants <60 weeks PCA.
Critical Care & Pain Medicine
ARDS (Berlin definition, low Vt 6 mL/kg PBW, plateau pressure <30 cmH2O, prone positioning >12 hours), septic shock (Surviving Sepsis 2021 — 30 mL/kg crystalloid, norepinephrine first-line, antibiotics within 1 hour), acute kidney injury (KDIGO criteria), nutrition support, ICU sedation (RASS goal -2 to 0, CAM-ICU delirium screening), acute pain (multimodal analgesia, ERAS), chronic pain (neuropathic, low back, CRPS), opioid stewardship and CDC 2022 prescribing guideline, interventional pain (epidural steroid injections, RFA, spinal cord stimulators), buprenorphine/methadone perioperative management.
Perioperative Complications & Safety
Malignant hyperthermia (RYR1 mutation, dantrolene 2.5 mg/kg IV bolus repeat to 10 mg/kg, MHAUS hotline 1-800-644-9737), anaphylaxis (epinephrine first-line; NMBAs/rocuronium, latex, antibiotics common triggers), PONV (Apfel score: female, non-smoker, history of PONV/motion sickness, post-op opioids — prophylaxis with 5-HT3 antagonists, dexamethasone, scopolamine, NK1 antagonists), hypothermia and active warming, awareness under anesthesia (BIS 40-60 target), corneal abrasion and positioning injuries (ulnar neuropathy most common), ASA closed-claims database, postoperative delirium and POCD, perioperative MI and MINS, transfusion reactions (TRALI, TACO, hemolytic).
How to Pass the ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Criterion-referenced scaled score set by BCA (modified Angoff standard)
- Exam length: 200 questions
- Time limit: ~4 hours CBT
- Exam fee: ~$1,800 examination fee (ABPS/BCA 2026 — verify current schedule)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) Certification Examination?
The ABPS Anesthesiology Certification Examination is administered by the Board of Certification in Anesthesiology (BCA) under the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) — a non-ABMS multi-specialty certifying body. It validates the competencies required for anesthesiologists across pharmacology, physiology, equipment, monitoring, regional/neuraxial techniques, airway management, cardiac and thoracic anesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, critical care, pain medicine, and perioperative complications and safety.
Who is eligible to take the BCA Anesthesiology exam?
Candidates must hold an MD, DO, or equivalent doctoral medical degree with a valid unrestricted medical license, have completed an ACGME-accredited (or equivalent) anesthesiology residency program, and document clinical anesthesiology practice. Letters of reference attesting to anesthesiology training and clinical competence are required, along with adherence to the ABPS Code of Ethics and Professionalism. Application requirements follow the published ABPS/BCA schedule.
How is the ABPS Anesthesiology exam different from the ABA exam?
The ABA (American Board of Anesthesiology) is the ABMS-recognized board, with a multi-stage pathway (BASIC, ADVANCED, APPLIED). The ABPS BCA is a separate non-ABMS certification recognized by some hospitals, states, and military/government employers. Many practicing anesthesiologists choose BCA when they need an alternative certification pathway, while others hold both. Always verify with your employer and state medical board which certifications they recognize.
What is the format of the exam?
The BCA Anesthesiology exam is a computer-based test comprising approximately 200 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions over about 4 hours. Items are blueprinted to the BCA content outline: Pharmacology (~15%), Physiology (~12%), Equipment (~10%), Monitoring (~10%), Regional/Neuraxial (~10%), Airway (~10%), Cardiac/Thoracic (~8%), Obstetric (~8%), Pediatric (~7%), Critical Care/Pain (~5%), and Perioperative Complications (~5%). Testing is offered at secure CBT centers per the BCA schedule.
How much does the 2026 exam cost?
The 2026 BCA Anesthesiology examination fee is approximately $1,800 — always verify the current schedule on the ABPS website. Candidates should also budget for prep resources (Miller's Anesthesia, Barash Clinical Anesthesia, Big Blue/Hall, M5 question banks) and ongoing Continuous Certification (CC) fees after passing. Cancellation and refund policies follow the BCA schedule with decreasing refunds as the exam date approaches.
How is the exam scored?
BCA uses criterion-referenced scaled scoring with a passing standard set by subject-matter experts using the modified Angoff method. A candidate's pass/fail result depends on performance relative to the fixed cut-score, not on other candidates. Score reports typically include domain-level feedback so candidates know their strongest and weakest content areas — useful for retake preparation if needed.
What are the highest-yield topics for the BCA Anesthesiology exam?
Highest-yield topics include the ASA Difficult Airway Algorithm 2022 framework (emphasis on awake intubation when difficulty predicted), ASRA 2026 anticoagulation guidelines for neuraxial blocks, malignant hyperthermia recognition and dantrolene dosing (2.5 mg/kg IV bolus, repeat to 10 mg/kg, MHAUS hotline 1-800-644-9737), LAST recognition and 20% lipid emulsion rescue (1.5 mL/kg bolus then 0.25 mL/kg/min), MAC values for volatile agents, valvular heart disease load/HR goals, preeclampsia and PPH management, FDA 2017 pediatric anesthesia warning under age 3, ARDS lung-protective ventilation, and PONV Apfel score prophylaxis.
How should I study for this exam?
Use a structured 6-12 month plan layered on residency or clinical practice. Map to the BCA content outline: begin with pharmacology and physiology (the largest combined block), then equipment and monitoring, then airway and regional/neuraxial techniques, then cardiac/OB/peds subspecialty content, and close with critical care, pain, and complications/safety. Use Miller's Anesthesia or Barash Clinical Anesthesia, Big Blue (Hall) for review, ASA practice guidelines, ASRA documents, MHAUS protocols, and high-volume MCQ practice. Complete 2-3 timed full-length mock exams in the final 4-6 weeks.