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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT CASPA, PAEA, AND LIAISON INTERNATIONAL ...................................................... 4
APPLICATION CYCLE AND DEADLINES ................................................................................. 5
GETTING STARTED ..................................................................................................................... 6
APPLICATION FEES AND PAYMENTS ..................................................................................... 7
Fee Waivers ......................................................................................................................................... 8
CASPA PORTAL OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 8
APPLICATION DASHBOARD ................................................................................................... 10
Personal Information ...................................................................................................................... 10
CASPA Applicant User Agreement and Release ....................................................................... 10
Advisor Release ............................................................................................................................... 16
Environmental Factors .................................................................................................................... 17
Academic History ............................................................................................................................ 18
High Schools Attended .................................................................................................................. 18
Colleges Attended .......................................................................................................................... 18
Transcript Entry ................................................................................................................................ 18
Professional Transcript Entry Service (PTE) ................................................................................. 10
U.S. And Canadian Transcripts ..................................................................................................... 20
Foreign Transcripts ......................................................................................................................... 21
Transcripts For Professional Coursework .................................................................................... 21
Standardized Exams ....................................................................................................................... 22
SUPPORTING INFORMATION ............................................................................................. 23
Evaluations ....................................................................................................................................... 23
Evaluation Process .......................................................................................................................... 23
Experiences/Achievements ........................................................................................................... 24
PROGRAM MATERIALS ......................................................................................................... 26
Custom Questions .......................................................................................................................... 26
Documents ....................................................................................................................................... 29
Prerequisites .................................................................................................................................... 29
VERIFICATION AND GRADING ........................................................................................... 29
Verification ....................................................................................................................................... 28
No Transcript Avaliable .................................................................................................................. 28
Coure-By-Course Transcript Verification ..................................................................................... 29
Discrepancies .................................................................................................................................. 29
Converting Quarters to Semesters ............................................................................................... 29
Automatic Grade Conversion ....................................................................................................... 30
Transcript Verification ..................................................................................................................... 30
Degree Verification ......................................................................................................................... 30
GRADE POINT AVERAGES ................................................................................................... 31
GPA Calculations ............................................................................................................................. 30
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GPA System Rules .......................................................................................................................... 32
Repeated Coursework ................................................................................................................... 30
CRIMINAL HISTORY ................................................................................................................. 33
Felony And Misdemeanor Convictions ....................................................................................... 33
Background Checks ....................................................................................................................... 33
Components Of The Centralized Background Check .............................................................. 33
ENSURING INTEGRITY ............................................................................................................ 34
PAEA CASPA Policy Regarding Investigations And Violations ................................................ 34
Reports Of Potential Violations And Initiation Of Investigations ............................................. 34
Investigation Of Potential Violations ............................................................................................ 35
Arbitration For Disputes................................................................................................................. 36
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WELCOME TO THE 2024—2025 CASPA CYCLE
A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM:
The PA profession is one of the most attractive and fastest-growing careers in healthcare. For PA
programs across the nation, this means navigating an increasing number of applicants each year.
Since 2018, there has not only been an increased interest in the PA profession – the demand for
PAs and PA salaries has also increased. The CASPA Team, in collaboration with our Liaison
partners, are here to assist you on your journey to becoming a PA. Please follow our Facebook, X
(formerly Twitter), and Instagram pages for tips and updates to the application throughout the
cycle.
ABOUT CASPA, PAEA, AND LIAISON INTERNATIONAL
CASPA
The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) is a user-friendly, secure,
internet-based application platform sponsored and administered exclusively by the PA
Education Association (PAEA) and operated by PAEA's partner, Liaison International.
CASPA enables PA program applicants and authorized third parties to provide application
information that can be shared by PAEA upon request with multiple PA programs to which the
applicant is seeking admission. CASPA verifies academic history information entered by
applicants against official transcripts and calculates applicant grade point averages (GPAs) based
upon a formula established by CASPA. Applicant information in CASPA is conveniently made
available to PA programs via the WebAdMIT admissions portal and is accessible to CASPA-
participating PA programs. PAEA does not regulate any PA program's admissions requirements
nor determine an applicant's eligibility to apply to any PA program.
PAEA
Based in Washington, DC, the PA Education Association (PAEA) is the only national organization
in the U.S. representing PA educational programs. PAEA's mission is "Advancing excellence in
PA education through leadership, scholarship, equity, and inclusion."
LIAISON INTERNATIONAL
Liaison International offers unmatched insight into emerging technologies and a keen
understanding of how the latest innovations can be used to help clients better fulfill their core
mission. To support the CASPA service, Liaison employs customer representatives, data entry
professionals, and verification experts, and provides the management expertise to find, train,
and motivate this pool of employees. Liaison offers a comprehensive service to several CAS
(Centralized Application Service) applications and provides various services, including
application tracking, document retention, verification services, applicant data warehousing, and
customer service.
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APPLICATION CYCLE AND DEADLINES
APPLICATION CYCLE
A CASPA cycle runs from April each year until the following April. The 2023-2024 CASPA
application cycle opens on April 27, 2023, and closes on April 1, 2024. Applicants who apply
during this timeline will be considered for the January – December 2024 or January 2025
entering class of PA students, unless in the case of deferrals, which are determined by each
program.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
CASPA offers ten (10) deadline options for programs. Each program selects the deadline that best
aligns with their individual admissions timelines and class start dates. The deadline options are
listed below and are also located in the
PAEA Program Directory.
•
June 15
•
July 15
•
August 1
•
September 1
•
October 1
•
November 1
•
December 1
•
January 15
•
March 1
•
April 1
DEADLINE REQUIREMENTS
In addition to an application deadline, each PA program will select the deadline requirement
that best aligns with their admissions process. The three options are listed below and can also
be found in the
CASPA Help Center.
•
SUBMIT
:
The application must be submitted by the posted deadline.
•
COMPLETE:
The application must be submitted, and payment, all transcripts, and two of
the three evaluations must be received by CASPA by the posted deadline.
•
VERIFIED
:
The application must be complete, and all GPA calculations must be
completed by the posted deadline.
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GETTING STARTED
CREATING AN ACCOUNT
THE APPLICANT PORTAL
New and returning applicants will visit the CASPA
application portal
to create an account or
log in to an existing application. The Applicant Portal can be accessed at any time
throughout the cycle. Applicants should not share their CASPA username and or
password with anyone and should log out of the application after each use.
NEW USERS
New applicants must create a Username and Password to begin the CASPA application
process
.
If you have previously applied via the CASPA portal, you must use the same username
and password.
To register for a CASPA account, you must complete all fields that are
marked as required with a red asterisk (*). Once the required fields have been completed
and username and password have been created, you will receive an email confirming
your account creation and your CASPA ID number. Please click here for detailed
instructions on how to create an account.
RE-APPLICANTS
If you have applied or created an application in the 2021-2022 cycle or later, you will have
the option to carry over most of the data to your application in this cycle. Some of the
previously entered information will be carried over automatically, some information will
require approval to be carried over with no changes, and some information will not be
carried over.
ITEMS CARRIED OVER
Your CASPA ID and name are automatically carried over. Outlined below is the
information that will be carried over once they have been reviewed and approved:
•
All demographic information
•
Colleges and universities attended
•
U.S. coursework previously verified by CASPA and the transcripts that correspond
with these courses
•
Experiences and achievements
*CASPA will not carry over letters of evaluation, essays, payments, and program-specific
information into new cycles.
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APPLICATION FEES AND PAYMENTS
APPLICATION FEES
The application fee is $184 for the first designation and $61 for each additional designation.
Once the application has been successfully submitted, no refunds are granted for any
reason. This includes the applicant failing to meet a program's minimum eligibility
requirements and/or a program's deadline.
CREDIT CARD PAYMENT DISPUTES
An unauthorized credit card chargeback for the CASPA fee(s) will result in the application
being placed on hold for all programs. A chargeback is the return of funds to a consumer,
typically occurring after a credit card transaction is disputed with the credit card company.
If we receive notification of an unauthorized chargeback from you or your someone who
made a payment on your behalf, including parents, a spouse, or a friend. If it is a credit
card company, we will notify you of the chargeback and place your application on hold. To
reinstate your application, you must send a money order that totals the full fee plus a $25
bank processing charge for each incorrect chargeback within 10 business days of the
notification. If payment is not received within this timeframe, any future activity will be
barred until all outstanding fees are paid, including applications for future cycles.
FEE WAIVERS
Each year PAEA provides a limited number of fee waivers to applicants. The fee waiver
covers the fee of the first two designations ($245). The applicant is responsible for fees for
additional program designations beyond the amount of the first designation ($61 each).
Because funds are limited, meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee that a fee waiver will
be granted. Applicants should contact
customer service
to inquire about availability.
To be considered for a CASPA fee waiver, in the 2024-25 CASPA application cycle, the fee
waiver application must be created, completed, and submitted along with a copy of any
required 2023 federal income tax returns.
Eligibility for a fee waiver requires that the applicant has an income that is 200% or less of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines.
If you are a dependent,
CASPA requires the legal guardian's most recent federal income tax return, i.e., a 2023
federal income tax return is required for the 2024-25 fee waiver application.
The status of the fee waiver request will be sent to the e-mail address associated with the
CASPA account and the application inbox. Applicants should not submit their CASPA
application until they have been notified of their CASPA fee waiver application status. Fee
waiver decisions are typically communicated to the applicant within 72 hours of receipt of
their federal tax forms. The fee waiver application will be automatically denied if the CASPA
application is submitted prior to this notification.
Once approval for a CASPA fee waiver has been received, you will have 14 calendar days to
submit your application. Recipients of the fee waiver award should submit their application to
two programs to ensure the full award is used. If you are awarded a fee waiver and submit
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your application with one designation, you will forfeit the additional $61. The awards cannot
be used across multiple submissions, and the funds cannot be applied to the application
retroactively.
If you do not submit your application within 14 days, the fee waiver will be
automatically revoked, and you will not be able to reapply for a waiver in
that cycle.
CASPA PORTAL OVERVIEW
NOTIFICATIONS
As you progress through the application process, you’ll receive important notifications and
critical alerts. Applicants are responsible for monitoring these notifications and following up on
any required actions. To view your notifications, click
View My Notifications on the left side of
the application dashboard.
APPLICATION STATUSES
You are responsible for monitoring the status of your application. Notifications are not sent
for any missing items (i.e., letters of evaluation or transcripts). You may keep track of your
application and all materials by clicking
Check Status at the top of the application
dashboard. It can take up to five business days from the date of receipt to post transcripts
and official test scores to your application. Evaluations are immediately updated once
received from your evaluator.
Your application status may be in one of the following statuses:
• In Progress:
Your application has not yet been submitted or you haven’t paid the
application fee.
• Received:
Your application has been submitted, but you are missing required
documents. If you used the Professional Transcript Entry (PTE) service, remember
that you must review and approve your coursework.
• Complete: All required materials were received and your application is in line for
verification. Note that programs may require additional materials for your application
to be considered complete. Check with each program for more details. Once your
application enters this status, it can take up to 10 business days to move to the
Verified status.
• Undelivered: This status indicates that an error was found and your application was
returned to you for corrections.
• Verified:
Your application was processed and, if applicable, your GPA was
calculated and made available to your programs. You’ll receive a confirmation
notification that your application was verified. Once your application is verified, you
should direct any questions about its status to the program(s) to which you applied.
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TRANSCRIPT STATUSES
If you submit transcripts to CASPA, your transcript's status may be:
•
Not Arrived: This status indicates that your transcript is still being processed and
has not been posted to your application yet. On average, it takes up to five business
days for your transcript to post to your application from the date we receive it.
•
Arrived: This status indicates that your transcript has been processed and is now
posted to your application. Your transcript will be shared with all your programs.
EVALUATION STATUSES
If you submit evaluation requests, your evaluation's status may be in one of the following
statuses:
•
Requested: This status indicates that the request was sent to the evaluator, but
they have not accepted or declined it. They must accept your request before they
can submit their evaluation.
•
Accepted: This status indicates that the evaluator accepted your request but has
not yet submitted their evaluation.
•
Completed: This status indicates that the evaluator completed and submitted their
evaluation, and it was sent to your program(s).
•
Declined: This status indicates that the evaluator declined your evaluation request.
You can click Update Evaluators to add a new evaluation request.
•
Expired: This status only appears once the cycle closes. Evaluations can no longer
be submitted. Review
CASPA Cycle Dates to learn the final dates when you can
request evaluations and your evaluators can complete evaluation requests.
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APPLICATION DASHBOARD
The application is divided into four sections, with progress bars to guide you through the
application. Once the information in a section is saved, you will automatically be directed to
the next section.
There are four main sections of the CASPA application:
1.
Personal information
2.
Academic history
3.
Supporting information
4.
Program materials
A snapshot of the application dashboard homepage
You may also access your applicant profile, the CASPA help center, apply for a fee waiver,
add and remove programs, submit the application, check the status of application
documents, and see notifications from Liaison, all from the dashboard.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
The questions in the Personal Information section collect basic biographic, contact, citizenship,
race, ethnicity, and family information. Questions are included below.
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A snapshot of the overall personal information section tabs.
After logging in to the CASPA, you must agree to the CASPA Applicant Agreement and
Release to proceed with the application. You will also be given the opportunity to indicate you
want to release application data to the health profession advisor as the post-secondary
institutions listed in CASPA.
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CASPA APPLICANT USER AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (“CASPA”) is a user friendly, secure,
internet-based application platform sponsored and administered exclusively by the PA
Education Association (“PAEA”) that enables PA program applicants and authorized third
parties to provide application information that can be shared by PAEA upon request with
multiple PA programs to which the applicant is seeking admission. CASPA is operated by PAEA
partner Liaison International. CASPA verifies academic history information entered by applicants
against official transcripts and calculates applicant grade point averages (“GPAs”) based upon a
formula established within CASPA. Applicant information in CASPA is made available to PA
programs via the WebAdMIT admissions portal accessible by CASPA-participating PA
programs. PAEA does not regulate any PA program’s admissions requirements or determine an
applicant’s eligibility to apply to any PA program.
In order to use CASPA, applicants must read, understand, and accept the terms of the CASPA
applicant user agreement and release (“applicant agreement”) as provided below. “I” “me” and
“my” as used below refers to applicants to PA programs and any individual using CASPA with
the intent to apply to a PA program.
I understand and agree to the following terms and conditions of using CASPA and applying to
CASPA-participating PA programs and certify that all certifications, acknowledgments, and
statements made by me below are true and correct:
1. I will act with honesty and integrity throughout the admissions process and in all interactions
with PAEA, CASPA customer service and PA programs participating in CASPA.
2. I am required to maintain the confidentiality of my password and understand that I may not
share the password with any person. I agree that I will not allow any person to access my
CASPA account. Neither PAEA, Liaison nor the PA programs to which I may apply are liable
for any unauthorized use of my CASPA account caused by the loss, disclosure or theft of my
account ID or password.
3. I understand that I am permitted to create and use only one (1) CAPSA account and that
creating more than one CASPA account is strictly prohibited. I understand that if I have ever
applied to a PA program via CASPA, applied for a PAEA fee waiver or previously accessed
the CASPA platform, I must use the exact same CASPA account each time I interact with the
CASPA platform. I understand that creating more than one CASPA account or accessing the
CASPA platform in any manner other than using the one CASPA account assigned to me
may result in an investigation according to the PAEA CAPSA policy regarding investigations
and violations and may result in the issuance of a report to legitimately interested parties. I
also understand that creating or using more than one CASPA account could be grounds for
terminating my access to the CASPA platform, in PAEA’s sole discretion.
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4. I certify that I have read, understand, and agree to all policies that apply to CASPA,
including the PAEA privacy policy, the PAEA CASPA policy regarding investigations and
violations, and all policies for CASPA provided on the Liaison website at
https://help.liaisonedu.com/caspa_applicant_help_center, all of which are part of this
applicant agreement.
5. I authorize PAEA to release my name, email address, street address and telephone number
to PA programs designated by me before the submission of my application. This allows
designated PA programs to send me information about their admissions processes prior to
the submission of my application.
6. CASPA requires me and others invited and authorized by me, including but not limited to
colleges, universities, education programs, professors, pre-health professions advisors, and
other persons ("authorized information providers”) to enter and provide detailed
information about me, including but not limited to, personal, academic, professional,
disciplinary history, character, financial, test scores, recommendations, evaluations and
other types of information (“CASPA information”), all in order to facilitate the collection,
compilation and sharing of information that may be relevant to designated PA programs in
making decisions about my application for admission and related matters.
7. I am exclusively responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and contents of all CASPA
information that I and authorized information providers enter into CASPA and/or provide to
PA programs on my behalf through any means of communication.
8. I certify that all written passages within my CASPA application, including but not limited to,
personal statements, essays, and descriptions of work and education activities and events,
are my own work, and have not been written or modified, in whole or part, by any other
person or any generative artificial intelligence platform, technology, system or process,
including but not limited to ChatGPT (collectively, “generative AI”).
9. I am strictly prohibited from using generative AI to create, write and/or modify any content,
in whole or part, submitted in CASPA and/or provided to PA programs on my behalf
through any means of communication.
10. PAEA and PA programs reserve the right to use platforms, technology, systems and
processes that detect content submitted in CASPA and/or provided to PA programs that
was created, written and/or modified, in whole or part, through the use of generative AI.
11. If I request that an authorized information provider submit a recommendation, evaluation,
or any other information in CASPA, PA programs designated by me will receive information
about me from such authorized information providers.
12. By using CASPA, I am waiving any right I may have to review CASPA information entered by
each authorized information provider, including but not limited to recommendations and
evaluations submitted by them about me. I agree that I will not attempt through any means
to obtain CASPA information submitted by authorized information providers or attempt to
influence or alter any information submitted by an authorized information provider.
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13. PAEA may use deidentified (i.e., not containing personally identifiable information)
application data I submit to CASPA and admissions decisions my designated PA programs
submit to CASPA for educational research and statistical reports. The purpose of such
research and reporting is to improve PA education and admissions and all results are
reported in aggregate only. Deidentified, aggregated application data may include, but are
not limited to, summaries of applicant demographics, application and matriculation rates,
and average GPAs
14. PAEA is authorized to release all application information submitted in CASPA to the PA
programs that I designate.
15. I will monitor the progress of each application I submit to a PA program by regularly
checking my email and the "check status" and "notifications" sections of the application
within CAPSA. I understand that I am responsible and accountable for my actions and will
respond to all matters related to my application.
16. PAEA may investigate discrepancies in information submitted in CASPA, any information
provided to PAEA that indicates that an individual may have potentially committed fraud in
the process of seeking admission to a CASPA-participating PA program or potentially
violated any of the terms, conditions or policies that apply to the use of CASPA. All such
investigations will be conducted according to the PAEA CASPA policy regarding
investigations and violations and may result in the issuance of a report to legitimately
interested parties.
17. PAEA reserves the right to audit my application for any purposes in addition to verification
of the coursework that is listed in my application and may take any steps reasonably
required to verify the authenticity of any information or documents submitted in relation to
my application in CASPA.
18. I understand and acknowledge that it is solely my responsibility to understand the
application, enrollment, matriculation, and graduation requirements of each program to
which I apply and to determine prior to submitting my application to any PA program
whether I will be able to meet all requirements of the program.
19. Submitting an application to a PA program for which I do not meet all requirements will not
constitute grounds for a refund of the application fee.
20. Within five (5) calendar days of enrollment at a PA program to which I have been admitted, I
must notify all other designated programs for which my application is still under
consideration that I no longer wish to be considered for admission to their program.
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21. For each PA program to which I apply that requires me to provide criminal background
history information, if I am convicted of or plead guilty or no contest to a misdemeanor or
felony criminal offense after I submit my application, I will notify the program within ten (10)
business days. PA programs may, in accordance with applicable state law, consider new
information submitted regarding my updated criminal history, and in appropriate
circumstances, reserve the right to change the status of an applicant or student. all
decisions regarding actions in relation to an applicant’s criminal history are within the
discretion of each PA program in accordance with applicable state law.
22. For programs that are prohibited by applicable state law from inquiring about the criminal
history of applicants prior to making an admission decision, I understand that such
programs may still lawfully inquire about my criminal background history after granting
admission. I further understand that, after matriculating in a PA program, I may be required
to provide criminal background history information and/or submit to a criminal history
check (a) as a condition of my participation in rotations and clinical practice experiences
required for graduation from my program, and (b) as a condition of licensure as a PA under
applicable state law.
23. PAEA and participating PA programs assume no responsibility for delays in processing
application materials caused by the applicant’s failure to follow instructions or
circumstances beyond PAEA’s or the participating PA programs' control. It is the applicant's
responsibility to review their application portal on a regular basis and report any problems,
unexpected delays, or discrepancies to CASPA customer service immediately.
24. I recognize that PAEA does not make admission decisions for PA programs. I hereby
release PAEA from any and all claims and/or damages that could result from my use of
CASPA and any admission decision or action by any PA program that participates in the use
of CASPA.
25. PAEA reserves the right to change the terms of the CASPA applicant user agreement and
release upon written notice posted within CASPA or through any other reasonable means
of electronic communication or website posting, at any time. if I continue to use CASPA
after PAEA has provided written notice of any such change in terms, the modified terms will
apply to my use of CASPA.
26. CASPA is provided “as is.” PAEA makes no warranties or representations with regard to
CASPA, express, implied, or statutory, including for accuracy, availability, timeliness,
completeness, or security. PAEA disclaims any warranty of title and any implied warranties
of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement of any third-party
intellectual property rights with regard to CASPA or use thereof. PAEA shall not be liable to
any user of CASPA or any third-party for loss or theft of data, damage to data or delays in
data delivery or processing. PAEA shall not be liable for and shall not defend or indemnify
you against any third-party infringement claim that relates to or is based on a combination
of components provided in CASPA. In no event shall PAEA be liable for any actual, special,
incidental, consequential, or indirect damages, however caused, on any theory of liability
and whether or not PAEA has been advised of the possibility of such damages, arising in
any way out of CASPA or your use of CASPA.
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By clicking “I agree” below, I am indicating that I understand and agree to the CASPA
applicant user agreement and release, including the terms and conditions set forth in PAEA
privacy policy, the PAEA CASPA policy regarding investigations and violations, and all
policies for CASPA provided on the liaison website at
https://help.liaisonedu.com/caspa_applicant_help_center.
ADVISOR RELEASE
By selecting Yes, you authorize CASPA to release parts of your CASPA application to pre-health
advisors and advisory committees at schools you previously attended. Your advisor can then
better assist you throughout the admissions process. Your academic and application status
information is shared; however, your personal, financial, and disciplinary information, as well as
your personal statement, are not shared. Once you submit your application, you cannot edit
this response.
BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION QUESTIONS
•
Name (first, middle, last, suffix)
•
Alternate name (first, middle, last, preferred nickname)
•
Sex (male, female)
•
Gender Identity
•
Gender Pronouns
•
Birth information (date, country, city, state, county)
CONTACT INFORMATION QUESTIONS
•
Current address (street, city, country, state, zip, valid dates)
•
Permanent address (same)
•
Phone
•
Email
CITIZENSHIP INFORMATION QUESTIONS
•
Citizenship details (citizenship status, country, dual)
•
Residency information (legal state of residence, legal country, time)
•
Visa information (number, type, issued by, issued city, country, valid dates, sponsor)
•
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
RACE AND ETHNICITY QUESTIONS (OPTIONAL)
•
Ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino origin)
•
Race (American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native
Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or White)
OTHER INFORMATION QUESTIONS
•
Language proficiency (native language, additional languages, and proficiency)
•
Military status and discharge type
•
Academic infractions (if yes, description, charge, dates, consequence, reflection)
•
License infractions (if yes, description, charge, dates, consequence, reflection)
•
Environmentally disadvantaged (HRSA questions)
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•
Additional questions (first heard of the profession, influential factor in applying,
ever matriculated or attended a PA program, medical school including foreign or
any other health profession including but not limited to D.O., dentistry, physical
therapy, chiropractic, podiatry, etc.)
o If yes is selected, the name of the institution should be included in the
Colleges Attended section, and the corresponding transcript should be
provided. Failure to list any previously attended intuitions may result in a
violation of the CASPA Applicant User Agreement.
•
COVID-19 essay question (describe how COVID-19 has impacted your
pathway to becoming a PA)
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CHILDHOOD RESIDENCY QUESTIONS:
•
In what country/state/county/city did you spend the majority of your life, from birth
to age 18?
•
What type of geographic area were you raised in?
•
Description of childhood residency.
•
Do you feel that the area where you grew up was medically underserved?
FAMILY SITUATION QUESTIONS (U.S. applicants only):
•
Have you or members of your immediate family ever used federal or state
assistance programs?
•
What was the income level of your family during the majority of your life, from birth
to age 18?
•
Did you have paid employment prior to age 18?
•
Were you able to contribute to the overall family income?
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ACADEMIC
HISTORY
The Academic History section collects data on high schools and post-secondary institutions
attended. The applicants are required to enter their coursework as it appears on the official
transcripts from all post-secondary institutions they have attended and any self-report
standardized test scores. Questions are included below.
A snapshot of the overall Academic History section tabs
HIGH SCHOOLS ATTENDED
•
High school attended (name)
•
City
•
State
•
Graduation status and date
COLLEGES ATTENDED
You are required to enter all post-secondary institutions attended in the CASPA regardless if
you have taken college-level coursework while in high school, if you started at an institution
and finished somewhere else or if you were dismissed from a post-secondary institution
including health professions programs i.e. PA, PT, Dental, Pharmacy, MD/DO. You are
required to enter the information below for each post-secondary institution attended. There is
an option to indicate if multiple degrees were earned at a single institution. Failure to list any
previously attended intuitions may result in processing delays and may trigger PAEA to
investigate the issue further.
•
College or university name
•
Degree information
o Degree earned (yes, no, in
progress)
o Degree type
o Degree earned date
o Major
o Minor (if applicable)
o Term type
o First term date
o Last term date
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TRANSCRIPT ENTRY
You are required to enter all coursework taken at all post-secondary institutions you have
attended listed in the Colleges Attended section. The coursework should be entered as it
appears on the official transcript from the institution. To avoid processing delays, PAEA and
Liaison strongly recommend that applicants use an official copy of the transcript to enter their
academic history. Unofficial transcripts and audits may differ from the official transcript. A CAS
grade will be automatically calculated once this information is entered. The CAS grade is used
to calculate GPAs upon verification.
•
Course name
•
Course title
•
Subject
•
Credits
•
Grade
PROFESSIONAL TRANSCRIPT ENTRY SERVICE (PTE)
PAEA and Liaison provide Professional Transcript Entry Service (PTE) for those who prefer not
to enter all your coursework themselves. The Professional Transcript Entry Service (PTE)
specialists can enter it for you for an additional fee. This service is only available for
completed coursework from accredited schools. Coursework from unlisted schools, foreign
coursework, and planned/in-progress courses are ineligible for PTE and must be entered by
you.
Note that the PTE specialists only enter the information listed on your official transcripts and
do not correct errors for coursework you have already entered. If you entered coursework and
made a mistake or did not report an institution, these errors will be communicated to you
during the verification process, at which point it will be your responsibility to correct them.
FEES
Fees for PTE are as follows:
• 1-3 transcripts: $77
• 4-6 transcripts: $105
• 7 or more transcripts: $150
These fees apply only to coursework entry and are in addition to regular application fees. Fee
waivers and coupon codes are not available for PTE. Additionally, your PTE payment cannot
be transferred to another cycle (e.g., re-applicants, applicants applying in multiple cycles,
etc.).
REVIEWING AND APPROVING YOUR COURSEWORK ENTRY
You will receive a notification once your PTE is complete. You should then review the
coursework entered by the PTE specialists to ensure it is accurate and approve the entry. You
should also match your coursework to any required prerequisite courses in the Program
Materials section before approving the entry.
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If you find any issues with the coursework entry, email customer service to determine how to
proceed. Wait for corrections to be confirmed and implemented before approving the
coursework entry.
Once you approve your coursework entry (and complete all other application requirements),
your application is given a Complete Date and placed in line for verification. Be sure to
approve your coursework in a timely manner
to avoid any delays in processing your
application. If you reapply in a future cycle, your PTE coursework will only carry forward if you
submit your application and approve the PTE coursework entry in the current cycle.
SENDING OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS
All official transcripts must be sent directly to CASPA from the registrar's office at each college
or university you have attended. If transcripts are received before the CASPA application has
been started, and the Colleges Attended section is complete, the date the transcript arrived is
available online to the applicant on their status menu. CASPA does accept the submission of
electronic transcripts from most post-secondary institutions. When using any of these
services, select CASPA as the recipient. If you cannot select CASPA and instead are asked for
an email address, your transcript must be sent by mail. Do not send your transcript to the
CASPA customer service email address or to PAEA as they cannot be used. For detailed
instructions on how to submit electronic transcripts, please visit the CASPA Help Center by
clicking here. If your institution does not have an electronic transcript option, transcripts
must be sent to:
CASPA
PO Box 9108
Watertown, MA 02471
CASPA will accept transcripts received after the program deadline has passed and process
the application. If the application was submitted by the published deadline and all
transcripts, two evaluations, and the CASPA fee are received by the close of the application
cycle in April the application will complete the verification process. Programs can access the
date each transcript was received by CASPA and determine whether the applicant has met
the program-specific transcript deadline date and is eligible for admission. CASPA does not
determine eligibility.
U.S. AND CANADIAN TRANSCRIPTS
Applicants must arrange for CASPA to receive official transcripts directly from every U.S.
Territory,
U.S. regionally accredited overseas institutions,
and English-speaking Canadian post-
secondary institutions attended. CASPA will consider all application files "Incomplete" until all
U.S., U.S. and Canadian transcripts are received. Liaison will determine the authenticity of
transcripts received before applying them to your application.
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FOREIGN TRANSCRIPTS
Foreign transcripts (exceptions: English-speaking Canadian and U.S. regionally accredited
overseas institutions) are not accepted by CASPA. Applicants attending a foreign institution
must list their school in the Colleges Attended section but are barred from listing their
individual courses in the coursework section. This work is not verified, and no GPA will be
calculated for foreign transcripts. CASPA will accept evaluation reports provided by U.S.
foreign transcript evaluation companies. Evaluated transcripts are not required by CASPA to
verify an application. All evaluated transcripts will be shared with the programs you have
applied to with the rest of your application materials.
*Please note that French-speaking Canadian institutions are considered foreign.
Listed below are the four commonly used evaluation services. Neither PAEA nor CASPA
endorses these services. Please check with the PA program(s) you are applying to for more
information about their policies regarding foreign coursework. CASPA will only accept WES
evaluations.
World Education
Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 5087
New York,
NY 10274-
5087
P: 212-966-
6311
F: 212-739-
6100
www.wes.org
Educational
Credential
Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI
53204-3470
P: 414-289-
3400
F: 414-289-
3411
www.ece.org
International
Education Research
Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 3665
Culver City, CA 90231-
3665
P: 310-258-9451
F: 310-342-7086
www.ierf.org
Josef Silny &
Associates,
Inc. 7101 SW
102
Avenue
Miami, FL 33173
P: 305-273-1616
F: 305-273-1338
www.jsilny.com
TRANSCRIPTS FOR PROFESSIONAL COURSEWORK
CASPA defines professional coursework as, "Coursework taken during military service outside
of a regionally accredited institution (e.g., Community College of the Air Force, West Point),
and coursework taken at a hospital or medical center.” Professional coursework is not allowed
to be reported in the Colleges Attended or Coursework sections of the application, nor is it
calculated as part of an applicant's GPA. Programs wishing to collect documentation for this
type of work should turn on the "Clinical/Professional" and "Military Papers" document upload
options when configuring their program-level requirements on the CAS Configuration Portal.
Applicants are instructed to upload hospital and military transcripts directly to their programs
using these tools if the programs choose to make them available.
*Note that all work taken at a college or a school, even if of the technical/professional variety,
for which letter grades and semester/quarter hour credits are received, will be included in
CASPA GPA calculations
COURSE SUBJECTS
PAEA provides a course subject list to help CASPA verifiers categorize transcript coursework.
Access the 2024-2025 Course Subject List for review.
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STANDARDIZED EXAMS
GRE
If you have taken or plan to take the GRE, ETS will send the official GRE scores to CASPA.
This allows official GRE scores to be viewed in the WebAdMIT system. While many higher
education institutions have already established a GRE code, for the purpose of the CASPA
integration, each program must have a CASPA-specific GRE code.
ETS provides the GRE® Fee Reduction Program for individuals who can demonstrate financial
need, for those who are unemployed and receiving unemployment compensation, and for
national programs that work with underrepresented groups. A GRE Fee Reduction Voucher
may be used for one GRE® General Test and/or one GRE® Subject Test. For more
information, please visit the ETS website by clicking here.
TOEFL
Official TOEFL score reports are accepted by ETS and uploaded directly into the CASPA for
your review in the WebAdMIT admissions portal.
MCAT
MCAT scores can be sent electronically to CASPA. Please ensure you check the admissions
requirements of the program where you are applying to confirm they accept MCAT scores.
For detailed instructions on how to send MCAT scores to CASPA, please visit the AAMC’s
website.
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SUPPORTING INFORMATION
The Supporting Information section collects data on experiences/achievements/certifications
as evaluations and the essay. A snapshot of the overall supporting information section tabs
.
EVALUATIONS
CASPA will accept up to five evaluations. Each evaluation request consists of:
•
First name
•
Last name
•
Email
•
Letter due date
•
Personal message to an evaluator
•
Waiver of evaluation
•
Permission to contact reference (for CASPA)
•
Permission for schools to contact reference
EVALUATION PROCESS
Once the evaluator's information has been entered and saved, an evaluation request is sent via
email to the letter author with instructions on how to complete the request, along with a rubric.
The author will find instructions on how to upload their letter and complete the evaluation
rubric.
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EXPERIENCES/ACHIEVEMENTS
The Experience Achievement section allows you to enter your professional experiences in
several categories, or types. Please enter all relevant employment, health care, shadowing,
volunteer, research, awards and corresponding license/certifications, extracurricular
activities, teaching, publications, and membership data on their application. Once the
application has been submitted, new experiences may be added. However, existing
experiences cannot be deleted.
•
Experience type (What type of experience do you want to add?)
•
Organization (name, address, country, state)
•
Supervisor (name title, phone, email)
•
Experience dates (start date, current experience, end date, status)
•
Experience details (title, type of recognition, average weekly hours, number of
weeks, total hours, description/ key responsibilities, release authorization)
EXPERIENCE TYPES
NON-HEALTHCARE EMPLOYMENT
Paid work done outside of the healthcare field or research lab, for example, a retail or
restaurant job.
RESEARCH
Research projects completed, preferably in addition to or outside of regular classroom
work.
VOLUNTEER
Volunteer work done outside of the healthcare field; for example, working for Habitat for
Humanity, tutoring students, participating in or working for a fundraiser walk or blood
drive.
PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE
Experiences in which you are directly responsible for a patient's care. For
example, performing procedures, directing a course of treatment, designing a treatment
regimen, actively working on patients as a nurse, paramedic, EMT, CNA, phlebotomist,
physical therapist, or dental hygienist.
HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE
Both paid and unpaid work in a health or health-related field where you are not directly
responsible for a patient's care but may still have patient interaction; for example, filling
prescriptions, performing clerical work, delivering patient food, cleaning patients and/or
their rooms, administering food or medication, taking vitals or other record keeping
information, or working as a scribe, CNA (depending on the job description), medical
assistant, etc.
SHADOWING
Time spent officially following and observing a healthcare professional at work,
preferably in the PA field.
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LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Experiences in which you held a leadership role within an organization, such as the
president of a club, fraternity/sorority, etc.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Related activities you would like your selected programs to review, for example,
academic clubs and competitive teams. Do not include paid work experience in this
section.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Experiences in which you oversaw instructing others, such as a teaching assistant, tutor,
etc.
ACHIEVEMENTS
•
Type
•
Name (name of presenting organization, issued date, brief description)
ACHIEVEMENT TYPES
AWARDS
Awards received as a prize, such as trophies and medals.
HONORS
Honors received as a special distinction for work done, including Dean's List and
memberships in honor societies.
PUBLICATIONS
Any work that is publicized through media organizations, including newspapers and
journals.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships earned based on academic, athletic, and other achievements.
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
•
Type
•
Title
•
Organization name
You may enter multiple entries in each listed category. This allows applicants to enter relevant
employment, shadowing, volunteer, research, awards, and license/certification data on their
application.
ESSAY
Applicants must complete an essay to submit their application. The essay question allows them
5,000 characters to explain why they are interested in being a PA.
MEMBERSHIPS
•
Membership type
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PROGRAM MATERIALS
The Program Materials section allows PA programs to customize the application for their
applicants with custom questions, documents, and prerequisite matching.
Each program is required to complete a "branding page" shown below. This page contains a
program photo, description, and application information. The Program Details section is
automatically populated with data CASPA receives from each program.
A snapshot of a program’s branding page
CUSTOM QUESTIONS
Programs may elect to use custom questions. These questions can be required or optional,
drop-down, either/or, multi-option, short answer, or narrative questions. Any question that is
required must be completed by applicants to submit the application to your program.
This section can include supplemental questions or additional essays.
Sample questions may include:
1.
Please explain your interest in our PA program related to our program’s mission.
2.
What personal characteristics and skills make you well-suited for our program?
3.
Address any academic deficiencies on your application. Discuss your ability
to be successful despite these deficiencies.
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DOCUMENTS
PA programs may elect to request or require additional documents as supplements to the
application. Programs may require four pre-populated documents and one “other”
option. Documents are accepted in .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf, and .txt formats with a size limit
of 5MB.
Listed below are some of the documents that may be required or recommended :
•
Clinical/Professional
•
Course catalog descriptions
•
CV/resume
•
License
•
Military documents
•
Other (defined by the program)
•
Publications
•
Shadowing/healthcare hour logs
•
Fee Waiver Award email/Notice
PREREQUISITES
Each PA program may elect to turn on the prerequisites section which will list their prerequisite
courses. Please match the best-fit courses from the transcript entry section of the application to
the listed prerequisites. It is important to note that this information is not verified by CASPA,
but programs are able to determine whether the matched courses meet your prerequisite
requirements.
* In-progress courses may be selected to fulfill one prerequisite course or the default "I do
not have a course to fulfill this prerequisite" option to complete this section.
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VERIFICATION & GRADING
Verification is the process used to ensure that all coursework was entered correctly and
consistently. Since credit values, grade values, and course subjects vary widely from school to
school, the verification process standardizes all coursework so programs can accurately
compare applicants. This standardization is achieved by using applicant coursework to create
a standard set of GPAs, ensuring that they are compared to other applicants fairly and
equally.
During the verification process, the verification team conducts a course-by-course evaluation
of the academic record and calculates the various GPAs. Due to the variety of grade scales
across the country, CASPA utilizes a universal grade value (e.g., B+ = 3.3). Once verification is
completed, the application status will move from Completed to Verified. If significant mistakes
are found in the applicant's coursework during the verification process, their application will
be returned to them for corrections.
*It is not uncommon for the CASPA GPA to differ from the GPA that is calculated by an
institution.
Once the academic record is verified, the entire application and supporting documents are
available to the applicants’ designated program(s).
VERIFICATION
Verification refers to the matching of courses on the official transcripts with completed courses
listed in the Transcript Entry section of the application. CASPA performs course-by-course
verification once the application is considered "complete" and processes based on the order
received per the date the application becomes complete. The CASPA verification staff ensures
that applicant-reported coursework matches the course history on the corresponding U.S.
transcript. CASPA does not verify foreign courses or transcripts, professional coursework, or
planned/in-progress coursework.
The verification process may take up to four weeks from the date the application reaches the
completion status. PAEA and Liaison encourage applicants to submit the application at least
four weeks in advance of the earliest deadline of the programs to which they are applying.
NO TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE
CASPA does not waive transcript requirements due to an applicant's financial obligations to a
college or university. Applicants who are unable to obtain an official transcript from a college or
university due to financial or other school-imposed holds cannot apply until their situation has
been settled with their individual school.
For transcripts that are unavailable due to extenuating circumstances, such as school
closings or transcript loss by the responsible institution, the institution or state department
of education must submit a signed letter of explanation on official letterhead stating that
transcripts or records do not exist for the applicant. This must be submitted directly to
CASPA customer service, and CASPA will evaluate these letters on a case-by-case basis.
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COURSE-BY-COURSE TRANSCRIPT VERIFICATION
The verification staff checks that the applicant properly entered all coursework on every
transcript, including:
•
Institution
•
Course title, course prefix, and number (e.g., CHEM 101)
•
Term
•
Year
•
Course subject
•
Grade: CASPA will not edit this field. If the applicant made an error on the number of
credits, CASPA will make the correction in the Verified Grade field.
•
Credits: CASPA will not edit this field. If the applicant made an error on the number
of credits, CASPA will make the correction in the Verified Credits field. Note: If the
applicant failed or repeated a course, CASPA will enter the credits attempted in the
credits field, even if the course was repeated later for a higher grade. Credits are
excluded only if the credits attempted, not earned, on the transcript, or the
application are shown as blank, or zero (0).
VERIFICATION OF COURSEWORK
•
CASPA Verified Grade – Indicates any changes to the applicant-reported grade. If
staff makes no changes to the applicant's original grade, this field is blank.
•
CASPA Verified Credits – Indicates any changes to the applicant-reported credits. If
staff make no changes to the applicant's original credits, this field is blank.
•
CASPA (Converted) Grade – Reflects the applicant's attempt to convert a numeric
grade to a CASPA letter grade. If the applicant makes an error in the original grade,
staff will overwrite the applicant's entry. If the error is made to the converted grade,
the correction will appear under CASPA Verified Grade. Liaison will attempt to create
an automatic conversion for as many standardized grading schemes as possible.
DISCREPANCIES
If CASPA cannot match coursework from a transcript to the application, CASPA may have
received an incomplete transcript, or the applicant failed to enter all coursework in the
application. CASPA will return the application and allow the applicant to rectify any errors.
Once the application has been returned, it is the applicant's responsibility to make
corrections and resubmit their application to CASPA.
CONVERTING QUARTERS TO SEMESTERS
The CASPA system will automatically convert quarter hours to semester hours (quarter hour x
.667) if quarters are reported on the transcript.
*The conversion of quarter hours to semester hours occurs only in the GPA section of the
application. Conversion is not done on the Coursework section of the application.
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AUTOMATIC GRADE CONVERSION
The CASPA central processing software automatically converts the following Applicant-
Reported Grades to the CASPA (converted) Grade.
Grade on Transcript
CASPA Letter Grade
CASPA Numeric Value
A+
A
4.0
A
A
4.0
A-
A-
3.7
AB
AB
3.5
B+
B+
3.3
B
B
3
B-
B-
2.7
BC
BC
2.5
C+
C+
2.3
C
C
2
C-
C-
1.7
CD
CD
1.5
D+
D+
1.3
D
D
1
D-
D-
0.7
E
F
0
F
F
0
WF
F
0
CONVERTING NUMERIC GRADES
For U.S. institutions using a numeric grading system, CASPA uses the following scale to
convert numeric grades on a transcript to equivalent CASPA grades. For Canadian institutions
using a numeric grading system, CASPA uses the scale on the back of the individual
institution's transcript. For more detailed information about grade conversion and weight,
please click here.
TRANSCRIPT VERIFICATION
Most U.S., U.S. colleges and universities evaluate students' work with a numeric (e.g., 4.0) or
alpha grade (e.g., B+). Some colleges and universities may evaluate students with a "narrative
evaluation" instead. Courses that are evaluated narratively will receive a GPA of 0.00. The
programs you have applied to will have a copy of your narrative evaluation.
DEGREE VERIFICATION
CASPA verifies U.S. and U.S. territories degrees reported as awarded in the Colleges Attended
section of the application and may also appear on the official transcripts for bachelor's degrees
and above.
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GRADE POINT AVERAGES
GPA CALCULATIONS
CASPA calculates a standardized GPA to help participating PA programs evaluate applicants
using uniform and consistent criteria. The CASPA GPAs are automatically generated by the
system and are likely to be different from those calculated by the colleges and universities
attended due to the CASPA grade standardization process. In this process, the CASPA grade is
assigned a numeric value to calculate the CASPA GPA. Participating programs may choose to
use the CASPA GPAs or re-calculate GPAS for their own use.
Any work taken at a master's or doctoral degree level will be labeled as Graduate and will
factor into a Graduate GPA. Professional and foreign coursework is excluded from the overall
GPA calculation.
CUMULATIVE UNDERGRADUATE
CASPA will calculate cumulative undergraduate GPA that includes all undergraduate and
post-baccalaureate courses taken, both science and non-science.
OVERALL GPA
CASPA will calculate an overall GPA that includes all undergraduate, post-baccalaureate,
and graduate courses taken, both science and non-science.
NON-SCIENCE GPA
The non-science GPA includes all courses with subject codes of math, English, behavioral
science, and other non-science.
SCIENCE GPA
The Science GPA includes all courses with subject codes of Biology/Zoology, Chemistry
(Inorganic, Organic, and Biochemistry), Physics, and other sciences.
BCP GPA
The BCP GPA includes all courses taken in the categories of Biology, Chemistry, and
Physics. This will exclude Other Science to reflect a more accurate GPA for prerequisite
courses at a glance.
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GPA SYSTEM RULES
The CASPA central database automatically performs the following steps when calculating
CASPA GPAs. CASPA verifiers do not manually perform these steps:
Multiply the grade value of the course by the semester hours for that course. The product of this
multiplication will be the quality points. Divide the cumulative quality points by the cumulative
attempted hours.
Example:
Course
Transcript
Grade
Transcript
Credits
Attempted
CASPA (Converted)
Letter Grade
Calculation
Quality
Points
MATH1100 4.0 3 A = 4 X 3 12
ENGL1310 3.0 3 B = 3 X 3 9
GEOL1610 2.0 4 C = 2 X 4 8
PHED1000 1.0 3 D = 1 X 3 3
PSCI1040 0.0 3 F = 0 X 3 0
TOTAL
16
32
GPA Calculation → 32 (quality points) ÷ by 16 (credit hours attempted) = 2.00 (GPA)
REPEATED COURSEWORK
Applicants are required to enter all course grades and hours for courses taken, even if the
course was repeated. When entering repeated course work, applicants should identify these
courses as repeated under "course type." Applicants must enter coursework as shown on
transcripts. CASPA will calculate GPAs based on credits reported on official transcripts.
CASPA does not recognize freshmen forgiveness or academic renewal.
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CRIMINAL HISTORY
FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CONVICTIONS
Where applicable by state law, many PA programs may ask if you have ever been convicted of a
misdemeanor or felony. Note that most programs require satisfactory background check results
as a condition of acceptance. Failure to disclose and provide accurate information about prior
convictions may have serious consequences, such as annulment of acceptance offers, program
dismissal, or other sanctions. Background checks reflect all prior convictions, guilty pleas, city
ordinance citations (such as public intoxication), illegal possession(s) including possession of
alcohol under the legal age, payments of fines (including traffic violations), and, in some cases,
prior records thought to have been expunged. Note that in some states, common traffic
violations may be considered misdemeanors. Candidates with criminal records due to felony
offenses are encouraged to be aware of the potential impact of program acceptance and future
licensure. PAEA encourages you to contact the programs you wish to apply to as well as state
and national licensing agencies where you hope to practice for advice if you have a felony
conviction or a criminal record. Answering “Yes” to these questions will not automatically
disqualify you from admission to a PA program.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
Many PA programs will procure a national background check on you after you receive an initial
conditional acceptance to at least one PA program. There are several reasons for performing
criminal background checks on accepted PA applicants including (1) the need to enhance the
safety and well-being of patients and, in so doing, to bolster the public’s continuing trust in the
PA profession and (2) to ascertain the ability of accepted applicants eventually to become
Certified Physicians Assistants. In support of this recommendation, PAEA has partnered with a
Criminal Background Check Service, through which Certiphi Screening, Inc. (a Vertical Screen
company) procures a national background report for applicants at the point of acceptance into
one or more programs. Participating PA programs may require you to undergo a separate
national background check if their institutional regulations or applicable state law requires it. PA
programs not participating in the background check service used by the CASPA program may
also require you to undergo a separate national background check process.
COMPONENTS OF THE CENTRALIZED BACKGROUND CHECK
•
Social Security Number Validation and Verification
•
County Criminal Records Search
•
Statewide Criminal Records Search (where available)
•
Federal Criminal Records Search
•
National Criminal Database Search
•
National Sex Offender Registration Search
•
Office of Inspector General / Systems for Awards Management Excluded Parties List
Search
•
Sanctions Screen
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ENSURING INTEGRITY
PAEA CASPA POLICY REGARDING INVESTIGATIONS AND VIOLATIONS
The PA Education Association (PAEA) is committed to ensuring the integrity and validity of the
information submitted in the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)
and the processes leading up to and including enrollment in a PA program. PAEA is committed
to holding individuals using CASPA to the highest standards of ethical conduct in relation to
these processes. The PAEA CASPA Policy Regarding Investigations and Violations applies to the
investigation of potential violations of the terms, conditions, and policies that apply to the use of
CASPA occurring at any time during the processes leading up to enrollment in a PA program
and the fee waiver application process.
PAEA requires applicants to present accurate and current information at the time application
materials are submitted in CASPA and during all phases of the admission process for entry into
a PA program. It is the policy of PAEA to investigate discrepancies in information submitted in
CASPA, attempts to subvert the admission process, potential fraud, and any other irregular
matters which occurs in connection with the use of CASPA and the processes leading up to and
including enrollment in a PA program and the fee waiver application process.
REPORTS OF POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS AND INITIATION OF INVESTIGATIONS
PAEA may, in its sole discretion, initiate an investigation when it becomes aware of
discrepancies in information submitted in CASPA or receives any information indicating that an
individual may have potentially committed fraud in the process of seeking admission to a
CASPA-participating PA program or potentially violated any of the terms, conditions, or
policies that apply to the use of CASPA. CASPA utilizes systems that detect potential
discrepancies in information submitted by applicants and receives notification of potential
violations from CASPA stakeholders, including but not limited to representatives of CASPA-
participating PA programs.
If a PA program has reason to believe that an applicant may have potentially committed fraud in
the process of seeking admission to any CASPA-participating PA program or potentially
violated any of the terms, conditions, or policies that apply to the use of CASPA, a designated
representative of the program should promptly send a written report of the potential violation
to PAEA via email that includes all of the details of the matter to CASPA@PAEAonline.org. When
submitting the report of any potential violation, PA programs must include all relevant facts,
dates, events, information, and documentation that relate to the potential violation. PA
programs must report any potential violation to PAEA in writing as required in this policy within
thirty (30) days of becoming aware of it.
PAEA reserves the right in its sole discretion not to initiate an investigation for a potential
violation where a PA program's report of the potential violation occurred more than thirty (30)
calendar days after it became aware of the potential violation. PAEA also reserves the right in
its sole discretion not to investigate any potential violation that occurred more than one
calendar year prior to the date of the report made to PAEA, regardless of when a PA program
may have become aware of the potential violation.
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INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS
Once an investigation is initiated, PAEA reviews the potential violation and determines in its
sole discretion whether it is more likely than not that a violation has occurred, based on
information submitted by the subject of the investigation; PAEA current and historical records;
information provided by external parties; the terms, conditions, and policies that govern the
use of CASPA; and any other available relevant information.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION
Once PAEA determines that it is more likely than not that a violation has occurred, PAEA will
contact the subject of an investigation in order to:
•
Notify the subject that an investigation has been initiated
•
Provide the subject with a summary of the matter being investigated
•
Inform the subject of the terms, conditions, policies, and procedures related to
the investigation
•
Provide the subject with an opportunity to respond
Based upon the subject's response, or failure to respond, PAEA will either develop a draft of
the report to be issued to Legitimately Interested Parties, as defined below, or terminate the
investigation in the event that the subject is able to provide evidence that no violation has
occurred. If PAEA proceeds with the development of a draft report, this report will be sent to
the subject in order to provide the subject with an opportunity to advise PAEA of any
purported inaccuracies contained in the draft report. If the subject identifies purported
inaccuracies in the draft report, PAEA will endeavor to resolve any disagreements it may have
with the subject's view of the evidence and facts. PAEA may also decide to simply include the
subject's objections to the report in the final version of the report if PAEA and the subject are
unable to resolve their differences regarding the content of the report. If the subject does not
advise PAEA of any inaccuracies in the draft report within the prescribed time period, PAEA
will modify the report to indicate that the subject did not raise any objections to the report
after being given an opportunity to do so, and PAEA will then finalize the report in order to
provide it to Legitimately Interested Parties. PAEA has the ultimate sole discretion to
determine the findings of fact and content included in a report in its final form.
PAEA prepares and issues a report documenting the factual findings of the investigation and
may include information provided by the subject of the investigation in accordance with the
procedures outlined above. With the issuance of a report, PAEA makes no judgment as to the
culpability of any person with respect to matters reported and does not assess the suitability of
an individual to study or practice as a PA. Rather, PAEA strives to communicate complete and
accurate information to Legitimately Interested Parties. Evaluation of the accuracy of the
information in the report is the responsibility of the recipient of the report.
In addition to the issuance of a report, PAEA reserves the right to take all other lawful action
warranted under the circumstances in relation to the subject of an investigation, in PAEA's sole
discretion, if PAEA determines that the subject violated the terms, conditions, and policies that
govern the use of CASPA, or any applicable law or regulation.
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©
2020
PA
Education
Association.
All
Rights
Reserved.
36
LEGITIMATELY INTERESTED PARTIES
Legitimately Interested Parties include all PA programs to which an individual has applied or
matriculated during the current cycle and PA programs to which the individual applies or
matriculates in the future, as well as duly constituted licensure and regulatory agencies and
health professions educational institutions that make an official request to PAEA for a report.
If, at the time of the investigation, the individual is enrolled in a CASPA-participating PA
program, the report in final form will be forwarded to the current institution of attendance and
will be distributed in response to any future application or matriculation activity. The report in
final form will also be issued in response to an application or matriculation at such Legitimately
Interested Parties of which PAEA has knowledge. Reports may contain information relevant to
academic or disciplinary proceedings, criminal investigations, and decisions relevant to entry
into PA programs and professional licensure.
ARBITRATION FOR DISPUTES
Should an individual conclude that a draft report unfairly characterizes the evidence and
findings of fact related to an investigation, or an agreement between parties on the content
and language of the report cannot be reached, PAEA will offer the individual who is the
subject of the report an opportunity to request arbitration. Such arbitration must be requested
prior to the issuance of a final report. Arbitration is conducted by a single arbitrator appointed
by the Washington, D.C., office of JAMS. The arbitrator acts solely on the basis of a written
record submitted by both parties, and no hearing or oral arguments are held. The sole issue
for arbitration shall be whether PAEA acted reasonably and in good faith in preparing the
report.
The arbitrator will have final authority to conclude whether: (1) the report should be
distributed as written; (2) the report should be modified in accordance with the arbitrator's
directions before distribution; or (3) no report should be distributed. In addition, the arbitrator
determines which party is responsible for JAMS' case management fees and the arbitrator's
fee. All other costs associated with arbitration (for example, attorneys' fees) are borne by the
party incurring them.
