[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-503608-105":59,"doc-detail-503608-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","physician-assistant-resources-application-guide","Physician Assistant resources - Application guide","","Physician Assistant resources handout provides students with a practical roadmap for applying to physician assistant programs, explaining the typical materials and how to submit them through CASPA. It outlines the key role of standardized tests such as GRE, PA-CAT, and CASPer, while emphasizing that test types and score requirements differ by school. The guide also details healthcare experience and patient care experience hour expectations, common prerequisite course areas, and helpful action steps like reviewing each program’s admission criteria and preparing early for deadlines.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":35,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/physician-assistant-resources-application-guide/503608/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/physician-assistant-resources-application-guide/503608.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Ezra","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-09","2026-10-03",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":34},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What is the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"CASPA is the centralized system where PA application materials are submitted to programs. Applicants must create an account to use the service.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"Which standardized tests may PA programs require?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"Some programs require GRE, PA-CAT, CASPer, or a combination. Minimum score requirements vary by school, so applicants should confirm each program’s testing criteria.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What counts as healthcare experience (HCE) and patient care experience (PCE)?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"HCE includes healthcare field experiences not directly working with patients, while PCE focuses on direct patient work in clinical environments. Many programs require roughly 100–1000 total hours, and they may prefer specific splits between HCE and PCE.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},503608,1791604883,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":34,"category_name":35,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":34,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":14,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":24,"preview_page_count":4},1099514068035,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","Physician Assistant resources   \nThis handout is designed to provide students a general guide to applying to physician assistant programs. For further assistance, please schedule an appointment with a Career  \nAdvisor.  \n[110 Lanier Hall | 478-445-5384 | career.center@gcsu.edu](110 Lanier Hall | 478-445-5384 | career.center@gcsu.edu)[gcsu.joinhandshake.com](gcsu.joinhandshake.com)  \nquick facts  \nPhysician assistants (PA) are medical professionals that are required to complete years of study, hands-on clinical experience, earn a Master of PA Studies, and obtain their PA licensure before they are fully prepared to enter into professional practice. Through this training, PAs develop a robust set of skills – from diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering and interpreting tests, and assisting in surgery – which make them a valuable member of any healthcare setting.  \nHere are things to keep in mind as you begin navigating the application process:  \n Applications usually require some combination of these materials: minimum GPA, healthcare or patient care experience hours, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, and an interview. Thoroughly read through the requirements each school/program has for admission.  \n These materials will be submitted through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA [caspa.cas.myliaison.com](caspa.cas.myliaison.com)), an application system maintained by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA [paeaonline.org](paeaonline.org)).  \n PA programs may require students to complete the Graduate Record Exam ([GRE](GRE-www.ets.org/gre)[-www.ets.org/gre](GRE-www.ets.org/gre)), the Physician Assistant College Admissions Test ([PA-CAT](PA-CAT - www.pa-cat.com)[ - www.pa-cat.com](PA-CAT - www.pa-cat.com)), the Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics ([CASPer](CASPer-acuityinsights.app)[-acuityinsights.app](CASPer-acuityinsights.app)) test, or a combination of these tests before they apply to a program.  \n Testing and score requirements vary between schools, so it’s important to carefully review any testing requirements beforehand.  \n In addition to standardized testing requirements, PA programs may require significant healthcare or patient care experience.  \nCommon Application Services (CASPA)  \nCentralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)  \n In order to apply to a PA program, you will need to use the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) .  \n An account has to be made to utilize this application service. You can create your account here: [caspa.cas. myliaison.com](caspa.cas. myliaison.com)  \n Familiarize yourself with the site, the applications themselves, and what materials are necessary for each application.  \nExperience hours  \nPrograms are often looking for two types of experience: healthcare experience (HCE) and patient care experience (PCE)  \n Healthcare experience includes experiences that are not directly related to patient care but are still in the healthcare field  \n Patient care experience focuses on experiences that are directly related to working with patients in some sort of clinical environment  \n The required healthcare hours for PA programs can vary greatly, but most require somewhere between 100 – 1000 hours of experience.  \n Programs may have a preference for between HCE and PCE, or other requirements for the experience to count, so it’s important to be thorough while reviewing application requirements  \nMany students take a gap year in order to gain meaningful experience before applying to a PA program.  \nCertain positions, such as Emergency Medical Technicians ( EMT), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), and medical scribes, and healthcare related volunteer work, can increase the competitiveness of your applications.  \ncommon Prerequisites Key Numbers  \nPrinciples of Biology I  \nPrinciples of Biology II  \nHuman Anatomy & Physiology I  \nHuman Anatomy & Physiology II Microbiolog","cbCailX6uG4qKN3j","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCailX6uG4qKN3j","pdf",186022,"English","# Quick facts\n## Application materials and CASPA\n## Standardized testing (GRE, PA-CAT, CASPer)\n## Experience hours (HCE and PCE)\n## Common prerequisites and key numbers","[{\"question\":\"What is the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)?\",\"answer\":\"CASPA is the centralized system where PA application materials are submitted to programs. Applicants must create an account to use the service.\"},{\"question\":\"Which standardized tests may PA programs require?\",\"answer\":\"Some programs require GRE, PA-CAT, CASPer, or a combination. Minimum score requirements vary by school, so applicants should confirm each program’s testing criteria.\"},{\"question\":\"What counts as healthcare experience (HCE) and patient care experience (PCE)?\",\"answer\":\"HCE includes healthcare field experiences not directly working with patients, while PCE focuses on direct patient work in clinical environments. Many programs require roughly 100–1000 total hours, and they may prefer specific splits between HCE and PCE.\"}]","Physician Assistant resources - Application guide | PDF",1791058619]