CASPA GPA scale and grading policy
Quick answer: Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA GPA) uses the caspa recalculates undergraduate gpa on a 4.0 scale and reports multiple gpas: overall, science, bcp, non-science, and post-baccalaureate. CASPA averages all grades from all transcripts — retakes do not replace original grades. AP credit is generally not included. The CASPA GPA, not your school GPA, is what PA programs see.
| Metric | CASPA Standard |
|---|---|
| Typical admit GPA | PA programs: 3.5 - 3.7 CASPA GPA |
| Good standing minimum | 3.0 (typical pre-PA floor) |
| Dean's List threshold | 3.6+ for competitive PA program admission |
| Scale type | CASPA recalculates undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale and reports multiple GPAs: overall, science, BCP, non-science, and post-baccalaureate. |
How CASPA recalculates GPA for admission
CASPA averages all grades from all transcripts — retakes do not replace original grades. AP credit is generally not included. The CASPA GPA, not your school GPA, is what PA programs see. The number you submit on your transcript and the number CASPA uses in its admission decision may differ. Use the calculator above to model both — switch the preset to match CASPA's policy.
Maintaining a good CASPA GPA
- BCP GPA is the PA-school-specific filter. PA programs particularly weight the BCP (Bio-Chem-Physics) GPA because those courses test the core science readiness for clinical training. Aim for 3.5+ BCP minimum.
- Patient care experience hours matter as much as GPA. The average accepted PA applicant brings 3,000+ patient care hours (scribing, CNA, EMT). A 3.5 CASPA with 4,000 hours often beats a 3.8 with 500 hours.
- CASPA opens late April annually. Most PA programs use rolling admissions starting June/July. Submit in April-May for the strongest admit position — late-cycle applications face fewer remaining seats.
Admit-range and policy data verified against CASPA's official admissions page.