PA-CAT and CASPer: What Physician Assistant Programs Require
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 18, 2026 • Graduate & Professional School
PA-CAT is a 240-question science exam that costs $257, or $178 with fee assistance. CASPer is a situational judgment test that scores your decision-making and professionalism instead of academic knowledge.
🎓 PA-CAT covers anatomy, physiology, general biology, chemistry, microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, statistics, and behavioral science
📩 Some PA programs accept PA-CAT instead of the GRE, others require both
CASPer has 11 scenarios: 4 with video responses, 7 typed, over about 65-85 minutes
Raters score CASPer for empathy, ethics, and communication, not for one correct answer
Requirements differ by program, so check each school's admissions page before you register
What the PA-CAT Measures
The PA-CAT is a 240-item, multiple-choice exam built for physician assistant program applicants. It covers nine science subject areas: anatomy, physiology, general biology, chemistry, microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, statistics, and behavioral science, delivered at Pearson VUE test centers.
The standard fee is $257. Applicants who qualify for fee assistance through the PA-CAT program receive a coupon code that reduces the cost to $178.
What CASPer Measures
CASPer is an online situational judgment test used across health professions admissions, run by Acuity Insights . It presents 11 real-world scenarios: four with video prompts you answer on camera, and seven with typed responses. The full test runs about 65-85 minutes.
Each scenario asks how you would handle a conflict, an ethical dilemma, or a communication problem. Trained raters score your answers for traits like professionalism, empathy, and problem-solving, not for a single correct response.
Some programs also require Duet, a personality assessment bundled into your CASPer registration at no extra cost when a program asks for it.
PA-CAT, CASPer, and GRE at a Glance
| Test | What it measures | Format | Standard fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA-CAT | Undergraduate science content | 240 multiple-choice questions | $257 |
| CASPer | Judgment, ethics, communication | 11 scenarios, video and typed responses | Varies by program count and testing window |
| GRE General Test | Verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing | Computer-based, sent to any program | $249 |
How They Differ From the GRE
The GRE tests verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing with one score you send to any program. The PA-CAT tests the same undergraduate science coursework PA programs expect you to already know. CASPer skips content entirely and tests judgment instead.
A program that accepts PA-CAT instead of the GRE treats a science-content check as a better predictor of readiness for PA school coursework than general reasoning. A program that adds CASPer wants a read on interpersonal skills before an in-person interview.
Why Some PA Programs Added PA-CAT or CASPer
PA programs added science-specific tests like the PA-CAT because the GRE measures general graduate readiness, not applied science knowledge. A PA-CAT score gives an admissions committee a direct read on whether an applicant remembers the anatomy and physiology coursework the first year of PA school builds on.
CASPer entered PA admissions for a different reason. Interviews are expensive to run at scale and carry bias based on how comfortable an applicant is in a room. A standardized situational judgment test lets programs screen professionalism and communication before they commit interview slots.
Which Programs Require Which Test
Requirements vary by school. Some PA programs require the GRE only, some accept PA-CAT as a substitute for the GRE, some require CASPer alongside either test, and a number have dropped the GRE requirement altogether.
Check the admissions requirements page for every program on your list before you register for anything. Confirm which test each program wants, any minimum score or completion requirement, and how recent your score needs to be, since these details change between application cycles.
How to Prepare
Review the PA-CAT content outline and study the nine listed subject areas using your undergraduate coursework materials.
Practice CASPer scenarios with untimed, unedited responses. Raters look for how you reason through a situation, not polished writing.
Answer every CASPer scenario. A skipped or incomplete response scores worse than an imperfect one.
Register early. Test center seats and CASPer testing windows fill up close to application deadlines.
Apply for fee assistance ahead of registration if you qualify. Approval has to land before you book a test date for either exam.
If a Program Lets You Choose Between the GRE and PA-CAT
Pick the PA-CAT if your recent science coursework is strong and you would rather show subject-specific knowledge than general reasoning. Pick the GRE if you already have a GRE score from another application, or your science coursework goes back several years and you would rather refresh broad reasoning skills instead of relearning nine subject areas at once.
Retaking the PA-CAT or CASPer
Programs that require the PA-CAT typically allow a retake, though repeat policies vary, so check the specific program's page for how many attempts count and how it treats multiple scores. CASPer test takers also retest through Acuity Insights, and programs decide individually whether they view your most recent attempt only or every attempt on file.