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PA School GPA Calculator (CASPA)

Calculate all four CASPA GPA figures — Overall, Science (BCPM), BCP, and Non-Science — and assess your PA school competitiveness with patient care hours and GRE score.

CASPA calculates four separate GPAs: Overall, Science (BCPM), Non-Science, and BCP (Bio+Chem+Phys only). Enter all courses with their category.

Course NameCategoryGradeCredits

CASPA Overall GPA

3.63

Science (BCPM) GPA

3.52

Science Credits

BCP GPA

3.49

BCP Credits

Non-Science GPA

4.00

Total Credits

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How CASPA Calculates PA School GPAs

The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) calculates four distinct GPAs for every PA school applicant: Overall GPA, Science GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math), Non-Science GPA, and BCP GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics — excluding Math). All four are reported to every PA program you apply to.

The CASPA GPA tab enters all courses with subject categories and computes all four GPA figures simultaneously. The Competitiveness tab combines your GPAs, GRE score, and patient care hours for a holistic PA school admission assessment.

CASPA GPA Calculation Formula

Overall GPA = Σ(All Grade Points × Credits) ÷ Total Credits
Science GPA = Σ(Science Grade Points × Credits) ÷ Science Credits
BCP GPA = Σ(Bio+Chem+Phys Grade Points × Credits) ÷ BCP Credits
Non-Science GPA = Σ(Non-Science Grade Points × Credits) ÷ Non-Science Credits

Science = Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math
BCP = Biology, Chemistry, Physics (Math excluded)

CASPA counts every attempted course including retakes — no grade replacement. A+ is treated as 4.0 (same as A). This means every C or D in your transcript is part of your CASPA GPA, which is why your CASPA GPA may differ from your institutional GPA that may use grade replacement.

Patient Care Hours: The Other Critical Factor

Unlike medical or dental school, PA program admissions require documented hands-on patient care experience — not just shadowing. CASPA distinguishes between direct patient care (DPC) hours and healthcare exposure hours. DPC typically includes roles where you are directly involved in patient assessment or treatment:

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): Most common and highly valued; direct care, documentation, hands-on procedures
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic: Excellent clinical experience, particularly valued for emergency medicine programs
Medical Scribe: Counts as healthcare exposure but typically not as direct patient care at most programs
Phlebotomist / Medical Assistant: Counts as DPC at most programs
Patient Care Technician: High-quality DPC, especially in hospital settings

The PAEA (PA Education Association) reports that the average accepted applicant has approximately 3,200 patient care hours. Many competitive programs see applicants with 4,000–5,000+ hours. Meeting the stated minimum (often 2,000–3,000 hours) is necessary but rarely sufficient at competitive programs.

PA School GPA Benchmarks

PAEA data on recent PA school matriculants:

Overall GPA average: ~3.50
Science GPA average: ~3.45
BCP GPA average: ~3.42
Top programs (Stanford, Duke, Yale, Columbia): Typical GPA 3.65+
Mid-tier programs: Average 3.40–3.55
Minimum typical cutoffs: 2.75–3.0 overall, 2.8–3.0 science

Frequently Asked Questions

Most PA programs require a minimum 2.75–3.0 overall GPA and 2.8–3.0 science GPA. The average accepted applicant nationally has approximately a 3.50 overall and 3.45 science GPA. Competitive programs at research universities (Stanford, Yale, Duke) typically see averages of 3.65+. A 3.2 GPA with strong patient care hours and excellent letters of recommendation is competitive for many regional programs. Below 3.0 significantly limits your options and warrants post-baccalaureate coursework before applying.

CASPA recalculates your GPA from scratch using all submitted transcripts, applying the standard 4.0 scale (A+ = 4.0) and including every course attempt. Your institutional GPA may differ because: your school may use grade replacement (CASPA does not), your school may cap A+ at 4.0 or assign 4.3 (CASPA uses 4.0), or your school may exclude certain transfer courses (CASPA includes them). Always calculate your CASPA GPA separately — it is almost always different from what is printed on your transcript.

Approximately 50–60% of PA programs require the GRE, though many have moved to optional or waived requirements after the COVID pandemic. A combined GRE score of 300–310 (Verbal + Quantitative) is generally considered competitive for programs that require it. The GRE can help offset a borderline GPA — particularly the Verbal score for applicants with strong clinical experience and the Quantitative score for those with weaker math performance. Always verify the GRE requirement for each individual program you are applying to.

Program requirements range from 500 to 3,000+ hours as stated minimums, but the national average for accepted applicants is approximately 3,200 direct patient care hours. Shadowing a PA or physician does not typically count as DPC. High-quality DPC in a clinical setting (EMT, CNA, MA, PCT) is far more valuable than the same number of hours in a low-contact administrative role. Aim for 2,000+ hours of direct patient contact from at least two different clinical settings before submitting your CASPA application.

PA school GPA requirements are moderately lower than MD programs but higher than many DO programs. The average PA matriculant has a ~3.50 GPA compared to ~3.73 for MD and ~3.50 for DO. The major difference is that PA school places significantly more weight on hands-on patient care experience — a component that is noted but not systematically scored in medical school applications. A 3.3 GPA with 4,000 high-quality DPC hours and EMT certification can be a competitive PA application; the same profile for medical school would be challenging at most MD programs.