The GVSU PAS program uses the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) for the application process.  CASPA was established in 2001 and is a service of the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).  The CASPA application process simplifies the PA school application process by allowing students to apply to several programs with only one application.  

CASPA Application opens:  April, 2025

Application Deadline:  September 1, 2025 (for classes starting August 2026)

• CASPA applications must be COMPLETED by September 1, 2025. An application is considered complete after the online application is submitted and CASPA has received all supporting documents. 
• CASPA's VERIFICATION of documents may occur after the application deadline of September 1, 2025. 

Admissions Academic Request Form Deadline:  July 15, 2025

• Students should only submit an Admissions Academic Request Form (ARF) IF they have highly unusual circumstances that impact their ability to meet the published admission criteria.
• See ARF form for further details.

Applicants Notified of Interview:  Mid-October, 2025

Interview Dates:

• Grand Rapids Interview Day:  TBD, 2025
• Traverse City Interview Day:  TBD, 2025
• NOTE:  Grand Rapids interviews are held at the GVSU Health campus, and Traverse City interviews are held at the University Center in Traverse City. Applicants are expected to attend the interview day in person. Applicants with exceptional circumstances may be granted an alternate interview day, and requests will be evaluated case by case.

Applicants Notified of Admission Decision:  January, 2026

Orientation:  August 20, 2026 (Mandatory)

Classes Begin:  August 24, 2026

• Applicants may apply to the Grand Rapids OR Traverse City Campus.  Applicants are NOT permitted to apply to both campuses.
• Applicants are responsible for ensuring they meet all application requirements.
• The GVSU supplemental application and all CASPA documents must be completed and received on or before the September 1 application deadline.

Applicants are considered without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, religion, political beliefs, or disability.

Applicants must meet certain health and technical standards that demonstrate their capacity to function as a physician assistant.

Admission to the Physician Assistant Studies program is competitive.  The criteria for admission involve three steps:  Application, Interview, and Acceptance.

University Requirements

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education (must be completed by the month of May prior to program matriculation).
2. Completion of GVSU supplemental application form.
   • Once your CASPA application has been verified and sent to GVSU, applicants will receive an email with instructions to complete the GVSU supplemental application.  If you experience any issues with this process, please contact GVSU Admissions ([email protected] or 616-331-2025).
3. $30 application fee payable to GVSU.  Applicants who have previously applied to GVSU and paid this fee are exempt.

Program Requirements

1.   CASPA Application.  https://caspa.liaisoncas.com/

• Refer to Admission Related FAQ for details on how to ensure your application is complete.  Failure to meet CASPA's complete status requirements by the deadline will result in an incomplete application.

2.   Acuity Insights Comprehensive Admissions Assessments.  (https://acuityinsights.app/)

• All applicants to the GVSU PAS program must complete the Casper test as part of their application.  Casper is a 90-110 minute online, open-response situational judgment test.  To complete the assessment, visit Acuity Insights Assessments to create an account and register to take the test.
• Applicants must select GVSU for score distribution when taking the Casper test.  Scores will be released directly from Acuity Insights Assessments to GVSU.  You do NOT need to send score reports to CASPA.
• Please note that only a select number of Casper testing dates are available each year. 
• The final Casper test date for the Fall 2025 application cycle will be released in March 2025.
• Please note that the Casper test must be completed each year.  You must retake the Casper test if you completed it during a prior application cycle.

3.   College Transcripts.  Copies of official transcripts from all higher education institutions previously attended, including GVSU, must be sent from those institutions directly to CASPA.

4.   GPA.  Applicants must maintain an average GPA of “B” (3.0) or higher in EACH of the following categories:

• Overall GPA (based on CASPA calculations)
• Last 60 hours of coursework (based on GVSU calculations)
  • The GPA will be calculated for the last 60 hours of coursework completed at the time of application.  The actual number of credit hours may vary slightly between applicants.  The calculation will include the entire semester's grades in which the final 60th credit hour falls.  The total credit hours may be slightly more than 60.
• Program Prerequisite Courses (based on GVSU calculations)
  • The GPA will use the highest grade earned if any course is repeated.
  • If a two-semester course sequence is used, the higher of the two grades will be used to calculate the prerequisite GPA.

5.   Prerequisite Coursework.  

• List of prerequisite and recommended courses
• Courses from Michigan Universities that fulfill GVSU PAS prerequisites.
• Applicants must attain a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in each of GVSU’s PAS program prerequisites.
• The following courses MUST be completed before the application deadline:
  • Human Anatomy
  • Human Physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
• The following courses must be completed within five calendar years of the year of application.  Example:  A course completed in April 2020 will expire at the end of December 2025.
  • Human Anatomy
  • Human Physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
• All PAS program prerequisite coursework and a bachelor’s degree must be completed by May before program matriculation.

6.   Minimum of two (2) Recommendation Rubrics

• CASPA emails recommendation rubrics to an applicant's references at the time of application submission.
• Separate letters of recommendation can NOT be substituted for a recommendation rubric.
• One recommendation rubric must be completed by a health care professional.
• The other recommendation rubric may be completed by either a second health care professional or a university faculty member.

7.   Healthcare experience.  The applicant must complete a minimum of 500 hours of significant volunteer and/or work and/or observational experience in a health care environment by the time of application.  Hands-on patient care experience is highly encouraged.

• Health care experience will be documented on the CASPA application as Patient Care Experience, Health Care Experience, and Shadowing.
  • The Patient Care Experience and Shadowing categories will count towards the required 500 hours.
  • Some of the Health Care Experiences category may count towards the required 500 hours.
    • Examples of experiences from the Health Care Experience category that will apply toward the required hours include filling prescriptions, administering medication, taking vitals or other record-keeping information, and working as a scribe, CNA, or medical assistant.
    • Examples of experiences from the Health Care Experience category that will NOT apply towards the required hours include clerical work, delivering patient food, and cleaning patient rooms.

8.   International Applicants

• All students in the PAS program should speak and write fluently in English.  Students whose first language is not English must submit one of the following:
  • Official test scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL; minimum score 80), International English Language Testing System (IELTS; minimum score 6.5), Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic; minimum score 53), or Duolingo (minimum score 105).
  • Only original score reports will be accepted. 
• Students completing higher education studies outside of the U.S. must also submit the following:
  • Original or certified original transcripts
  • Official transcript credential evaluation information (e.g., WES, ECE)
    • WES and ECE are preferred transcript credential evaluation services; however, GVSU will accept a transcript credential evaluation from an organization listed on the following website:  https://www.naces.org/members.
  • Transcripts demonstrating 30 hours of higher education coursework taken at an established and accredited U.S. Institution.

1. Interview criteria are reviewed yearly and are subject to change.
2. All applicants must meet all application criteria by the application deadline to be considered for interview selection and possible admission.
3. All qualified applicants are ranked objectively using academic criteria, including grade point average (overall GPA, last 60 credit hour GPA, and PAS program prerequisite GPA) and additional factors including:
   • Attainment of a professional healthcare degree (i.e., nursing, respiratory therapist, pharmacist, dietician, x-ray technician, sonography, etc.) with associated clinical experience.
   • Achievement of over 10,000 hours of health care experience.
   • Recommendation rubrics
   • Military service, including veterans, active-duty military, and reserves.
   • Applicants who have attained over 5,000 hours of extracurricular, volunteer, and/or non-healthcare employment hours.  Qualifying service experiences are based on CASPA definitions and will be documented on the CASPA application.  Verification of hours may be required. 
   • Applicants who have demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through their service activities.
   • There are no specific leadership requirements for application to the GVSU PAS program; however, applicants who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to leadership are given additional consideration*. This includes applicants with over 5,000 hours of leadership experience and demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through their leadership experiences. Qualifying leadership experiences are based on CASPA definitions and are documented on the CASPA application.  Verification of hours may be required.
   • Casper scores
   • Applicants with at least 30 credit hours completed at Grand Valley State University.
   • Economically disadvantaged background (as defined by CASPA guidelines for family income)

4. Additional factors that may be used in interview decisions include:
   • CASPA custom questions: All applicants have the opportunity to complete a CASPA custom question to describe their pursuit of equity and inclusion in their academic and/or personal lives. Information from this question can be used to inform interview decisions.
   • Health care experience: All applicants must have a minimum of 500 hours of health care experience.  Applicants are encouraged to have various experiences in various settings to increase their preparedness for their time in the PAS program and their future profession as a PA.  Applicant’s health care experience can be used to inform interview decisions.
5. Applications for admission to the Traverse City campus also consider previous/current residence in Northern Michigan and previous/current connections to or experiences in Northern Michigan. Applicants to the Traverse City campus have the opportunity to complete a CASPA custom question to describe their connection to the Northern Lower Peninsula or Upper Peninsula.
6. The PAS Admission Committee reviews applicant application materials, and applicants are selected for interviews based on the above criteria.
7. The remaining applicants are notified that they have not been selected for an interview.

* The Admission Committee at GVSU values the breadth of skills, expertise, and knowledge that applicants possess.  Additional consideration is given to applicants who meet the criteria listed above to better recognize these unique attributes of applicants. These qualifications are reviewed as a component of the entire application packet and do not guarantee an interview.  Applicants who do not meet the criteria listed above for additional consideration remain in consideration for interview.

1. Admission criteria are reviewed yearly and are subject to change.
2. Applicants must meet all admission criteria by the time of Program matriculation.
3. All factors listed for the criteria for the interview are also used to assess for admission selection.
4. Additional factors that may be used in admission decisions include
   • Interview day assessments
   • Scholarly Activity: There are no specific scholarly activity requirements for application to the GVSU PAS program; however, applicants who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to scholarship are given additional consideration*. Examples could include over 250 hours of dedicated time to a research project(s) or local/regional/national/international dissemination of scholarly work.
5. The PAS Admission Committee and PAS faculty review applicants’ applications and interview materials. Applicants are selected for admission to the program based on the above criteria and notified of their admission status. Alternate applicants are notified of their alternate status.  The remaining applicants receive a letter of denial.
6. GVSU PAS Alternate Candidate Policy
   • An attempt is made to fill all vacant spots in the upcoming class.
   • Alternates may be offered a position in the program up until the conclusion of the first week of classes.
   • The GVSU PAS program does NOT discuss the ranking of students within the alternate list.
   • The GVSU PAS program requires applicants to apply to a single campus (Grand Rapids or Traverse City); however, GVSU reserves the right to offer applicants a position at either campus to fill vacancies.
7. Acceptance into the Program requires a criminal background check, fingerprinting, and a drug screen to participate in certain components of the PAS program. If a student has a history of a criminal record or has criminal charges pending, the student needs to be aware that this may impact their ability to complete the GVSU PAS program according to Exclusionary Law.

* The Admission Committee at GVSU values the breadth of skills, expertise, and knowledge that applicants possess.  Additional consideration is given to applicants who meet the criteria listed above to better recognize these unique attributes of applicants. These qualifications are reviewed as a component of the entire application packet and do not guarantee acceptance.  Applicants who do not meet the criteria listed above for additional consideration remain in consideration for acceptance.

Traverse City Campus

For information about application to the Traverse City campus, please click here (visit TC)