UW-Madison's Master of Physician Assistant Studies offers full-time PA training in Madison, Wausau and Platteville, plus an MPAS-MPH dual degree. Applicants apply through CASPA, complete United States Casper 2 and need at least 1,000 hours of direct patient care experience when they submit.
- Program
- Master of Physician Assistant Studies
- Credential
- MPAS
- Location
- Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- Casper
- Required
- Interview
- Panel interview
- Length
- 24 months for campus options; 33 months for the MPAS-MPH dual degree
Casper Requirement for University of Wisconsin-Madison Physician Assistant
University of Wisconsin-Madison Physician Assistant requires Casper for the 2027-2028 cycle.
- Test to book
- United States Casper 2
- Languages
- English
- Applicant ID to enter
- CASPA ID
- Distribution fee
- $20
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
Casper costs $50 plus a $20 distribution fee. Applicants with approved CASPA fee assistance may qualify to take Casper and distribute results without charge.
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
Practice with Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank, featuring 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert responses.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Physician Assistant Application Deadlines 2027-2028
- Apply through
- CASPA
The program participates in the Fee Assistance Program (FAP). Submit with your CASPA ID and detail patient care hours precisely, as verification occurs at submission.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Physician Assistant Admissions Statistics
Period: Most recently admitted class (year not specified)
- Average GPA: 3.7
- Average science GPA: 3.7
The most recently admitted class averaged 3.7 in cumulative and science GPA.
Eligibility Requirements for University of Wisconsin-Madison Physician Assistant
- Degree / credits
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- Citizenship
Applicants educated outside the United States must provide evidence of U.S. permanent residence; applicants holding student or other temporary visas are not considered.
- Language proficiency
English-proficiency testing is required when an applicant's native language or undergraduate language of instruction is not English, subject to the program's education-based exemptions.
Admission pathways
- MPAS-MPH dual degree: A full-time, 33-month Madison option combining public-health and PA study.
- UW-Platteville 3+2: An option for eligible UW-Platteville biology undergraduates; its application and interview timeline differs from the standard options.
All prerequisites require a grade of C or higher. At most two science prerequisites may remain when applying.
Other requirements
- Letters of recommendation: Submit three through CASPA; up to five are accepted. At least one should be from someone you worked with in a health care setting.
- Technical standards: Candidates must meet standards covering observation, communication, motor, intellectual and behavioral/social abilities.
- Foreign transcript evaluation: Applicants with education outside the U.S. need an ECE or WES evaluation.
Selection Factors University of Wisconsin-Madison Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| General biology with lab | Two-semester sequence or organismal biology Cellular/molecular biology alone is insufficient. |
| Microbiology with lab | Required |
| Biochemistry | Required Combined organic chemistry/biochemistry courses do not qualify. |
| Statistics | One semester |
| Psychology | One semester of introductory, general, abnormal or developmental psychology |
| Human anatomy | Completed within three years of matriculation Approved updates are available. |
| Human physiology | Completed within three years of matriculation A two-semester combined anatomy-and-physiology sequence must be taken at one institution. |
GPA
- How it is calculated
Cumulative GPA includes all college-level courses, regardless of when they were taken. Science GPA may qualify through all science coursework or the most recently completed 60 semester hours of science coursework.
- Minimum
- 3.20 cumulative GPA and either a 3.20 cumulative science GPA or a 3.20 GPA in the most recent 60 semester hours of science coursework
- Competitive
- The most recently admitted class averaged 3.7 in cumulative and science GPA.
Admissions tests
- GRE (not required): GRE scores are not required.
- TOEFL (required for some applicants): When English-proficiency testing is required, minimum scores are 92 iBT or 580 paper-based; scores must be no more than two years old at the start of the admission term. Published education-based exemptions apply.
Experience and volunteer hours
Required.
At least 1,000 hours of direct patient care experience are required at application submission. Qualifying experience can include paid employment, volunteering or clinical research. The program considers patient contact, work with PAs, responsibility, quality, quantity and recency.
Supplementary application
The program-specific supplemental application is completed within CASPA. It asks for demographic information, prerequisite plans and anticipated health care experience; an academic-record statement is optional. A program-option essay is required for distant-campus or MPAS-MPH applicants.
How applicants are ranked
The program reviews academic performance, patient-care experience, Casper and alignment with its patient-centered mission. Competitive applicants with rural or designated shortage-area backgrounds, military affiliation, high financial need, first-generation college status or tribal enrollment receive priority consideration. Its goal is for at least 70% of each admitted class to be Wisconsin residents.
Interview Format at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Format: Panel interview
Interview activities span two days: a program overview and opportunities to meet students, followed by two 20-minute interviews with separate faculty-and-staff teams.
- Who is invited
- Applicants selected by the admissions committee for a program option
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at University of Wisconsin-Madison Physician Assistant
- Program length
- 24 months for campus options; 33 months for the MPAS-MPH dual degree
- Structure
Three full-time, 24-month campus options are offered at Madison, Wausau and Platteville, alongside a full-time, 33-month MPAS-MPH dual degree. The part-time distance-education option is no longer accepting new students.
- Campuses
- UW-Madison, Northcentral Technical College - Wausau, UW-Platteville
The curriculum is PANCE-focused and aligned with the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam blueprint, derived from PA practice analysis.
Campus and facilities
Full-time options are based at UW-Madison, Northcentral Technical College in Wausau and UW-Platteville. Wausau students begin with a summer in Madison before transitioning to Wausau; distant-campus students attend required in-person sessions and return to Madison for clinical-year assessments.
Tuition and Funding at University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Madison or Wausau, Wisconsin resident, 2026-27 total tuition and fees: $44,787.20
- Madison or Wausau, nonresident, 2026-27: $90,877.00
- Platteville, Wisconsin resident, 2026-27: $48,227.28
- Platteville, nonresident, 2026-27: $94,317.08
The published figures are full-program tuition and fees, not prices for a future entering class. Minnesota-resident rates and MPAS-MPH rates are listed on the program's tuition page; living costs and other expenses are additional.
University of Wisconsin-Madison's Mission and Values
The program emphasizes preparing clinicians through a PANCE-focused curriculum aligned directly with the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam blueprint, derived from PA practice analysis.
What Applicants Are Saying
Students report a supportive environment that nurtures core clinical skills. Matriculated students describe a culture that values different pathways, including the Madison, Wausau and Platteville campus options and the MPAS-MPH dual degree. Past applicants report positive overall impressions in SDN Interview Experience Scores.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your University of Wisconsin-Madison Physician Assistant Application
- Document at least 1,000 direct patient care hours before submitting CASPA.
- Check all prerequisite grades and the cumulative and science GPA rules; plan timely anatomy and physiology updates if needed.
- Complete United States Casper 2 for the admissions cycle in which you apply.
- Prepare three recommendations, the CASPA supplemental responses and, where required, a program-option essay; review each available campus option.
More About University of Wisconsin-Madison Physician Assistant
- Program history
Established reputation spanning over 20 years
- Practice recommendation
Completing at least 50 practice scenarios builds familiarity with ethical and interpersonal themes
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Wisconsin-Madison Physician Assistant
Does UW-Madison PA require Casper?
Yes. Applicants must complete United States Casper 2 for each admissions cycle.
What GPA is required?
At least 3.20 cumulative and either 3.20 cumulative science or 3.20 in the most recent 60 science semester hours. The most recently admitted class averaged 3.7 in both.
How much patient care is required?
At least 1,000 direct patient care hours at submission.
What options are available?
Full-time Madison, Wausau and Platteville campuses, plus an MPAS-MPH dual degree; the part-time distance option has ended.
Is the GRE required?
No. GRE scores are not required.
How do I apply?
Apply through CASPA and complete the program-specific questions within CASPA. Three recommendation letters are required.
What is the interview like?
Activities span two days, including two 20-minute interviews with separate faculty-and-staff teams.
Where are tuition figures?
The program publishes tuition and fees by campus and residency category on its PA Tuition and Aid page.
Sources
- med.wisc.edu: physician assistant pa program
- med.wisc.edu: admission requirements
- med.wisc.edu: patient care experience
- paeaonline.org: university of wisconsin madison
- med.wisc.edu: application process
- prehealth.wisc.edu: Pre Physician Assistant v7
- paschoolfinder.com: university wisconsin madison
- med.wisc.edu: premedical requirements selection criteria
- wapa.org
- med.wisc.edu: curriculum
- med.wisc.edu: pa graduate competencies
- guide.wisc.edu: physician assistant mpa
- dl.icdst.org: 929d4ce5547f8fd4e70195c4150245e3
- prehealth.wisc.edu: interview preparation
- thepalife.com: multiple mini interview guide
- prehealth.wisc.edu: applicant advising
Last updated: September 26, 2026