UW-La Crosse offers a full-time, in-person Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. Applicants apply through CASPA, submit Casper scores, meet the program’s GPA and direct-patient-care minimums, and complete required coursework. Selection considers academic and nonacademic factors.
- Program
- Physician Assistant Studies
- Credential
- Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
- Location
- La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States
- Casper
- Required
- Seats
- 28 admitted
- Length
- two-year
Casper Requirement for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Physician Assistant
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Physician Assistant requires Casper for the 2027-2028 cycle.
- Languages
- English
- Applicant ID to enter
- CASPA ID
- Distribution fee
- One distribution is included in UWL’s listed $70 Casper assessment fee.
- Other Acuity assessments
- Snapshot (not required), Duet (not required)
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
Casper is required; Snapshot and Duet are not required.
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-La Crosse Physician Assistant Application Deadlines 2027-2028
- Apply through
- CASPA
- Application fee
- $50 nonrefundable UWL program application fee, submitted with the PA Program Application Fee Form
Submit via CASPA with a CASPA ID. Submit early to allow time for Casper testing.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Physician Assistant Admissions Statistics
Period: Class of 2028, matriculating May 2026
- Seats / class size: 28 admitted
- Applicants: 718 CASPA applications
- Interviewed: 90
- Admitted: 28
- Average GPA: 3.95 cumulative
- Average test score: Casper Z-score 0.89
- Cumulative GPA range (matriculants): 3.83-4.00
- Science GPA mean (matriculants): 3.93
- Science GPA range (matriculants): 3.73-4.00
- Casper Z-score range (matriculants): -0.48 to 2.85
- Mean direct patient care hours (matriculants): 1,650
Class of 2028 figures describe students who matriculated in May 2026.
Eligibility Requirements for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Physician Assistant
- Degree / credits
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution before matriculating
- Language proficiency
Non-native English speakers must submit a result from the last two years: TOEFL iBT at least 5.0, IELTS at least 7.5, PTE at least 68, or Duolingo English Test at least 135. Institution code: 1914.
Competitive applicants demonstrate maturity and refined interpersonal skills alongside academic strength.
Other requirements
- Program application fee form: Submit the completed PA Program Application Fee Form with the nonrefundable program fee.
- International applicant documents: Provide required transcripts and certified translations, a WES or ECE course-by-course evaluation, proof of funding, an Affidavit of Support and a passport photo-page copy; additional dependent documents apply where relevant.
- Technical standards: Candidates must be able to meet the program’s technical standards.
Selection Factors University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Anatomy and physiology | One semester each of human anatomy and human physiology, or a two-semester human anatomy and physiology sequence; 200 level or above Human courses preferred; mammalian or vertebrate courses may be accepted if human courses are unavailable. |
| Microbiology | One semester; 200 level or above At least two required biology courses must include a lab. |
| General or introductory chemistry | Two-semester sequence At least two required chemistry courses must include a lab. |
| Organic chemistry | One semester; 200 level or above An organic chemistry or biochemistry lab is encouraged. |
| Biochemistry | One semester; 300 level or above at a four-year institution Molecular or cellular biology at the 300 level or above is an alternative. |
| Precalculus or calculus | One semester College algebra and trigonometry may be accepted instead. |
| Statistics | One semester Biometry, biostatistics or research methods may substitute. |
| Psychology | One semester of general, introductory, developmental or abnormal psychology |
GPA
- How it is calculated
CASPA calculates cumulative and science GPAs on a 4-point scale from the CASPA record.
- Minimum
- 3.00 cumulative GPA and 3.00 science GPA
- Competitive
- The most recently reported matriculating class averaged 3.95 cumulative and 3.93 science GPA; these are class statistics, not admission cutoffs.
Applications below either minimum are not evaluated; admitted students typically exceed both minimums.
Admissions tests
- GRE (not required): Official GRE scores are not required.
- English proficiency (required for some applicants): Non-native English speakers must provide a recent qualifying TOEFL iBT, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo English Test score; see eligibility.languageProficiency.
Experience and volunteer hours
Required.
At least 500 hours of direct patient care, counted at application submission, are required for review. Qualifying experience involves direct medical responsibility for patients and may be paid, volunteer or clinical research work. PA shadowing is favorable but does not count toward the minimum.
Supplementary application
Submit CASPA program-specific narratives and recommendation information for three references, plus official transcripts and required application materials.
How applicants are ranked
Interview selection considers CASPA cumulative and science GPAs, Casper, nonacademic factors, qualifying employment with partner institutions or UWL, and specified UWL student or recent-graduate status. Offers also consider the written application and references, regional practice potential, PA knowledge, interpersonal skills, healthcare experience, academic rigor and GPAs.
Interview Format at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
An interview is required for admission. Interview format and dates for the next entry cohort have not been published.
- Who is invited
- Applicants selected using the program’s published interview-selection factors.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Physician Assistant
- Program length
- two-year
- Structure
Full-time, in-person; 12-month pre-clinical year followed by a 12-month clinical year.
- Campuses
- La Crosse
The 108-credit program includes 44 weeks of supervised clinical experiences. Clinical partners include Gundersen Medical Foundation, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences and Marshfield Clinic Health System.
Campus and facilities
The full-time, in-person program is based in La Crosse and works with regional clinical partners.
Tuition and Funding at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
- Special course fees: PAS 640 (didactic) and PAS 790 (clinical)
UWL publishes a detailed estimated program-cost breakdown on its Cost to attend & financial aid page. Consult that breakdown for tuition, fees and other attendance costs.
What Applicants Are Saying
Students report a focused learning environment emphasizing clinical readiness.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Physician Assistant Application
- Complete a bachelor’s degree and the required prerequisite courses before enrollment.
- Document at least 500 qualifying direct-patient-care hours by application submission.
- Plan for both 3.00 CASPA-calculated GPA minimums.
- Prepare program-specific narratives and request three references.
- Check UWL’s application page for newly published CASPA and Casper dates.
- Use Acuity Insights’ Casper practice test and prepare to discuss your healthcare experience at interview.
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Physician Assistant
Does University of Wisconsin-La Crosse PA Program require Casper?
Yes. Casper scores are required; Snapshot and Duet are not.
What is the minimum GPA for UW-La Crosse PA Program?
CASPA-calculated cumulative and science GPAs must each be at least 3.00.
How many direct patient care hours does UW-La Crosse PA require?
At least 500 qualifying hours by application submission; PA shadowing does not count.
What is the interview format at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse PA Program?
An interview is required for admission. The format and dates for the next entry cohort have not been published.
Is GRE required for UW-La Crosse Physician Assistant Program?
No. Official GRE scores are not required.
What are UW-La Crosse PA tuition costs?
UWL posts a detailed estimated program-cost breakdown on its Cost to attend & financial aid page.
Can international students apply to UW-La Crosse PA Program?
Yes. International applicants have additional transcript, evaluation, funding and passport requirements; non-native English speakers must provide qualifying English-proficiency results.
How competitive is UW-La Crosse Physician Assistant Program?
For the most recently reported matriculating class, UWL reports 718 CASPA applications, 90 interviews and 28 students admitted.
Sources
- UWL Physician Assistant Studies
- UWL Application process
- UWL Admission requirements
- UWL Selection criteria
- UWL Admission data
- UWL Timeline
- UWL Cost to attend & financial aid
Last updated: September 26, 2026