CU Anschutz's CHA/PA program awards the MPAS. Its full-time curriculum combines classroom learning, early clinical experience and a final year of rotations. Training spans the lifespan, with particular attention to pediatrics and underserved communities. Graduates pursue primary care and other specialties.
- Program
- Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant Program (CHA/PA)
- Credential
- Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
- Location
- Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Casper
- Required
- Interview
- Group interview
- Seats
- 44
- Length
- 35 months, full-time
Casper Requirement for University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Physician Assistant
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Physician Assistant requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.
- Test to book
- United States CASPer 2
- Applicant ID to enter
- CASPA ID
- Other Acuity assessments
- CASPer Snapshot (not required)
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
Scores are valid for one admissions cycle; CHA/PA reviews CASPer scores, not Snapshot. The last accepted test date for the closed cycle has passed.
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.
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University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Physician Assistant Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- CASPA plus the CHA/PA supplemental application
- Application fee
- $55 nonrefundable supplemental fee
| What | When |
|---|---|
| 2026-27 CASPA completion deadline | September 1, 2026passed |
| 2026-27 supplemental application, fee and other-materials deadline | September 1, 2026passed |
The 2026-27 cycle is closed. Submit CASPA first; supplemental-portal instructions arrive by email in 1-2 business days. Applicants with a CASPA fee waiver may qualify for a supplemental-fee waiver. CASPA had to be complete, not yet verified, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern; other materials were due by 11:59 p.m. Mountain. No later-cycle deadline is published.
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Physician Assistant Admissions Statistics
Period: Class starting summer 2026
- Seats / class size: 44
- Applicants: 1,901
- Admitted: 44
- Average GPA: 3.72 cumulative; 3.65 science
- Median shadowing hours: 74
- Median health-related hours: 192
- Median volunteer hours: 162
- Median patient hours: 2,112
Class figures are not admissions minima.
Eligibility Requirements for University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Physician Assistant
- Degree / credits
Accredited bachelor's degree completed before matriculation; all majors welcome.
- Residency
Colorado residency affects tuition; nonresidents may apply to establish residency for a later semester.
- Citizenship
International applicants and applicants with degrees earned outside the United States may apply under the published requirements.
- Language proficiency
TOEFL is required if English is not the applicant's native language or their degree was not taught in English.
Science prerequisites must be taken at a U.S. institution; Canadian science courses are evaluated individually. An accepted applicant with a foreign degree needs a WES evaluation showing at least U.S.-bachelor's equivalence.
Other requirements
- Technical standards: Applicants must meet the PA program's technical standards
- Criminal background investigation: Final acceptance depends on passing it
- Final transcripts and remaining prerequisites: Required for final acceptance and matriculation
- Acceptance deposit: A $1,000 nonrefundable tuition deposit accompanies acceptance
Selection Factors University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | Two courses; 7 semester or 12 quarter credits; one laboratory Must appear in the CASPA-verified application. Prerequisites need grades of C or higher; the pass/fail exception applies only to 2020 courses. Online courses and labs are accepted; AP and IB credit do not fulfill prerequisites. |
| Anatomy and physiology | Two courses; 6 semester or 8 quarter credits Must appear in the CASPA-verified application. Prerequisites need grades of C or higher; the pass/fail exception applies only to 2020 courses. Online courses and labs are accepted; AP and IB credit do not fulfill prerequisites. |
| Upper-division biology | Two courses; 6 semester or 8 quarter credits within five years of the deadline Must appear in the CASPA-verified application. Prerequisites need grades of C or higher; the pass/fail exception applies only to 2020 courses. Online courses and labs are accepted; AP and IB credit do not fulfill prerequisites. |
| Psychology | Two courses; 6 semester or 8 quarter credits May be completed before matriculation. Prerequisites need grades of C or higher; the pass/fail exception applies only to 2020 courses. Online courses and labs are accepted; AP and IB credit do not fulfill prerequisites. |
| Statistics | One course; 3 semester or 4 quarter credits May be completed before matriculation. Prerequisites need grades of C or higher; the pass/fail exception applies only to 2020 courses. Online courses and labs are accepted; AP and IB credit do not fulfill prerequisites. |
GPA
- How it is calculated
CASPA cumulative and science GPAs; repeated attempts both count, and CHA/PA does not recalculate them.
- Minimum
- 3.0 cumulative and 3.0 science on a 4.0 scale
- Competitive
- Higher overall and science GPAs receive preference; no competitive cutoff is published.
Admissions tests
- GRE (not required)
- PA-CAT (not required)
- TOEFL (required for some applicants): Required under the program's English-proficiency rule; minimum iBT 85 with at least 20 in each section, CBT 230, or PBT 570
Experience and volunteer hours
Recommended.
No medical-experience, patient-hour or shadowing minimum is required. Healthcare exposure, PA shadowing, community service and volunteering can strengthen an application; classify experiences under CASPA guidelines.
Supplementary application
Submit the online CHA/PA supplemental application, its fee, and three recommendation letters through CASPA. Applicants interested in the Rural Track may indicate that interest in the supplemental application. Additional mailed recommendations or portfolios are not considered.
How applicants are ranked
Competitive review considers prerequisites, academic record, essays, recommendations, interviews, experience and alignment with the program's mission. Offers are made on a rolling basis until the class is filled.
Interview Format at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Format: Group interview
On-campus mixed format: one 15-minute individual interview, one 25-minute group interview and one 25-minute group exercise.
- Who is invited
- Competitive applicants; admission requires an in-person interview.
- When
- Interview days occur in August, September and October. The published interview information says 36 applicants attend each of four days.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Physician Assistant
- Program length
- 35 months, full-time
- Structure
Two didactic years with integrated clinical experiences, followed by a third year of ten one-month clinical rotations.
- Campuses
- CU Anschutz Medical Campus
Clinical-presentation-based teaching emphasizes primary care across the lifespan, pediatrics and underserved populations; students may pursue specialized learning tracks.
Campus and facilities
The program and on-campus interviews are at CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Fitzsimons Building, 13001 East 17th Place, Aurora, Colorado.
Tuition and Funding at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
- 2026-27 annual resident tuition: $25,787
- 2026-27 annual nonresident tuition: $55,817
Published three-year cost estimates include tuition, fees and living expenses; tuition is set annually.
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus's Mission and Values
Educate socially conscious PAs to provide holistic care for diverse and underserved patients across the lifespan, emphasizing primary care and expanded pediatric training.
How to Prepare Your University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Physician Assistant Application
- Map every prerequisite and confirm which courses must appear in verified CASPA
- Check both CASPA GPAs against the 3.0 minima
- Arrange three recommenders and document relevant experiences
- Prepare CASPA before requesting supplemental-portal access
- Check the next published CASPer dates and use your CASPA ID
- Prepare for both individual and group in-person interviews
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Physician Assistant
Is Casper required?
Yes; United States CASPer 2 is required, but Snapshot is not reviewed.
Must CASPA be verified by the deadline?
No; it must be complete by the stated deadline, then verified for review.
Is healthcare experience required?
No minimum is required, but experience can strengthen an application.
Are GRE or PA-CAT scores needed?
Neither test is required.
What GPA is required?
At least 3.0 in both cumulative and science CASPA GPAs.
Can I finish prerequisites after applying?
Psychology and statistics may be finished before matriculation; the specified science courses must appear in verified CASPA.
Are interviews virtual?
No; the program requires an in-person interview.
Does the program train only pediatric PAs?
No; training covers patients across the lifespan with expanded pediatrics.
Sources
- CU Anschutz CHA/PA — How to Apply
- CU Anschutz CHA/PA — Prerequisites
- CU Anschutz CHA/PA — Admissions Process
- CU Anschutz CHA/PA — FAQ
- CU Anschutz CHA/PA — Interview Information
- CU Anschutz CHA/PA — Admissions Statistics
- CU Anschutz CHA/PA — Tuition, Financial Aid and Expenses
- CU Anschutz CHA/PA — Program Overview and Mission
Last updated: September 26, 2026