Central Application Service for Physician Assistants Ten-Year Data Report, 2002 to 2011

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Workforce Analysis

Background:

• The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) has served as a primary application portal since 2002.
• Understanding applicant and matriculant trends is crucial for the PA profession's growth and strategic planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in Physician Assistant (PA) applicant data from CASPA between 2002 and 2011.
• To examine PA matriculant data from 2007 to 2011 to identify demographic and academic patterns.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of applicant data submitted to CASPA between 2002 and 2011.
• Verification of academic information by CASPA staff through official transcript review.
• Collection of matriculant data from CASPA-participating programs via the admissions portal.

Main Results:

• A 93% increase in CASPA-participating programs and a 255% increase in unique applicants were observed from 2002 to 2011.
• Applicant demographics (age, gender, ethnicity) and academic data remained relatively stable.
• Matriculant demographics were also constant, but their average total grade point average showed an increasing trend.

Conclusions:

• This 10-year analysis provides a foundational understanding of PA applicant characteristics.
• The data can inform and redefine recruitment strategies at program, state, and national levels.
• Identifying and targeting previously unreached applicant pools can enhance diversity and access within the PA profession.