Pre-PA advising and PA school admissions.
Guidance from practicing physician assistants, side by side with our physicians, from your first patient care hours to your white coat.
Pathways / Pre-PA
How PA school admissions works.
The application
Most PA programs use CASPA, the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants. It opens each spring, and many programs review on a rolling basis, so applying early matters.
Hands-on patient care
Patient care experience is central to PA admissions. Requirements range from a few hundred to 2,000 or more hours, and most programs want time shadowing PAs.
Tests
Some programs require the GRE or the PA‑CAT, some use CASPer, and many require neither. We map exactly what each program on your list needs.
Interviews
Expect one-on-one, MMI, and group interviews, sometimes all on the same day.
Requirements, tests, and dates vary by program and change from cycle to cycle. We confirm current requirements for every program on your list.
Everything we help with.
Academics
- Prerequisite planning, including anatomy, physiology, and microbiology
- GPA strategy and grade repair
- Tutoring for any course
- Study systems and time management
Patient care hours
- Choosing the right PCE roles: CNA, EMT, medical assistant, scribe, and more
- Certification planning
- Shadowing PAs across specialties
- Tracking hours the way CASPA asks
Tests
- Which programs need the GRE, PA‑CAT, or CASPer
- Study plans and tutoring
- Retake strategy
Your story
- Why PA, not MD or NP
- Personal statement coaching
- Experience descriptions
- Letters of recommendation strategy
Applications
- Program list strategy
- CASPA primary application
- Program supplementals
- Timelines and rolling admissions
Interviews & decisions
- Mock interviews with a PA
- MMI and group interview practice
- Waitlist strategy
- Choosing a program
Need something that isn't listed? Ask. If we don't do it ourselves, we'll help you find someone who does.
Led by people who do this work.
Your Pre-PA plan is led by practicing physician assistants who know CASPA, patient care hours, and PA interviews firsthand, working side by side with our physicians. You get one lead advisor who knows your whole file and a team that checks in, celebrates the wins, and steps in fast when something goes sideways.
We work with you online everywhere in the U.S., and in person in Utah and Idaho. Programs in our region include the University of Utah, Rocky Mountain University in Provo, and Idaho State University. We'll help you weigh them against programs nationwide.
Specialist profiles coming soon.
Pre-PA packages at a glance.
Basecamp
$2,450
or $613/mo × 4, interest‑free
Strategy, program list, your CASPA application, personal statement, and one mock interview.
Ridge
$4,450
or $1,113/mo × 4, interest‑free
Adds supplementals for up to 8 programs, 3 mock interviews, CASPer and group interview prep, and waitlist strategy.
Summit
$6,450
or $1,613/mo × 4, interest‑free
Unlimited supplementals and mock interviews, weekly check-ins, and 10 hours of GRE or PA‑CAT tutoring.
Packages, side by side.
Each level builds on the one before it.
Swipe sideways to compare all three packages.
| Basecamp$2,450or $613/mo × 4one application cycle | Ridge$4,450or $1,113/mo × 4one application cycle | Summit$6,450or $1,613/mo × 4one application cycle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free strategy session and in-depth diagnostic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Program list strategy | Up to 10 programs | Up to 20 programs | Unlimited |
| CASPA application | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Personal statement coaching, in your own words | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Patient care, healthcare, and shadowing hours | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Letters of recommendation strategy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Program supplementals and essays | — | Up to 8 programs | Unlimited |
| Mock interviews with a PA | 1 | 3 | Unlimited |
| CASPer and interview format prep (MMI, group, and one-on-one) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| GRE or PA‑CAT tutoring, if your programs require one | — | Study plan | 10 hours |
| Update letters, waitlist, and offer strategy | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Check-ins, in person or by video | Monthly | Every 2 weeks | Weekly |
| Message channel and Ascent Rewards | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ priority |
| Get started | Get started | Get started |
Monthly amounts are 4 interest-free payments, rounded to the nearest dollar; your total always equals the package price. "Unlimited" means as many as you need during your application cycle. Save 5% when you pay in full; longer monthly plans are available through PayPal Pay Later, subject to PayPal's approval.
Programs & memberships.
- The Ascent JourneyYear-round Pre-PA membership before you apply: roadmap, course reviews, experience planning, and regular check-ins$1,650/yr or $155/mo
- Strategy ResetFor reapplicants: full review of your past application, a rebuilt plan, and full support for your next cycle$3,950
- PA Interview IntensiveThree mock interviews with a PA, covering one-on-one, MMI, and group formats, with written feedback$495
Single services.
Pay only for what you need. Anything you spend on single services counts toward a package if you upgrade within 60 days.
See all 15 single services and prices
- Free strategy session20 minutes, in person or by video$0
- In-depth diagnosticFull review, 90-minute session, written strategy$350
- One-on-one advising sessionFor questions outside a package$175/hr
- Mock interview with a PAWith written feedback$195 · 3 for $525
- Personal statement coachingFrom first idea to final draft, with unlimited revisions through submission (one cycle)$850
- Experience section reviewPatient care, healthcare, and shadowing hours$595
- Supplemental essay coaching$250 per program · 5 for $1,050
- Program list strategy$395
- Experience plan and outreachA personal experience plan, plus help reaching out and applying$295
- Update letter or letter of intent$250
- Reapplicant review$450
- CASPer prep$295
- GRE or PA‑CAT tutoringOne-on-one$125/hr · 10 hrs $1,150
- Academic tutoringAny course, science or non-science, in person or online$75/hr
- Advanced science tutoringOrganic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and upper-level sciences$95/hr
Special situations are our specialty.
- Students still building patient care hours
- Career changers coming from other healthcare roles
- Reapplicants
- Low GPA or prerequisite gaps
- Students deciding between PA and medicine
Can't afford this? Apply for a scholarship.
Need-based Ascent Access Scholarships apply to every pathway, from partial discounts to fully covered packages. Learn about financial aid
Pre-PA questions.
How many patient care hours do I need?
It depends on the program. Some ask for a few hundred hours, and others look for 2,000 or more. We build your hours plan around the programs that fit you, and help you choose roles that give you real hands-on patient care.
Do I need the GRE for PA school?
Not always. Some programs require the GRE or the PA‑CAT, and many require neither. We check every program on your list.
Should I apply to PA school or medical school?
Both are great careers with different training, cost, and day-to-day work. Our PAs and physicians help you compare them honestly, and if you switch paths, your plan adapts.
Will you write my personal statement?
No. Every word you submit is your own. We coach, question, structure, and edit, and we never write your essays. Application services ask you to certify that your essays are your own work, and we take that seriously.
Do you guarantee admission?
No. No one can ethically guarantee admission. What we guarantee is a real plan, honest advice, and our full effort.
What if I switch paths?
You stay with us and your plan adapts. Many students move between medicine and other health professions, and we guide every pathway.
What is your refund policy?
For application packages, programs, and memberships, you can request a refund within 14 days of enrolling. We refund what you've paid, minus the value of services already delivered at our single-service prices, and your free strategy session never counts against you. Single services are fully refundable before work begins. Monthly memberships can be canceled anytime before the next billing date. After 14 days, payments are non-refundable, but we'll always work with you to pause or adjust your plan.
More answers in our FAQ. Other pathways: Pre-Med Pre-Dental Pre-Vet Pre-PT Pre-OT Pre-Pharmacy Nursing Pre-Optometry
Start with a free strategy session.
In 20 minutes, you'll leave with a clearer picture of your path, whether or not you work with us.
Book your free strategy session