While the GRE had been commonly required for PA programs, this is no longer the case.  Some programs, including both of those in the state of Washington, require no standardized testing as part of the application process. A few still require the GRE, while others require the PA-CAT.  Some schools will accept either but may have a preference for the PA-CAT.  Please be sure to check the standardized testing requirements to any programs for which you apply.

Graduate Record Examination

The GRE is usually administered electronically but may be taken on paper depending on location and testing date.  It consists of the following sections:

  • Verbal Reasoning — Measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it, analyze relationships among component parts of sentences and recognize relationships among words and concepts.
  • Quantitative Reasoning — Measures problem-solving ability, focusing on basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.
  • Analytical Writing — Measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills, specifically your ability to articulate and support complex ideas clearly and effectively.

The GRE is scored on a 130-170 scale, in one-point increments, for the first two sections (i.e., Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning). The Analytical Writing portion is scored on a scale of 1-6, in half-point increments.

To find out where you can take the exam, additional detail on the structure, and what preparation you need to succeed, information can be found at http://www.ets.org/gre/.

Physician Assistant College Admission Test

The Physician Assistant College Admission Test (PA-CAT) is a 240-item test covering 9 science subject areas.  It takes 4.5-hours to complete.

Covered Subjects:

  • Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • General Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • General and Organic Chemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Genetics
  • Statistics

The PA-CAT Exam is relatively new.  Some schools require it, others will accept either the GRE or the PA-CAT Exam, and some still require the GRE.  We recommend you carefully check the exam requirement for all of the schools to which you are applying.