Applying · Guide

When to apply to PA school

By The Prereq Club, a pre-PA student and her mom (not PAs or admissions advisers). Every figure below names its source and the month we checked it: October 2026.

Short answer

Apply early in the cycle, and work back from each program's deadline type. The 2026–27 CASPA cycle opened April 30, 2026, and the last day to submit is April 1, 2027, but each program sets its own deadline. CASPA says programs review applications and fill seats throughout the cycle, so some may fill before their deadline, and some deadlines require your application to be verified, which takes extra time.

Key dates, 2026–27 cycle

DateWhat happens
April 30, 2026CASPA opens
Each program's deadlineVaries; programs choose from 10 deadline dates
April 1, 2027, 11:59 p.m. ETLast day to create an account, submit, or request evaluations
April 9, 2027, 5 p.m. ETLast day to be verified; the cycle closes

Source: CASPA's cycle dates. A program's deadline can be earlier than the cycle dates.

Applying this cycle? November 1 and December 1 are two of CASPA's deadline options. If a program on your list has a green (verified) December 1 deadline, CASPA's four-week guidance means your application should be complete now.

The three deadline types

ColorWhat must be done by the deadline
Blue: submittedYou've clicked Submit and finished payment (or used an approved fee waiver). Transcripts and letters can arrive later.
Orange: completeSubmitted, plus payment, all transcripts and at least two evaluations received by CASPA (and your coursework approved, if you used CASPA's Professional Transcript Entry service). Some programs require more letters.
Green: verifiedComplete, and CASPA has finished verifying your coursework and calculating your GPAs.

How long each step can take

  • Transcripts: up to five business days to post after CASPA receives them (CASPA's 2026–27 applicant guide).
  • Verification: once your application is complete, CASPA's help center says it can take up to 10 business days, but its 2026–27 applicant guide says verification may take up to four weeks and asks you to submit at least four weeks before your earliest deadline. FIU says verification can take up to 30 days.
  • Fee waivers: you can't submit while a fee waiver request is pending, and an approved waiver must be used within 21 days. The 2026–27 waivers were gone by September 2026.
  • Letters: your evaluators send them on their own schedule, so ask early.

Working back from a deadline

CASPA's suggested timeline, counting back from your earliest deadline:

  1. Before you start: research programs' deadlines and requirements, ask your schools for copies of your transcripts, contact your evaluators and start your personal statement.
  2. At least 3 months before: create your CASPA account and complete the Colleges Attended and Evaluations sections (this sends your evaluators their requests).
  3. At least 10 to 12 weeks before: have official transcripts sent to CASPA and start entering your coursework.
  4. At least 6 to 8 weeks before: submit and complete your application, and watch for missing transcripts or letters.
  5. At least 4 to 6 weeks before: keep monitoring until your status is Verified.

Program examples: the University of Maryland Baltimore required a complete application by September 1, 2026 (that deadline has passed), and strongly recommended submitting by July 1 so the application would be verified in time. FIU requires a verified application by January 15, 2027, and says it reviews applications continuously until the class is filled.

Why earlier is usually better

CASPA notes that programs review applications and fill seats throughout the cycle and may not tell CASPA when a class is full. Applying early only helps if your application is ready, though: a rushed personal statement or a missing prerequisite can cost more than a few weeks. See how many programs to apply to and how much CASPA costs.

Related guides

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Quick answers

When should I submit my CASPA application?

Early in the cycle, once your application is ready, and well before each program's deadline. CASPA suggests submitting and completing your application at least 6 to 8 weeks before a deadline. The 2026–27 cycle opened April 30, 2026, and CASPA says programs review applications and fill seats throughout the cycle.

What do blue, orange and green CASPA deadlines mean?

Blue means your application must be submitted and paid for (or covered by a fee waiver) by the deadline. Orange means it must be complete: submitted, paid, with all transcripts and at least two evaluations received by CASPA. Green means it must be verified, with CASPA's coursework check and GPA calculations finished.

How long does CASPA verification take?

CASPA's help center says verification can take up to 10 business days once your application is complete, but its 2026–27 applicant guide says it may take up to four weeks and asks applicants to submit at least four weeks before their earliest deadline. Transcripts can take up to five business days to post. FIU says verification can take up to 30 days.

Sources (all opened October 2026)

Rules can change from one cycle to the next. Before you count on any of this, check each program's own admissions page or email the program. This guide is educational only and isn't admissions advice.