CAA PROGRAM GUIDE
CAA Programs & Admissions Requirements: 2026-2027 Guide
Choosing where to apply to CAA school involves more than finding a list of programs. Prerequisites, entrance exams, shadowing expectations, application deadlines, supplemental requirements, and admissions policies can differ significantly from one program to another.
This guide is designed to help prospective Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant applicants understand the current CAA program landscape and the major requirements to compare before building a school list.
Requirements can change from one application cycle to the next. Always confirm final requirements directly with each program before applying.
CAA Programs in the United States
The CAA profession continues to expand, with established programs, additional campuses, and newer programs at various stages of accreditation. Some universities operate multiple CAA campuses under the same institution, while others have a single program location.
The list below includes the current and announced campus locations in the 2026–2027 CAA program landscape. Applicants should verify each location's current accreditation and admissions status through CAAHEP and the individual program.
| Institution | Campus Location(s) |
|---|---|
| Bluefield University / VCOM | Auburn, AL; Spartanburg, SC; Blacksburg, VA* |
| Burrell College of Health Sciences | Melbourne, FL* |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH; Houston, TX; Washington, DC; Austin, TX |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA |
| Indiana University School of Medicine | Indianapolis, IN |
| Kansas City University | Joplin, MO |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, TN* |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | Milwaukee, WI |
| Northeast Ohio Medical University | Rootstown, OH |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa Bay/Clearwater, FL; Denver, CO; Henderson, NV |
| Ohio Dominican University | Columbus, OH |
| Saint Louis University | St. Louis, MO |
| South University | Savannah, GA; Orlando, FL; West Palm Beach/Royal Palm Beach, FL |
| University of Colorado Anschutz | Aurora, CO |
| University of Missouri–Kansas City | Kansas City, MO |
| University of New Mexico | Albuquerque, NM |
| UTHealth Houston | Houston, TX |
| University of Mary Hardin–Baylor | Belton, TX |
*New, announced, or accreditation-seeking locations may not have the same status as established accredited campuses. Always verify current status using the CAAHEP accredited-program directory before making application decisions.
What are Common Requirements for CAA School?
There is no single universal prerequisite list for every CAA program. Most programs share a strong premedical science foundation, but individual schools differ in course requirements, testing policies, shadowing expectations, minimum grades, course-age limits, and other admissions criteria.
Applicants should evaluate every program individually rather than assuming that meeting the requirements for one CAA school automatically makes them eligible for another.
| Requirement Area | Common Expectation |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is generally required before matriculation. |
| Biology | Commonly two semesters with laboratory. |
| General Chemistry | Commonly two semesters with laboratory. |
| Organic Chemistry | One or more semesters may be required depending on the program. |
| Biochemistry | Required or accepted by many CAA programs. |
| Physics | Commonly two semesters with laboratory. |
| Mathematics | Calculus is commonly required, although exact mathematics requirements vary by program. |
| Anatomy & Physiology | Required by some programs and recommended or accepted by others. |
| Statistics | Required or recommended by some programs. |
| GRE / MCAT | Testing requirements vary by program. Some programs accept the GRE, MCAT, or either, while policies may change between application cycles. |
| Anesthesia Exposure | Shadowing requirements vary significantly. Some programs require documented anesthesia exposure, while others strongly recommend it. |
| Healthcare Experience | Clinical or patient-care experience can strengthen an application, but it is not universally required by every CAA program. |
The ASA describes the general AA admissions foundation as a bachelor's degree plus premedical science coursework, including biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, while university pre-health advising pages emphasize that exact prerequisite combinations vary by school.
The key takeaway: check requirements program by program.
A course that satisfies one school's prerequisite may not necessarily satisfy another school's requirement. Programs can also differ in whether they accept AP credit, online coursework, older science courses, particular physics sequences, or specific combinations of organic chemistry and biochemistry.
Do All CAA Programs Use CASAA?
Many CAA programs use the Centralized Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants (CASAA), which allows applicants to submit one centralized application to multiple participating programs.
However, CASAA participation does not mean every program has identical requirements. Schools establish their own deadlines and may require additional materials, supplemental questions, testing, documentation, or program-specific requirements. Some CAA programs may also handle part or all of their application process outside CASAA.
Applicants should review both the general CASAA requirements and the individual Program Materials for every school on their list.
How to Compare CAA Programs Before You Apply
Location matters, but it should not be the only factor used to build a CAA school list. A better comparison starts with eligibility and then looks at the characteristics that could materially affect your application and training.
| Compare | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Accreditation Status | Confirm the program's current accreditation or accreditation-seeking status before making application decisions. |
| Prerequisite Coursework | Course requirements vary between programs and determine whether you are academically eligible to apply. |
| GRE or MCAT Policy | Programs differ in whether they require or accept the GRE, MCAT, either exam, or have other testing policies. |
| GPA Requirements | A published minimum GPA establishes eligibility, but it may be different from the academic profile of a competitive applicant. |
| Shadowing Requirements | CAA programs vary in how much anesthesia exposure they require or recommend and whether documentation is needed. |
| Healthcare Experience | Some programs place greater emphasis on clinical or direct patient-care experience, even when it is not a formal requirement. |
| Application Deadline | Deadlines vary by program, and some schools may use rolling admissions or begin reviewing applications before the final deadline. |
| Supplemental Requirements | Programs may require additional essays, Casper, literature assignments, shadowing forms, secondary applications, or other materials. |
| Program Length | CAA programs generally last about two to a little over two years, but exact program length varies by institution. |
| Location & Clinical Training | Consider where you will live, the clinical sites available to students, and whether rotations may require travel or relocation. |
| Tuition & Total Cost | Compare the total estimated cost of attendance, not just tuition, including fees, housing, travel, insurance, and other expenses. |
| Mission & Applicant Priorities | Some programs publicly emphasize qualities such as regional ties, service, leadership, healthcare experience, professionalism, or alignment with their institutional mission. |
If standardized testing will affect your school list, review the CAA GRE & MCAT Requirements Guide for current exam policies, score guidance, and test-validity rules.
AAAA currently describes CAA educational programs as approximately 24–28 months, although applicants should verify the exact length with each school.
Minimum Requirements Are Not the Same as a Competitive Application
Meeting a program's published minimum requirements means you may be eligible to apply. It does not necessarily mean your application is competitive.
Admissions committees may consider academic performance, science preparation, anesthesia exposure, healthcare experience, leadership, service, recommendations, communication skills, professionalism, understanding of the CAA profession, and interview performance alongside the basic eligibility requirements.
The relative importance of those factors differs among programs, which is why applicants should avoid treating CAA admissions as a single universal checklist.
Organize Your CAA Application
Comparing programs is easier when all of your application information is organized in one place. The free CAA Application Starter Kit includes a Program Comparison Worksheet along with an application readiness scorecard, timeline, pre-submission checklist, personal statement self-check, interview readiness checklist, and final application review.