You submitted CASPA. 🎉
And then you finished that last prerequisite course.
Now you’re staring at your new grade wondering:
Do I update CASPA? Send the transcript to the PA program? Email admissions? Do…nothing?!
This is a super common situation for PA school applicants, especially if you applied while finishing spring or summer prerequisites.
Here’s exactly what to do next.
First: Yes, PA Schools Need to Know You Finished the Course
If you listed a prerequisite as in progress or planned on your CASPA application, your programs already know you hadn’t completed it when you submitted.
That’s okay—as long as the individual PA program allows prerequisites to be outstanding at the time of application.
Once you finish the course, however, you’ll want to make sure your updated information gets where it needs to go.
And this is where things get confusing:
Updating CASPA and updating an individual PA program aren’t necessarily the same thing.
Step 1: Check the PA Program’s Prerequisite Policy
Before doing anything else, check the admissions page for each PA program where you applied.
Programs can have very different rules.
One program may require all prerequisites to be completed before you apply.
Another may allow one or two outstanding prerequisites as long as they’re completed by a specific deadline.
Another may ask you to send updated coursework directly to its admissions office.
Look specifically for language about:
- Outstanding prerequisites
- In-progress coursework
- Updated transcripts
- Application updates
- Prerequisite completion deadlines
Do not assume every PA program handles updates the same way.
Step 2: Update CASPA With Your Final Grade
Once your course is complete, you can go back into your CASPA application and update the course with your final grade, even if you’ve already submitted your application.
But here’s the important part:
CASPA will not recalculate your GPAs after your application has already been submitted and verified simply because you entered a new grade.
Your updated grade can still be added to your application so programs can see that the course is complete, but don’t expect your CASPA-calculated GPA to automatically change.
👉 This is also why it can be important to make sure your individual PA programs know you’ve completed the prerequisite—especially if it was required for admission.
Step 3: Don’t Assume the PA Program Will Notice
This is the step applicants often miss.
Even if you’ve completed the appropriate CASPA update, check whether your individual PA programs want to be notified separately.
If the program accepts application updates, a brief email can be appropriate:
Subject: Application Update – Prerequisite Completed
Hi [Program/Admissions Team],
I recently completed my [Course Name] prerequisite, which was listed as in progress on my CASPA application. I earned a [Grade] in the course and have completed the appropriate CASPA academic update/transcript process.
I wanted to make sure your admissions team was aware that this prerequisite is now complete.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my application!
Best,
[Your Name]
CASPA ID: [ID]
Short. Professional. Done. 🙌
But: if the program specifically says not to email application updates, follow its instructions instead.
Step 4: If You Earned a Great Grade, This Can Be GOOD News
Let’s say you applied with Organic Chemistry still in progress.
Then you finish with an A.
That’s an application update you’re probably pretty excited for a program to see. 🎉
It can be especially meaningful if the new grade:
- Completes an important prerequisite
- Strengthens a recent upward academic trend
- Adds another strong science grade
- Addresses a previous academic weakness
- Makes you eligible for a program that required the course to be completed by a later deadline
One new grade won’t completely transform an application, but it can add another positive data point to your academic story.
What If You Got a C?
Don’t panic.
First, check the program’s minimum prerequisite grade requirement.
Some PA programs accept a C in prerequisite coursework. Others require a C+ or B. Requirements vary significantly by program.
If your grade falls below a program’s minimum requirement, that’s a different situation—and one you need to address quickly.
Check the program’s published policy and contact admissions if clarification is needed.
The Biggest Mistake to Avoid
Finishing the prerequisite…
…and assuming everyone automatically knows.
Your responsibility as an applicant is to understand both:
- CASPA’s current academic update process, and
- Each PA program’s individual requirements.
When in doubt, go directly to the program’s admissions instructions rather than relying on what another applicant did last cycle.
Because when it comes to PA school admissions, program-specific requirements always win.
Already Submitted? Now Make Sure the Rest of Your Application Is Working FOR You
Hitting submit doesn’t mean your PA school application strategy is over.
School selection, application timing, supplemental applications, interview preparation, and knowing when to communicate with programs can all matter as you move through the cycle.
Inside Application to Acceptance, we walk you step-by-step through the PA school application process so you’re not spending the next several months wondering:
“Wait…was I supposed to do something here?” 😅
You’ve submitted the application.
Now let’s turn it into interviews—and ultimately, that PA school acceptance. 🥼🎉