title: Central Application Service for Physician Assistants Ten-Year Data Report, 2002 to 2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study highlights the trends and data points of interest in physician assistant (PA) applicant data over the first 10 years of the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) (2002-2011) and PA matriculant data over the last 5 years of that 10-year period (2007-2011).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of data provided by applicants to all CASPA-participating PA programs between 2002 and 2011 was conducted. Applicant data analyzed over the 10-year period were provided by applicants and collected through an online CASPA applicant portal. Academic information was verified by CASPA staff through official transcript review. Matriculant data were obtained from CASPA-participating programs through the online CASPA admissions portal, which linked to applicant data in the CASPA applicant portal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the first 10 years of the CASPA service, the Physician Assistant Education Association experienced a 93% increase in the number of CASPA-participating programs and a 255% increase in the number of unique applicants identified through CASPA. Relatively constant trends were identified in the major demographic features (age, gender, ethnic composition, and disadvantaged status) and the academic data of applicants. Major demographic features of matriculants (2007-2011) also remained relatively constant, whereas trends in academic data of matriculants revealed an increasing total grade point average.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This 10-year comprehensive analysis of the CASPA data will benefit the profession by establishing a baseline of applicant characteristics. Ultimately, these data will help redefine recruitment strategies at program, state, and national levels by providing programs and national organizations with data needed to target applicants not previously included in recruitment activities.
authors.affiliation: M. Jane McDaniel, MS, MLS(ASCP)SC, is director of admissions and an assistant professor for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC. Carol A. Hildebrandt, BA, is academic coordinator, Research and Scholarship and Curriculum and Student Evaluation, for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC. Gregory B. Russell, MS, is senior biostatistician and associate director of the design and analysis unit in the Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors.forename: M Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McDaniel
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: Gregory B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000639:trends*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000639:trends*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States