Everything you need to know about the CAA Readiness Index
The CAA Readiness Index (CRI) is a proprietary score that estimates your competitiveness for Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) programs based on your academic performance. It combines your cumulative GPA, science GPA, and standardized test score (MCAT or GRE) to provide a single numerical score and percentile ranking compared to other applicants in our dataset of accepted students.
No, the CRI is NOT an official admissions assessment. It is an independent educational tool created to help prospective students understand their academic competitiveness. CAA programs do not use the CRI score in their admissions decisions.
The CRI is based on analysis of historical applicant data and serves as a guide for self-assessment and goal-setting. Always consult directly with individual CAA programs for their specific admissions criteria and expectations.
The CRI uses an empirical z-score ranking system that compares your three academic metrics (cumulative GPA, science GPA, and test score) directly against applicants in our dataset. Each metric is converted to a z-score based on the population mean and standard deviation, then weighted equally (33.3% each) to create a composite score. Test scores are first converted to their percentile within their respective test pool (MCAT or GRE) before being converted to a z-score, ensuring fair comparison across both test types. Your composite z-score is then ranked against all applicants in the dataset to determine your percentile, which becomes your final CRI score (0–100).
The core CRI Score Calculator is free for all users — no payment required. Free accounts can calculate their CRI score, view results with basic distribution charts, save one result, use the Discord Post Generator, and participate in the Personal Statement Swapper for anonymous peer feedback.
We also offer a Premium plan ($9.99/month) that unlocks additional features including live analytics, program analytics, program-level comparisons, the Program Matcher, advanced trend analytics, the ability to save up to 3 results, and early access to new features.
Yes, a free account is required to use the CRI Calculator and access your results. Creating an account lets you save your CRI results, access them from any device, and use features like the Discord Post Generator and Program Matcher (Premium).
You can sign up with your email address in seconds. Your account data is securely stored and you can delete your account at any time from the Account Settings page.
To calculate your CRI score, you'll need:
Yes! You can enter practice test scores or target scores to see what CRI score you might achieve. This is helpful for goal-setting and understanding what test score you should aim for given your current GPAs. Just remember that the result is an estimate until you have your official test score.
Both MCAT and GRE are accepted by most CAA programs. The choice depends on several factors:
Check with your target programs to see if they have a preference. Our calculator treats both fairly in the CRI calculation.
When you use the CRI Calculator, your results are stored securely in your account on our servers (hosted via Supabase). This allows you to access your saved results from any device.
We do not sell or share your individual data. For full details, see our Privacy Policy and Data Usage Policy.
CRI scores range from 0–100. Here's a general interpretation:
Remember that admissions decisions consider many factors beyond academics, including clinical experience, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and interviews.
Percentiles show how you compare to other applicants in our database. For example:
The "Where You Stand" distribution charts on your results page show density curves for each metric (cGPA, sGPA, test score, and CRI score). Your position is marked on each curve so you can visually see where you fall relative to the applicant pool.
Free users see basic distribution charts. Premium users get access to advanced charts including interactive live analytics, trend lines, school admissions histograms, and score range breakdowns.
Don't be discouraged! Here are some strategies:
The CRI score is based on statistical analysis of hundreds of accepted applicant profiles and has strong correlation with admission outcomes for academic metrics. However, it cannot predict with certainty whether you'll be accepted because it only considers quantitative academic factors. Programs also evaluate clinical experience, personal qualities, and other non-quantifiable aspects.
Premium ($9.99/month) unlocks the full CRI experience:
The PS Swapper is a free peer-review tool that anonymously matches you with other applicants to exchange personal statement feedback. You can participate in three ways:
You can configure your participation mode and daily limits from your Account Settings. Matching is anonymous, and your personal statement is shared only with your matched reviewer.
The Program Matcher is a Premium feature that compares your academic profile (cGPA, sGPA, and test score) against historical data for individual CAA programs. It shows you which programs are a strong match, moderate match, or reach based on your stats, helping you build a strategic application list.
The Discord Post Generator creates a formatted post summarizing your application profile for sharing in CAA Discord communities. It includes your stats, experiences, and any custom details you add — giving you a quick way to get feedback from the community.
Yes. You can cancel at any time from the Account Settings page using the "Manage Subscription" button, which takes you to the Stripe billing portal. After cancellation, you retain access through the end of your current billing period. For details on refunds, see our Refund Policy.
After calculating your CRI score, click the "Save Result" button on the results page. Free users can save 1 result; Premium users can save up to 3. Saved results are accessible from the Saved Results page and can be loaded into the Program Matcher (Premium) or used to generate Discord posts.
Yes. Go to Account Settings and use the Account Deletion section at the bottom of the page. Deleting your account permanently removes all your data, including saved results and profile information. This action cannot be undone.
We take data security seriously. Your account is managed through Supabase with encrypted authentication, and payment processing is handled securely by Stripe — we never see or store your payment card details.
For full details, see our Privacy Policy and Data Usage Policy.
A Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) is a highly trained healthcare professional who works under the direction of a licensed anesthesiologist to develop and implement anesthesia care plans. CAAs are master's-level clinicians who help prepare patients for anesthesia, monitor patients during procedures, and provide post-anesthesia care.
As of 2026, there are 28 accredited CAA programs in the United States. These programs are typically 24–28 months in length and lead to a Master of Science degree. Competition for admission is strong, with programs receiving many more applications than available seats.
While requirements vary by program, most CAA programs require:
Yes! The CAA Readiness Index website is fully responsive and works on desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones. For charts and graphs, rotating to landscape mode on mobile gives the best viewing experience.
Our applicant dataset updates automatically as new accepted applicants contribute their stats. The backend detects changes to the data file and reloads in real time, so analytics and CRI calculations always reflect the latest data.
We appreciate your feedback! You can reach us through Discord (@criscore.org), email (criscore.org@gmail.com), or our feedback form. We actively monitor these channels and respond at our earliest convenience.