Common questions. What the score means, where the data comes from, and what we do with yours.

The CAA Readiness Index is a free tool that shows you how your grades and test score compare to students who got into CAA programs. Those students shared their own numbers with us, going back several years of application cycles.

What the tool gives you is your CRI score, a number from 0 to 100 built from three of your numbers: your cumulative GPA, your science GPA, and your MCAT or GRE score.

No. The CRI is our own tool, and CAA programs do not see it or use it when they make decisions. We built it from past applicant data so you can check where you stand and set goals.

We take each of your numbers and work out how far above or below average it is, compared to accepted students. Your two GPAs get averaged into one grade number. That grade number is then averaged against your test number, so grades and test each count for half. Finally we see what percent of accepted students you scored above. That percent is your CRI score.

Each number is only ever compared against its own group. Your MCAT is compared to accepted students who took the MCAT, and your GRE to those who took the GRE, so the two scoring scales never get mixed up.

In statistical terms, that is empirical z-score ranking with a 50/50 GPA-to-test weighting. Our methodology page has the formulas and explains why we chose that weighting.

Yes. Free accounts include unlimited CRI calculations, one saved CRI result at a time, core program resources, collaboration resources, and previews of CRI Plus tools.

CRI Plus is an optional paid subscription with full analytics, unlimited saved scenarios, comparisons, and advanced planning tools. See the Pricing page for the current plan details.

For the CRI Calculator, yes. A free account is required to run it and to access your results. You can manage your profile, email preferences, billing, and account deletion from Account Settings.

The CASAA GPA Calculator is the exception. It is open to anyone, signed in or not.

To calculate your CRI score you need:

• Cumulative GPA: overall undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Science GPA: science courses on a 4.0 scale
• Test Type: MCAT or GRE
• Test Score: MCAT (472–528) or GRE (260–340)

Yes. You can enter practice or target scores to see what CRI score you might achieve. This is helpful for goal-setting. The result is an estimate until you have your official score.

Use the test you have taken or realistically plan to submit. Acceptance rules and preferences vary by program and can change, so verify them on each target program's official website. CRI compares each test against the appropriate accepted-applicant pool rather than treating the raw MCAT and GRE scales as equivalent.

CASAA recalculates your GPA itself rather than taking the one printed on your transcript. Each grade becomes a value on a 4.0 scale, that value is multiplied by the course credits to give quality points, and your GPA is the total quality points divided by the total credits.

Three rules trip people up. Quarter hours are converted to semester hours (one quarter hour counts as 0.667 of a semester hour). Non-graded credit is left out entirely, which covers pass or fail courses, AP credit, and credit by exam. And your school's grade forgiveness or academic renewal policy does not carry over, so every attempt at a repeated course still counts.

Our CASAA GPA Calculator applies those rules for you and splits the result out by school, term, and subject category. It is free, needs no account, and the coursework you type stays in your browser. CRI Plus members can skip the typing by uploading a transcript for us to read.

Account, saved-result, tracker, and planning data are primarily stored through Supabase. Stripe handles payment-card information for CRI Plus. We do not sell personal information or publish your email or account ID in community analytics. See our Privacy Policy and Data Usage Policy for the full data flow.

There is no “good” or “bad” score. Everyone in our data got accepted and enrolled, so every score on the scale belongs to someone who made it in. A low score is not a failing grade.

A score of 50 puts you right in the middle of admitted students. Use the Program Matcher to find schools whose admitted students had numbers closest to yours. And remember that programs also weigh your clinical experience, personal statement, interview, and letters of recommendation.

Percentiles show how you compare to other applicants in our database:

• 80th percentile: higher than 80% of applicants
• 50th percentile: at the median
• 25th percentile: higher than 25% of applicants

A few strategies:

• Improve your test score: consider retaking with more preparation
• Post-bacc coursework: additional science courses can boost your sGPA
• Strengthen other areas: clinical experience, shadowing, volunteering
• Apply strategically: target programs at varying competitiveness levels

It is accurate at the one thing it does: comparing your grades and test score to those of students who got in. It is not a prediction of whether you will be accepted, and it was never built to be one.

It cannot see your clinical experience, your essays, your letters of recommendation, your interview, or how any single program reviews applications. It also depends on students reporting their numbers correctly. Use it as one input into your planning, not as a forecast.

Free accounts include:

• Unlimited CRI calculations and one saved result at a time
• Application Tracker, to log every program you applied to
• Open Programs, CAA Program List, and Program Map
• Collaboration resources and previews of Plus tools

CRI Plus adds:

• Unlimited saved results and side-by-side comparisons
• Accepted, Program, and Rejection Analytics
• Head to Head, Program Matcher, and Prereq Filter
• Interview Timeline, Cycle Tracker, and Hours Tracker
• Saved program and prerequisite management

The Pricing page is the current source of truth for plan access.

A feature that compares your profile against historical data for individual CAA programs and groups potential matches based on your stats. It is a CRI Plus planning tool, not an admission prediction or a substitute for checking official program requirements.

CRI Plus is available in monthly and twelve-month terms. The twelve-month plan is charged upfront for the entire term. All paid plans renew automatically on their stated cadence until canceled. The checkout page shows the exact price and renewal terms before you pay.

It is optional, and it stays off unless you turn it on. You can turn it on at checkout or later in Account Settings. When it is on, we send 5% of what your subscription earns us to the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA) Legislative Fund. That 5% is figured after payment processing fees and any discount you received.

The AAAA Legislative Fund pushes for full CAA licensure in all 50 states. Licensure is what decides where you are allowed to practice once you graduate. The fund also works at the federal level on things like Medicare recognition and student loan eligibility for CAA programs.

Your price is identical either way. Nothing is added to your charge, and the contribution comes out of our share, not yours. You can turn it on or off at any time. Because it is our contribution rather than a donation you are making, and because the fund supports lobbying at a 501(c)(6) organization, it is not a tax-deductible charitable contribution. Being listed in Supporters is a separate choice you can decline while still contributing, and the panel is visible only to signed-in members. CRI is not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants.

Open Account Settings, go to Billing, and choose Manage billing to cancel through Stripe. Cancellation normally stops the next renewal while leaving Plus access active through the period you already paid for.

Yes. If you purchased by mistake, forgot to cancel, were charged twice, or cannot access paid features, email team@criscore.org. Requests are reviewed case by case. See the Refund Policy for details.

Do not rely on account deletion to cancel billing. First cancel CRI Plus in Account Settings > Billing, then delete the account. This prevents a Stripe renewal after you can no longer access your CRI billing controls.

Yes. Go to Account Settings and use Account Deletion. This permanently removes the authentication account and account-linked CRI data and cannot be undone. Limited payment, dispute, security, provider, backup, or legally required records may remain. If you have CRI Plus, cancel it in Billing before deleting the account.

CRI uses HTTPS, server-side authorization, database row-level security, access controls, and managed authentication through Supabase. No online system can guarantee absolute security, so keep your email login links and devices secure. See our Privacy Policy and Data Usage Policy.

Your email address and user ID are never shown to other users. Here is what can be:

• Community score views: your CRI score, GPA range, test type, and test-score range. Your name is not attached
• Community application views: the school, cycle, timing, status, response method, fee, and timestamp. Your private notes stay private
• Discussion posts and comments: shown with the profile name that appears in the discussion

Use Cookie Preferences in the site footer to enable or disable Google Analytics. Use Account Settings to turn marketing emails on or off. Necessary authentication and security storage remains active while you use account features.

Yes. Many fields can be reviewed or changed directly in the relevant tool or Account Settings. For an access, correction, deletion, or portability request, email team@criscore.org from the address on your account.

A CAA is a clinician with a master's degree who works under a licensed anesthesiologist. CAAs help build and carry out anesthesia care plans, get patients ready for surgery, watch over them during the procedure, and care for them afterward.

The number and accreditation status can change during the year. Use the CRI Program List for the programs CRI currently tracks, and verify current accreditation or Letter of Review status in the CAAHEP directory. CAA programs are generally graduate programs lasting about 24–28 months.

Requirements vary by program but most require:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• Prerequisite coursework
• Minimum GPA (often 3.0 overall and 3.0 science)
• MCAT or GRE scores
• Clinical or healthcare experience (soft requirement)
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement

Yes. The site is fully responsive. For charts, rotating to landscape on mobile gives the best viewing experience.

Update timing depends on the source. Community submissions and calculations may appear quickly, while curated program details and historical datasets are updated through separate review and refresh cycles. Because official requirements and deadlines can change first, always verify time-sensitive details with the program.

Reach us through Discord (@criscore.org), Reddit (u/caareadinessindex), email (team@criscore.org), or the feedback button in the app navbar.