PA-CAT® Fee Assistance 

Fee Assistance Qualification Requirements

To qualify for the PA-CAT Fee Assistance Program, you must complete and submit the following forms and documents:

• Complete the PA-CAT Fee Assistance Program Application Form online. Click here to access the form.
• 2022 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 or 1040A:
  IMPORTANT: All applications submitted after April 15th, 2024, will require the 2023 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 or 1040A.
  
  
  • The applicant must have filed a 2022 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 or 1040A with an adjusted gross income that falls below the Low-Income Level listed below and submit a PDF copy of the complete tax return to [email protected]
                                                                           OR
  • The applicant must be listed as a dependent on a parent/guardian filed Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 or 1040A with an adjusted gross income that falls below the Low-Income Level listed below. If applicant was claimed as a dependent of parent/guardian’s tax return, they need to provide 2022 Federal Income Tax Return of parent/guardian.

               Income Guidelines for fee assistance applications submitted in 2024:

Person in family/household*        Maximum Income Level**

1                                                    $30,120

2                                                    $40,880

3                                                    $51,640

4                                                    $62,400

5                                                    $73,160

6                                                    $83,920

7                                                    $94,680

8                                                    $105,440

For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $10,280 for each additional person.
*Persons in family/household as reflected on Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 or 1040A.
**The low-income level is based on 200% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. It is used to determine what constitutes a low-income family for the purposes of the SDS (Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students) and LDS (Loans for Disadvantaged Students) programs. Exam Master follows these guidelines for their fee waiver program.
 

Applying for Fee Assistance: Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Decide when you want to submit your application. Please keep in mind that fee assistance coupons are valid for 30 days after your application has been approved. You must be prepared to pay the remaining balance of $178 within those 30 days.
2. Gather your tax documents and submit them with your application form (see Fee Assistance Qualification Requirements above for required documents). Submit the completed PA-CAT Fee Assistance Program Application Form and your documents online.
3. Await notification. Your application can take up to 30 days to be processed. We do not process incomplete applications. Applications will be processed in the order received. We will notify you via email if you have been approved or denied.

Additional Information

• You must be approved for fee assistance prior to purchasing the PA-CAT exam. Fee assistance coupons cannot be applied to an existing purchase.
• You may only receive fee assistance once in a lifetime.
• If you cancel your PA-CAT exam, or requests a refund, you will not be eligible for fee assistance in the future. Prometric Testing Centers may assess additional fees for exam cancellations or reschedules.
• If you choose to take the PA-CAT exam more than once, you are responsible for the complete cost ($228) of additional exam attempts.