CTA is an accurate, noninvasive alternative to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) for initial CAD evaluation in patients with stable chest pain and intermediate pretest probability for obstructive CAD. Evidence from trials such as PROMISE and SCOT-HEART show that an initial CTA strategy results in similar cardiovascular outcomes as functional testing and is associated with a lower incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events compared to usual care. CTA has excellent sensitivity for identifying flow-limiting disease and high negative predictive value, making it well-suited for initially ruling out CAD. However, factors such as a history of prior stenting, obesity, arrhythmias, or breathing issues may favor ICA over CTA for initial evaluation.