Last updated on October 13th, 2026 at 07:50 am
Casper is required by 11 Canadian medical schools for 2027 entry and by about 30 US MD programs, along with many osteopathic, nursing, pharmacy, and PA programs. For the 2026–27 cycle, US medical school test dates run from March 2026 to February 2027, and you can take Casper only once per cycle. Your result is a quartile, and how much it matters depends on the school: some use it as a hard screen for interviews, while others weigh it alongside GPA, the MCAT, and your application.
Preparing for the test itself? Our Casper test preparation guide covers the current format, how scoring works, the test rules, and a step-by-step prep plan.
Casper for medical school at a glance
- Canadian schools using Casper (2027 entry): 11, including McMaster, Queen’s, McGill, and Dalhousie
- uOttawa: replacing Casper with a new asynchronous MMI
- US schools: about 30 MD programs, plus many DO programs
- US test dates: March 2026 to February 2027
- Retakes: once per cycle, and scores are valid only for that cycle
- Results: sent to schools in about 2–3 weeks; your quartile appears in about 4–5 weeks
- Duet: a separate values assessment that only some schools require
Table of contents
- Which medical schools require Casper in 2026–27?
- Casper test dates 2026–27 for medical school
- When should you take Casper for medical school?
- Does your Casper score matter?
- How to send Casper scores to more schools
- Casper vs Duet vs Snapshot vs PREview
- How to prepare for Casper
- Casper for medical school FAQ
Which medical schools require Casper in 2026–27?
Casper requirements change from cycle to cycle, so treat any list as a starting point. Confirm on each school’s admissions page and in your Acuity Insights account, which shows what each program requires when you add it to your distribution list.
Canadian medical schools that require Casper
According to the AFMC’s Admission Requirements of Canadian Faculties of Medicine for 2027 entry, these 11 schools use Casper in the current cycle:
| School | Province | How Casper is used |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial University of Newfoundland | NL | Required. No minimum score, but a 3rd or 4th quartile is recommended. See our Memorial guide. |
| Dalhousie University | NS | Required for interview selection; applicants who don’t meet the minimum aren’t considered. See our Dalhousie guide. |
| Université Laval | QC | Used to preselect applicants for the MEM interview. |
| Université de Sherbrooke | QC | Required (Casper and MEM). See our Sherbrooke guide. |
| Université de Montréal | QC | Required for the MD program and the preparatory year. See our Montréal guide. |
| McGill University | QC | Required; counts for 20% of the interview invitation decision. |
| Queen’s University | ON | Required. See our Queen’s guide. |
| McMaster University | ON | Required. |
| University of Alberta | AB | Required. |
| University of Manitoba | MB | Eligibility requirement for all applicant pools (English Casper only). See our Max Rady guide. |
| University of Saskatchewan | SK | Required. See our Saskatchewan guide. |
Not on the AFMC list of Casper users for 2027 entry: UBC, Calgary, NOSM University, Western, Toronto, and TMU. The University of Ottawa notes that Casper “will be replaced by a new asynchronous MMI in collaboration with other Ontario schools,” so check uOttawa’s admissions page for its current requirement before you register.
US medical schools that require Casper
In the US, about 30 MD programs require Casper based on recently published lists, with the biggest cluster in Texas, plus a number of osteopathic (DO) schools. A few schools accept the AAMC PREview exam as an alternative, and several also require Duet. Because these lists shift between cycles, the most reliable check is the program list in your Acuity Insights account and each school’s own admissions page.
Checking a specific school? Our admissions guides cover each school’s current requirements, including whether it uses Casper:
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine
- Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
- Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College
- Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine (Quinnipiac)
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
- SUNY Downstate
- Creighton University
- Loyola Stritch
- Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin
- Tulane University
- Meharry Medical College
- Mercer University
- Central Michigan University
- Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS)
- Georgetown University
- UCSF
Casper test dates 2026–27 for medical school
Acuity Insights sets separate schedules by country and program type. For US medical schools (MD and DO), the 2026–27 test dates run from March 2026 to February 2027. All times are Eastern:
| Month | Test dates |
|---|---|
| March 2026 | Mar 19, Mar 31 |
| April 2026 | Apr 30 |
| May 2026 | May 14, May 28 |
| June 2026 | Jun 9, Jun 25 |
| July 2026 | Jul 7, Jul 19, Jul 30 |
| August 2026 | Aug 11, Aug 25 |
| September 2026 | Sep 15, Sep 27 |
| October 2026 | Oct 20, Oct 27 |
| November 2026 | Nov 12 |
| December 2026 | Dec 3 |
| January 2027 | Jan 5 |
| February 2027 | Feb 9 |
Canadian test dates appear separately in your Acuity Insights account. For example, McGill’s last accepted test date for 2027 admission is October 15, 2026 (English) or October 22, 2026 (French). Confirm your date and time zone in your account before booking, and register at least three days ahead, since identity verification and payment can take time.
When should you take Casper for medical school?
Take Casper early enough that your results reach schools before they review your file. Programs receive results about 2–3 weeks after you test, so build in a buffer before each school’s distribution deadline.
- US applicants: test in late spring or summer, around when you submit AMCAS, so results arrive while schools are reviewing secondaries.
- Canadian applicants: test before each school’s Casper deadline, which can fall in October for some programs. Check every school on your list, not just one.
- Plan for one attempt. You can take each Casper test type only once per cycle, and a test from last cycle doesn’t carry over.
Does your Casper score matter?
Yes, but how much depends on the school. Casper results come as a quartile (1st to 4th) that compares you with other applicants to similar programs, and each school decides how to use it. Here’s how some Canadian schools describe it for 2027 entry:
- McGill: Casper counts for 20% of the interview invitation decision.
- Dalhousie: used for interview selection, with a minimum score.
- Memorial: no minimum, but a 3rd or 4th quartile is recommended.
- Manitoba: an eligibility requirement for every applicant pool.
Casper rarely decides an admission on its own, but a low quartile can keep you from an interview at schools that screen with it. A 3rd or 4th quartile is a safe target. For how quartiles and raters work, see how Casper is scored.
How to send Casper scores to more schools
You choose which programs receive your results when you register, and you can add more programs to your distribution list after the test, as long as each program’s distribution deadline hasn’t passed. Additional programs carry a fee, so check Acuity’s Dates and Fees page for current pricing. Programs get your results about 2–3 weeks after your test, and your own quartile appears in your account about 4–5 weeks after.
Casper vs Duet vs Snapshot vs PREview
| Assessment | What it is | Who requires it |
|---|---|---|
| Casper | Acuity’s situational judgment test: 11 scenarios (4 video, 7 typed), about 65–85 minutes | The Canadian and US schools listed above |
| Duet | An untimed values survey from Acuity that compares what you prioritize with what each program offers | Only some programs; your Acuity account shows if yours does |
| Snapshot | Acuity’s former short one-way video interview | Not used by medical schools such as McGill and Manitoba |
| AAMC PREview | The AAMC’s professional readiness exam, a separate situational judgment test | A smaller set of US schools; some accept it instead of Casper |
How to prepare for Casper
Casper doesn’t test what you know, so preparation is about knowing the format and practicing under time pressure. Take the free official practice test in your Acuity account, practice timed scenarios, build a bank of personal stories, and get feedback on your answers. Our full Casper test preparation guide walks through each step, including the test rules and a 5-step prep plan.
Want feedback on your practice answers? Browse AcceptedTogether consultants who have taken Casper themselves:
Frequently
Asked Questions
Which medical schools require Casper?
For 2027 entry, 11 Canadian medical schools use Casper: Memorial, Dalhousie, Laval, Sherbrooke, Montréal, McGill, Queen’s, McMaster, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. In the US, about 30 MD programs require it, plus many DO programs. Confirm each school’s requirement in your Acuity Insights account.
Do Ontario medical schools require Casper?
McMaster and Queen’s require Casper for 2027 entry. The University of Ottawa is replacing Casper with a new asynchronous MMI. Toronto, Western, NOSM University, and TMU are not on the AFMC list of Casper users.
When are the Casper test dates for 2026–27?
For US medical schools, dates run from March 19, 2026 to February 9, 2027, with remaining dates on October 20 and 27, November 12, December 3, January 5, and February 9. Canadian dates are listed in your Acuity Insights account.
Does the Casper score matter for medical school?
Yes. Some schools use it as a screen for interviews (Dalhousie has a minimum), some give it a set weight (20% of McGill’s interview invitation decision), and others weigh it alongside GPA and the MCAT.
What is a good Casper score for medical school?
A 3rd or 4th quartile, meaning you scored above the median of applicants to similar programs. Memorial, for example, recommends a 3rd or 4th quartile score.
Can you retake Casper?
Not in the same cycle. You can take each Casper test type once per admissions cycle, and results are valid only for that cycle.
How do you send Casper scores to more schools?
Add programs to your distribution list in your Acuity Insights account, even after you’ve tested, as long as each program’s deadline hasn’t passed. Each additional program carries a fee.
What is Duet, and do I need it?
Duet is Acuity’s untimed values survey that compares your priorities with each program’s. Only some schools require it, and your Acuity account shows whether yours do. McGill, for example, does not use Duet.
Is Snapshot still part of Casper?
Snapshot, Acuity’s former one-way video interview, is not required by medical schools such as McGill and Manitoba. Check each program’s requirements in your Acuity account.
Is Casper part of AMCAS or OMSAS?
No. Casper is a separate test from Acuity Insights. You register and pay for it on its own and choose which programs receive your results.
Do PA, nursing, and pharmacy schools use Casper?
Many do, along with dental, veterinary, and other health programs. Requirements vary by program, so check each one.
How do I prepare for Casper?
Take the official practice test, practice timed scenarios, build a story bank, and get feedback on your answers. See our Casper test preparation guide for a step-by-step plan.
