The Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer) test is an online, open-response exam where you are presented with various scenarios or prompts, and must respond to them in the form of a timed text or video recording response. The CASPer test is required by many professional schools for their admissions process, including optometry, dentistry, and medical schools. The test can be taken anywhere, and you are either monitored by your computer webcam during your typed responses, or recording yourself through your webcam to submit a response.
Aside from the CASPer test, there are also two other tests that serve different purposes: the CASPer Duet and CASPer Snapshot. The CASPer Duet is an assessment for students applying to undergraduate or graduate medical programs in the US, which determines what students value most and compares that information to what different programs provide. The CASPer Snapshot tests for applicants’ communication and self-reflection skills by presenting applicants with a question and having them submit a short video response on the spot.
The purpose of the CASPer test is to measure your situational judgment and critical thinking, while evaluating your personal characteristics (professionalism, ethics, critical thinking, communication skills, and personal empathy). In the tables below, we will outline which schools in North America require the CASPer test. Note that the CASPer Snapshot and/or Duet are also required for admission into certain schools.
? Medical Schools
|
Allopathic |
Osteopathic |
| Canada |
- Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine
- McGill University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine
- Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Medicine
- Queen’s University, School of Medicine
- Université de Montréal, Faculté de médecine
- Université de Sherbrooke, Faculté de médecine
- Université Laval, Faculté de médecine
- University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine
- University of Manitoba, Max Rady College of Medicine
- University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine
- University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine
|
|
| United States |
- American University of The Caribbean, School of Medicine
- Augusta University, Medical College of Georgia
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Boston University, School of Medicine
- Central Michigan University, College of Medicine
- Drexel University, College of Medicine
- East Tennessee State University, James H. Quillen College of Medicine
- CASPer Snapshot and Duet also required
- Florida Atlantic University, College of Medicine
- Hostra University, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine
- Howard University, College of Medicine
- Indiana University, School of Medicine
- Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- Meharry Medical College
- Mercer University, School of Medicine
- Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine
- New York Medical College
- Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Oregon Health & Science University, School of Medicine
- Penn State College of Medicine
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
- State University of New York Upstate Medical University
- Stony Brook University, School of Medicine
- Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
- CASPer Duet also required
- Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine
- CASPer Duet also required
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
- Tulane University, School of Medicine
- University of Colorado, School of Medicine
- CASPer Snapshot, and Duet also required
- University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine
- CASPer Snapshot and Duet also required
- University of Miami Miller, School of Medicine
- University of Nevada, School of Medicine
- CASPer Snapshot and Duet also required
- University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center, School of Medicine
- CASPer Duet also required
- University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, Long School of Medicine
- University of Texas Medical Branch, John Sealy School of Medicine
- University of Texas Southwestern
- University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine
- University of Washington, School of Medicine
- Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine
- Wake Forest University, School of Medicine
- West Virginia University, School of Medicine
|
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
- California Health Sciences University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Kansas Health Science Center, Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Sam Houston State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
- CASPer Snapshot and Duet also required
- Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine NY
- Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
- William Carey University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
|
? Dental Schools
| Canada |
- University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry
- Western University (UWO)
- McGill University, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences
- University of Alberta
- University of Saskatchewan, College of Dentistry
|
| United States |
- California Northstate University, College of Dental Medicine
- Case Western Reserve University, School of Dental Medicine
- Indiana University, School of Dentistry
- Temple University, Kornberg School of Dentistry
- University of California Los Angeles, School of Dentistry
- University of Detroit Mercy, School of Dentistry
- University of Louisville, School of Dentistry
- University of Missouri – Kansas City, School of Dentistry
- University of Utah, School of Dentistry
|
? Veterinary Schools
| Canada |
- University of Guelph
- Université de Montreal
|
| United States |
- Kansas State University
- Lincoln Memorial University
- Long Island University
- Michigan State University
- Purdue University
- Texas Tech University
|
??⚕️ Physician Assistant Schools
| United States |
- Campbell University
- Christian Brothers University
- Colorado Mesa University
- Concordia University Wisconsin
- East Virginia Medical School
- Idaho State University
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Presbyterian College
- Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
- South University Savannah
- South University Tampa
- University of Evansville
- University of Kentucky
- University of Oklahoma
- University of Utah
- West Liberty University
|
?️ Optometry Schools
| Canada |
- University of Montreal, École d’optométrie
- University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science
|
| United States |
- Salus University, Pennsylvania College of Optometry (Scholars and Traditional Program)
|
? Why is the CASPer test required?
As mentioned earlier, the CASPer test measures your situational judgment and critical thinking skills. Although academic performance has traditionally been used as the main determinant of admission into professional schools, non-cognitive skills are becoming more important in the selection process. Nowadays, professional programs want to ensure that their students can handle the heavy academic workload, as well as possess the soft skills to work with the public and provide patient-centred care. These soft skills include communication and empathy, which can be assessed by the CASPer test. This is also supported by research stating that the CASPer test can reliably predict one’s success in medical school (Dore et al., 2017). However, because of the recent findings, the role of the CASPer test in the admissions process varies between different schools. For instance, the exam is weighted more heavily for those applying to medical school at McMaster University. For these applicants, the CASPer test score is worth 1/3 of the admission decision, as it is weighed just as heavily as the applicant’s undergrad GPA and MCAT CARS score. In comparison, the CASPer test may not be weighted as heavily for other professional programs and the weighting may not be stated as explicitly either. Therefore, it is best to figure out which programs and schools you want to apply for and check their website for more information if available.
? Conclusion
The CASPer test is used as an additional metric for admission into professional programs. Now that you have a list of professional programs that require the CASPer test, you can start to narrow down the list of schools you want to apply for. For more information, feel free to read our articles on how to prepare for the CASPer test, what to expect on your CASPer test day, and how the CASPer test is scored. Remember that the test is weighted differently at various institutions, so do not count yourself out early if you receive a sub-optimal score. Good luck!
Citations
Dore, K.L., Reiter, H.I., Kreuger, S., & Norman, G.R. (2017). CASPer, an online pre-interview screen for personal/professional characteristics: prediction of national licensure scores. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. May;22(2):327-336. doi: 10.1007/s10459-016-9739-9.
