Preparing your residency application can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re applying to residency programs that require CASPer and balancing exams, deadlines, and additional application requirements. While CASPer may seem like one more hurdle, the good news is that you can absolutely learn how to master it with the right strategies and practice. Start by reviewing free sample CASPer questions to get familiar with the types of scenarios you’ll face. Then, strengthen your approach with proven CASPer prep tips so you can showcase the skills residency programs want to see. With focused preparation and the right guidance, you can increase your chances of earning a high CASPer score and securing the residency match you’ve worked so hard for.

Disclaimer: CASPer stands for computer-based assessment for sampling personal characteristics and is claimed to be a trademark of McMaster & Acuity Insights (formerly Altus Suite). BeMo does not recommend, endorse nor affiliate with CASPer, Acuity Insights or McMaster and vice versa. BeMo only provides preparation services and practice tests. To take CASPer, contact Acuity Insights directly.

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Article Contents
4 min read
List of Residency Programs That Require CASPer in the US List of Residency Programs That Require CASPer in Canada Why Residency Programs Require the CASPer Test FAQs

List of Residency Programs That Require CASPer in the US

According to the Acuity Insights dates and times page, all of the programs listed below currently require both CASPer and Duet. Because residency requirements can change from year to year, always verify requirements directly with individual programs before applying.

Here are all the residency programs that require CASPer in the United States:

Anesthesiology:

Internal Medicine:

Interventional Radiology:

OBGYN:

Important: Residency programs periodically update their admissions requirements. If a program is not listed here, review its official admissions website to determine whether CASPer, Duet, or other situational judgment assessments are currently required.

Want to go over the ULTIMATE CASPer test prep strategy with SAMPLE passages? Watch this video:

List of Residency Programs That Require CASPer in Canada

The list below reflects the most recently published CaRMS program requirements. CaRMS typically publishes program descriptions for the next residency match cycle in September, and CASPer requirements may change from year to year. Always verify requirements with both CaRMS and the individual residency program before applying.

1.   Residency Program at the Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine

  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Otolaryngology

2.   Residency Programs at McGill University Medical School

  • Anesthesiology
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Pediatrics

3.   Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program at the McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine

4.   Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program at the Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Medicine

5.   Residency Programs at the Queen’s University School of Medicine

  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Pediatrics

6.   Residency Programs at Université de Sherbrooke Medical School

  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Pediatrics (French)

7.   Residency Programs at the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry

  • Dermatology
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Ophthalmology
  • Public Health
  • Preventative Medicine including Family Medicine
  • OBGYN

8. Residency Programs at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine

  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatrics – Research Track

9. Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery Residency Program at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine

10. Residency Programs at the University of Ottawa Medical School

  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Plastic Surgery

11. All Residency Training Programs and Disciplines at the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine

12. Postgraduate Medical Education Programs at University of Toronto Medical School

  • Diagnostic Radiology

13. OBGYN Residency Programs at NOSM University,

Why Residency Programs Require the CASPer Test

If you’re starting to learn how to prepare for your residency applications, you may wonder why the CASPer test is a requirement. In short, these assessments have grown in popularity in recent years to become some of the more common medical school requirements. Now, they are starting to make their way to residency programs and other graduate medical education admissions. Some of the possible reasons for residency programs to require the CASPer test include:

  1. It tests behavior. As medicine is a people-centered profession that has you making difficult decisions daily, tests such as CASPer evaluate behavioral tendencies by asking what you would do in challenging situations and why. If the USMLE Step 1 tests medical knowledge and clinical interaction, situational judgments tests are meant to evaluate other aspects of the medical profession that are essential to a successful career in medicine. Specifically, CASPer claims to test 9 competencies: collaboration, communication, empathy, fairness, ethics, motivation, problem solving, resilience, and self-awareness.
  2. It can be seen as innovative. To put it simply, typical interview questions such as “why do you want to become a doctor?” are no longer producing the desired results. Institutions are always looking for how to select the best candidates possible. The CASPer test has been viewed as a new technique that adds variety to the application process beyond standardized test scores. CASPer is a component of the residency application that is a little outside the box. Admissions procedures need to constantly adapt to the ever-changing world of medical education, especially if programs are in competition with one another to admit the most qualified applicants.
  3. It gives you another opportunity to showcase your candidacy. Residency applicants can be good at many things. Therefore, an assessment such as CASPer can be required to help give program directors a holistic view of your application beyond academic performance or interview skills. CASPer, as well as any other situational judgment tests, could also be one of the ways to improve your residency application after going unmatched. If the first set of programs you applied to did not require CASPer, applying to a program that does and getting a great score can make a big difference in how your application is perceived.

FAQs

1. Why are more residency programs now requiring CASPer?

When residency program directors evaluate applicants, academic performance is only one part of the picture. More residency programs are incorporating CASPer because it helps assess professional competencies such as communication, collaboration, ethics, empathy, and problem-solving. The test also gives applicants another opportunity to demonstrate qualities that may not be fully reflected in exam scores, grades, or application materials.

2. How do I prepare for CASPer?

One of the best ways to prepare for CASPer is to familiarize yourself with common CASPer question types and develop a structured approach for answering them. Practicing realistic scenarios under timed conditions can help improve both confidence and performance. Completing a full-length CASPer simulation is also an effective way to understand the format and pacing of the exam.

3. How many questions or stations make up the CASPer test?

The CASPer test consists of 11 prompts, and you will have to respond to a set of two questions related to each prompt. The stations can be video- or text-based.

4. How is the CASPer test scored?

Knowing how the CASPer test is scored can be a great place to start when you're preparing. Rather than scoring your answers as correct or incorrect, CASPer responses are graded on a Likert-style scale from 1–9, with 1 being “unsatisfactory” and 9 being “superb” or "superior."

Each individual scenario (along with its respective follow-up questions) will be graded by a different assessor. Once all the scenarios are graded, they are averaged out to make an overall score. That score is then compared to that of peers who have also taken the CASPer test at the same time.

5. When should I take the CASPer test?

Most schools or residency programs have a few set CASPer test dates when students can take their test. This is unlike other popular standardized tests for which the date can be chosen from among many options.

6. How is CASPer structured?

The test is comprised of 11 scenarios dealing with real-life situations divided into 2 sections. You are asked 2 questions based on the scenario observed. You are given 3.5 minutes to type your answers for the 2 questions in the written response section of the test and 1 minute to record each of your 2 answers in the video response section of the test.

7. How can academic consulting help with my residency application?

Seeking professional help, such as with a residency application consultant, can help with all aspects of your residency application. Whether you need assistance with writing your residency personal statement or require expert feedback in tandem with medical residency interview prep, an academic consultant is another set of eyes on your application that can greatly improve your chances of success.

8. Do these services apply for CASPer as well?

Yes, there are services related to CASPer prep that will get you 100% ready for the official test and help you obtain that coveted residency match. 

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

tags: residency programs that require casper, Residency Application, CASPer