Key Takeaways
- McMaster University, University of British Columbia and University of Prince Edward Island require Casper for nursing entry, per their own admissions pages
- It's the same test other health applicants sit, and it never tests nursing knowledge
- Acuity charges C$50 to sit the Canadian Casper test, plus C$20 for each program that gets your result
- Book early, so your result reaches every program before its deadline
- You receive your Casper result as a quartile, and there's no pass mark
- You can prepare: learn the format, lead with empathy and practise against the real clock
Do Canadian nursing programs require the Casper test?
Some do. McMaster University, University of British Columbia and University of Prince Edward Island require it for nursing entry, per their own admissions pages. Not every Canadian nursing program uses Casper, so check yours.
Schools use Casper to see the people skills nursing depends on: empathy, communication and sound judgement. Transcripts can't show those.
| School | Program | Location |
|---|---|---|
| McMaster University | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) | Ontario, Canada |
| University of British Columbia | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) | British Columbia, Canada |
| University of Prince Edward Island | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) | Prince Edward Island, Canada |
We checked each program's admissions page on 13 Sep 2026. Rules can change each cycle, so confirm yours on Acuity's Dates and Fees page. Our full list of schools that require Casper covers medicine, pharmacy, vet and more.
In Ontario, you usually apply to nursing through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). Each program tells you whether Casper is required and by when. In other provinces, you usually apply to the university directly.
No nursing knowledge required
Casper doesn't ask about clinical care, anatomy or any nursing content. It gives you everyday dilemmas about people and fairness, so every applicant starts on equal footing.
11 scenarios across two sections: a typed-response section and a video-response section.
- Typed scenarios 7
- Video scenarios 4
How much does the Casper test cost in Canada?
Acuity charges C$50 to sit the Canadian Casper test, plus C$20 for each program that gets your result. Sending your result to 3 programs would cost C$110 in total.
You reserve your Casper test from your Acuity Insights account, choosing your country, admissions cycle, programs and a set date and time. Book at least 3 days ahead to allow time for ID checks and payment processing.
Casper in Canada at a glance
- Test fee
- C$50 to sit the testSource, checked 13 Sep 2026
- Sending results
- C$20 for each program that gets your resultSource, checked 13 Sep 2026
- Results
- Acuity sends your Casper test results to the programs you've chosen about 2 to 3 weeks after your test. Your quartile score is available about 4 to 5 weeks after the test.Source, checked 13 Sep 2026
- Retakes
- You can only complete each Casper test type once per admissions cycle. Rescheduling is free 31 or more days before your test, and a fee may apply after that.Source, checked 13 Sep 2026
What the Casper test involves for BScN applicants
Canadian nursing applicants sit the standard Casper test: 4 video-response scenarios and 7 typed-response scenarios, in about 65 to 85 minutes. Every scenario is an open-response dilemma with no single right answer. Your job is to show clear, humane judgement, not to recall facts.
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Section | Scenarios | Questions each | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video response | 4 | 2 (one at a time) | 1 minute per question to record |
| Typed response | 7 | 2 (shown together) | 3.5 minutes for both answers |
Each scenario is scored by a different trained rater. You're ranked as a quartile against everyone who sat the same test type in your cycle. There's no pass or fail, and each nursing program decides how much weight your quartile carries. For every timing, see how long the Casper test takes.
Our complete Casper test guide covers format and scoring in full. The approach is identical to the Casper test for nursing in the US if you're comparing programs across the border.
A nursing-style scenario
During a group assignment, a teammate quietly tells you they're overwhelmed by problems at home. They ask you not to tell anyone. Meanwhile, the group is starting to blame them for missed work. How do you handle it? A strong answer balances the teammate's trust and wellbeing with fairness to the group. It gathers more information and looks for support, rather than rushing to expose or punish anyone.
What is a good Casper score for Canadian nursing programs?
You receive your Casper result as a quartile, not a percentage, so there's no fixed pass mark. A higher quartile helps, but each program weighs Casper differently within its admissions formula. The gap between an average and a strong answer is learnable, as our Q4 vs Q2 answer comparison shows. For how quartiles work, see what your Casper score means.
When should you take Casper for nursing?
Book a sitting early enough for your result to reach every program before its deadline. Acuity sends your Casper test results to the programs you've chosen about 2 to 3 weeks after your test. Your quartile score is available about 4 to 5 weeks after the test.
You can only complete each Casper test type once per admissions cycle. Rescheduling is free 31 or more days before your test, and a fee may apply after that. Test dates depend on the Casper test type your program asks for, so check them on Acuity's Dates and Fees page. Our guide to Casper test dates for the US and Canada explains booking and rescheduling.
How to prepare for the nursing Casper test
- Learn the format cold, so the timer, the recording window and the question structure are familiar before test day
- Lead with empathy, naming and addressing the people in each scenario before moving to any solution
- Rehearse the typed clock, practising both answers in 3.5 minutes, and lift your typing speed with a free typing speed test
- Practise the video section out loud and on camera, then review the recording for tone and pacing
- Do full, timed mock scenarios with specific feedback on every answer
What raters reward most is shown empathy and balanced judgement, not polished phrases. Our breakdown of the 9 Casper competencies shows what strong looks like in each. The 3.5-minute typed response strategy shows how to structure answers that score well.
Your Casper timeline, step by step
- 1Step 1
Check your programs
Confirm which of your programs require Casper and the deadline for your result.
- 2Step 2
Register early
Book your Casper sitting through Acuity Insights, well before your earliest deadline.
- 3Step 3
Practise under the clock
Rehearse timed scenarios across both sections until the format feels routine.
- 4Step 4
Sit the test
Complete the video and typed sections in a single sitting.
- 5Step 5
Send your results
Distribute your Casper result to every program before its application deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Canadian nursing programs require the Casper test?
McMaster University, University of British Columbia and University of Prince Edward Island require it for nursing entry, per their own admissions pages. Not every Canadian nursing program uses Casper, so confirm on the admissions page for each program you apply to.
How much does the Casper test cost for nursing in Canada?
Acuity charges C$50 to sit the Canadian Casper test, plus C$20 for each program that gets your result. Sending your result to 3 programs would cost C$110 in total.
How does Casper fit Ontario nursing applications through the OUAC?
In Ontario, you usually apply to nursing through the OUAC. Each program tells you whether Casper is required and when your result must arrive. You register and sit Casper separately through Acuity Insights, then choose which programs get your result.
What is a good Casper score for nursing in Canada?
You receive your Casper result as a quartile, from the 1st (lowest) to the 4th (highest), against others in your cycle. There's no universal cut-off, and each program weighs it differently.
Is the Casper test the same in Canada and the US?
Yes. The format, scenarios and scoring are the same wherever you sit it. What differs is which programs require it, the application service and the deadlines. That's why we keep separate Canada and US nursing guides.
Can I prepare for the Canadian nursing Casper test?
Yes. You can't study facts, but you can learn the format and build empathy-first habits. Improve your typing speed, rehearse speaking to camera, and do full timed runs with feedback.