Key Takeaways
- Some PharmD and pharmacy programs in the US and Canada use Casper to assess communication and ethics
- It is the same situational judgement test other health applicants sit, and it tests no pharmacology or clinical content
- Many programs collect Casper alongside a service such as PharmCAS, each with its own deadline
- Casper is reported as a quartile, and the 3rd or 4th quartile keeps a pharmacy application competitive
- It rewards preparation: format familiarity, empathy-first habits and timed practice
Do pharmacy schools require the Casper test?
Some pharmacy programs require the Casper test as part of PharmD admissions. Pharmacists counsel patients, work closely with prescribers and make ethical calls about safety and access every day, so programs use Casper to screen for the communication and judgement those responsibilities demand. Many programs collect Casper alongside the centralised PharmCAS application, while others request it directly.
Adoption varies, and requirements change each cycle, so confirm on the official admissions page for the exact pharmacy program you are applying to. As pharmacy admissions place more weight on the human side of the profession, a strong Casper performance is a useful way to show you can communicate with care under pressure.
No pharmacology required
Casper will not ask about drugs, dosing or any pharmacy content. It presents everyday dilemmas about people and fairness, so applicants from any academic background can prepare on equal footing.
11 scenarios across two sections: a typed-response section and a video-response section.
- Typed scenarios 7
- Video scenarios 4
What to expect and what a good score is
Pharmacy applicants sit the standard Casper test: four video-response scenarios and seven typed-response scenarios in roughly 65 to 85 minutes, each scored by a different trained rater and reported as a quartile with no pass or fail. The complete Casper test guide covers the format and scoring fully. Competitive pharmacy applicants generally aim for the 3rd or 4th quartile, the level shown in our Q4 vs Q2 answer comparison.
A pharmacy-style scenario
A regular customer becomes upset at the counter because something they expected is not available, and other people are waiting. A colleague wants to simply move on to the next person. How do you handle it? A strong answer acknowledges the customer’s frustration, communicates calmly and clearly, and balances their needs with fairness to everyone else waiting.
How to prepare for the pharmacy Casper test
- Learn the format cold so nothing on test day is a surprise
- Lead with empathy, acknowledging the people in each scenario before solving anything
- Rehearse the 3.5-minute typed clock and improve your typing speed if it is holding you back
- Practise speaking to camera and review the recordings for clarity and tone
- Complete full, timed mock tests with honest feedback on every answer
Clear, warm communication and balanced judgement are exactly what raters reward. The 9 Casper competencies breakdown explains each one, and the 3.5-minute typed response strategy shows how to structure answers that score well under the clock.
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.