CASPer for Physiotherapy: Canadian Requirements for 2027

Which Canadian physiotherapy programs require CASPer?

This is a comparison of selected programs, not a complete Canadian directory. Sources were checked on September 22, 2026. “Required” describes the published policy; it does not mean every date on that source has been updated for 2027.

If a university is absent from this table, that does not establish whether it requires CASPer. Check its official admissions instructions. US Doctor of Physical Therapy programs also have their own rules; this guide concerns Canadian programs.

School-by-school requirements and deadline cautions

University of Manitoba MPT: confirmed fall 2027 milestones

Manitoba's 2027–2028 MPT admissions page lists a November 15, 2026 application deadline. It accepts CASPer tests from July 19 to December 1, 2026 and asks applicants to request score release to Physical Therapy by December 15, 2026. It says Duet is not required.

Keep those three tasks separate in your calendar: submit the application, complete an eligible test, and arrange score delivery. A test window is not a promise that a sitting is offered on every day within it. Check the available dates in Acuity before selecting your preparation schedule.

Western MPT: requirement published, new-cycle dates need checking

Western's MPT page includes CASPer in its application review and requires the School of Physical Therapy on the distribution list. At our check, its timeline still listed January 22, 2026 as the last test date. That is not a confirmed January 2027 deadline.

Use the current program instructions and provider listing to confirm your intake before paying for a sitting. Also distinguish Western University in Ontario from similarly named universities elsewhere. The Western University requirements guide covers the broader range of Western programs.

McGill: identify your PT entry pathway first

McGill's undergraduate SPOT page requires CASPer for BSc Rehabilitation Science applicants, including the Physical Therapy pathway. Do not assume that the undergraduate process uses the same application deadline as the graduate Qualifying Year.

For the Physical Therapy Qualifying Year, the official page states that fall 2027 accepts tests from July 2026 through January 2027. However, its deadline table remains labelled fall 2026. Confirm the exact final sitting for your language and pathway using the current admissions guide and Acuity listing; this article does not relabel those old dates as new ones.

A school is the authority on its admission requirements, while Acuity is the source for the current test mechanics. Some school FAQs retain older descriptions of question counts or timing. The practice timing below uses Acuity's current guide.

University of Toronto MScPT: CASPer is no longer required

Toronto's PT FAQ explicitly says it no longer requires CASPer. Its admission-requirements page lists an online asynchronous interview among its non-academic requirements. Older Toronto CASPer guides should not determine your booking.

Keep the degree name in view. A CASPer requirement for another University of Toronto program, such as PharmD, does not make it a requirement for MScPT.

How to choose the right test and send scores

Start with a small checklist for each program. This prevents a correct test taken for the wrong cycle, language, or recipient from becoming an application problem.

1. Identify the pathway. Record the university, exact program, entry year, and applicant category.
2. Read both sets of instructions. Compare the program page with the program-specific options in the Acuity booking system. Resolve discrepancies before choosing a sitting.
3. Check the current test label and language. Do not select a numeric code solely because it appears in an older PDF or another program's guide.
4. Record separate deadlines. Include the application deadline, last eligible test, and score-distribution requirement. Preserve any time zone shown by the official source.
5. Check the recipient and identifiers. Follow the program's instructions for application IDs and score delivery; confirm the intended program appears on your distribution list.

If you are applying to PT and OT, do not assume a single booking automatically covers both. Check whether the same sitting is eligible for each program and whether both recipients have been added. Use our registration guide and score-delivery guide for the general process, then apply the school-specific rules.

What CASPer score do physiotherapy programs require?

There is no universal fourth-quartile cutoff established by the program sources in this comparison. Avoid treating an applicant's online acceptance story as a school policy. A result may be considered alongside academic and other application information, and the details vary.

For example, Western describes screening out applicants ranked significantly below average on CASPer. That wording is not a published applicant-quartile threshold. It should not be converted into “you must get fourth quartile” or a personal probability of admission.

Use a published criterion when one exists and acknowledge when a program does not provide a simple cutoff. For the difference between applicant results and school evaluation, read CASPer scoring explained. CasperCoach practice feedback is a learning aid, not an official score or an admissions decision.

A focused seven-day preparation plan

For the general 2026–27 test, Acuity lists four video-response scenarios followed by seven typed-response scenarios. Each has two questions. Video answers have one minute each; typed pairs share 3.5 minutes. This plan is a starting point you can adapt to your schedule and current skills.

• Day 1: confirm your requirements and booking, then familiarise yourself with the official practice environment.
• Day 2: complete two typed practice scenarios and identify where your answer becomes vague.
• Day 3: practise explaining an action, the reason behind it, and an appropriate follow-up.
• Day 4: record short video answers and review whether the first sentence addresses the question.
• Day 5: practise consent, privacy, inclusion, and accountability in everyday situations without assuming clinical authority.
• Day 6: use a mixed timed session and repeat the weakest skill with a different scenario.
• Day 7: review your technical setup, booking details, and a short checklist; leave time to rest.

The test assesses judgement rather than physiotherapy treatment knowledge. Do not turn every situation into a clinical diagnosis. For a broader set of original prompts, use the CASPer practice test or the empathy practice scenarios.

A physiotherapy-applicant practice example

Sample response to question one

I would ask the participant privately what barrier they are encountering and what participation would work for them, rather than assume they want to be separated. I would involve the session lead to identify an appropriate adjustment within the activity. I would not prescribe a movement change outside my training. I would explain the available options and let the participant decide without pressure.

Sample response to question two

I would be honest about what we can safely provide today and ask the lead about another meaningful way to participate. I would avoid describing exclusion as a solution the participant should accept gratefully. With their permission, I would document the access issue and arrange follow-up so the next session is better prepared. If an activity appears unsafe, I would raise that concern promptly rather than improvise beyond my role.

Why this direction helps: it makes the participant's choice visible, recognises limits of competence, and turns a general wish to be inclusive into concrete steps. It is not an official answer key. Change one fact for a second attempt: the participant wants to continue exactly as planned, but the session lead identifies an immediate safety concern.