MCAT & CASPer
Do You Need Both the MCAT and CASPer for Medical School?
Short answer: Almost every medical school requires the MCAT. Only some require CASPer. When a school requires both, they are separate requirements, and one cannot replace the other. The only way to know what you need is to check the current requirements for each school on your list.
This question trips people up because the two tests feel like they should be in competition. They are not. The MCAT answers one question for an admissions committee and CASPer answers a different one. Most schools that use CASPer want it on top of the MCAT, not instead of it.
They answer two different questions
The cleanest way to understand why a school might want both is to look at what each one is actually built to predict.
The MCAT asks: can you handle the academics?
It measures science knowledge, data interpretation, and reasoning under pressure. It predicts whether you can survive a rigorous preclinical curriculum and licensing exams. It is the academic gate.
CASPer asks: how will you treat people?
It measures judgment, empathy, ethics, and communication through situational scenarios. It predicts the professional behaviors that academics cannot capture. It is the people gate.
A school that uses both is saying it wants applicants who can do the science and treat patients well. A high score on one tells the committee nothing about the other, which is exactly why they keep both. For a full breakdown of format, scoring, and content, see CASPer vs MCAT: key differences.
Who requires what
Requirements vary by program type and change every cycle, so treat this as orientation, not a checklist. Always confirm with each school.
| Program type | MCAT | CASPer |
|---|---|---|
| US MD programs | Almost always required | Required at a subset, growing |
| US DO programs | Almost always required | Required at many programs |
| Canadian medical schools | Varies widely by school | Required at many, often weighted heavily |
| Nursing and PA programs | Usually not required | Required at a growing number |
| Dental and other health programs | Own admission test, not MCAT | Required at a growing number |
Why the list keeps growing. More programs add CASPer each year because it gives them a standardized read on professionalism that grades and the MCAT cannot. A school can be CASPer-free this cycle and require it next cycle, so re-check every time you apply.
Two questions everyone asks
“My MCAT is strong. Can I skip CASPer?”
Not if the school requires it. CASPer is a separate item in your file, and a missing required CASPer can make your application incomplete. The MCAT does not buy you out of it. If a school requires CASPer, you take CASPer, full stop.
“My MCAT is shaky. Can a great CASPer save me?”
It can help, but know the limits. Many schools screen on academic metrics first, so an MCAT below their threshold can stop your file before CASPer is even read. Where you clear that bar, a strong CASPer can be the difference at mission-driven and primary-care programs that weight it heavily. See how committees weigh MCAT score vs CASPer quartile for the full picture.
How to find out for your exact schools
- Build your school list first. Use your MCAT score to land on a realistic set of programs.
- Open each school's admissions requirements page. Look specifically for CASPer or Altus Suite, and note any separate CASPer deadline.
- Cross-check the official Acuity Insights program list. It shows which programs accept CASPer for the current cycle.
- Confirm the MCAT recency rule. Most schools accept scores from the past two to three years, but the exact window varies.
Our running guide to medical schools that require CASPer is a useful starting point, but the official sources below are the source of truth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all medical schools require both the MCAT and CASPer?+
No. Almost every US MD and DO program requires the MCAT, but only a subset require CASPer. The set of CASPer schools changes each cycle, so the only reliable answer is to check the current requirements for each program on your list.
Can a strong MCAT let me skip CASPer?+
No. If a school requires CASPer, it is a separate checkbox from the MCAT. A high MCAT will not waive it, because the two tests measure different things. A required CASPer that is missing can make your file incomplete no matter how strong your MCAT is.
Can a strong CASPer make up for a weak MCAT?+
Sometimes, at the margins. A standout CASPer can help you clear an interview screen at schools that weight it heavily, especially mission-driven and primary-care-focused programs. It will not rescue an MCAT that falls below a school's threshold, since many programs screen on academic metrics first.
Do Canadian medical schools require the MCAT and CASPer?+
It varies by province and school. Many Canadian programs require CASPer, and several weight it heavily. MCAT requirements differ widely, with some schools not requiring it at all. Check each Canadian school directly, because the mix of requirements is genuinely school-specific.
Do nursing, PA, dental, and other health programs use CASPer?+
A growing number do, often without requiring the MCAT, since the MCAT is specific to medical school. CASPer is used across many health professions because every one of them values communication and ethics. Confirm what each program asks for through its own admissions page.
Score vs quartile
How admissions reads an MCAT number next to a CASPer quartile.
See how they weigh both →