Casper is run by Acuity Insights, and every date, fee and deadline comes from Acuity or from the program you apply to. This guide walks through how registration works for the 2026-27 admissions cycle, what the test costs, which dates are still open as of October 6, 2026, and the rules that catch people out. Dates and fees change, so treat this page as a map and confirm on Acuity's Dates and Fees page before you book.

Applying to medical school and want the school-by-school list with each school's last test date? That is in our guide to which medical schools require Casper. This page is about the booking process itself, for any program.

Step 1: find your test type and deadline

Casper is not one test. Acuity sells different test types, and your score only counts for the type you took, in the cycle you took it. On the Dates and Fees page you pick a country, an admissions cycle, a program type and (optionally) your schools. The page then shows the test type your program needs, the fee, every test date and the distribution deadline, which is the last day your score can be sent to that school (Acuity help article).

For the 2026-27 cycle in the United States, the page showed these test types on October 6, 2026:

US test type	Used by (examples from Acuity's list)
Medicine (CSP-10111)	Allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools
United States Casper 1 (CSP-10100)	Undergraduate nursing, dental hygiene, several allied health programs
United States Casper 2 (CSP-20100)	Physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary, graduate nursing, speech-language pathology
Graduate Medical Education (CSP-20101)	Residency programs (no US residency programs were listed for 2026-27 when we checked)

Canada, Australia and other countries have their own test types, and Acuity says you need a separate Casper for different countries, languages or test types (why a different test for each country). If you apply to programs on two different types, you will take two tests. Our guide to Casper for PA, nursing, pharmacy, dental and vet programs shows which programs sit on which type.

Step 2: finish your application first, if you can

To book, you need an Acuity Insights account created with a government-issued photo ID, and the name and email on it must match your program application. Many programs also issue an ID (an AMCAS ID for medicine, a CASPA ID for PA programs) that you type in when you book. Acuity says that in most cases you must submit your application before you can reserve, because those IDs are issued afterwards (ID requirements). If you don't have an ID yet, you can book the test and add the program to your distribution list later, as long as the distribution deadline has not passed.

Step 3: reserve a date

Acuity's reservation steps (how to reserve and schedule):

Pick the country where your programs are located and, for Canadian programs, the language.
Pick the admissions cycle and your program type.
Pick your schools. You can add more later.
Enter your application or student IDs if asked.
Choose a test date, check the details, and pay.

Two rules from Acuity are worth repeating. Reserve at least 3 days before the date you want, so identity checks and payment can clear; last-minute bookings are not guaranteed. And choose carefully, because all fees are non-refundable, including for a test booked in the wrong cycle (which cycle to book). As a rule, results apply to the admissions cycle for the next academic year, so for 2026-27 you are usually aiming at a Fall 2027 start. Australian programs and programs with several start dates can differ, so check the program's own page.

What Casper costs in 2026-27

These are the fees Acuity listed on its Dates and Fees page for US tests on October 6, 2026, in US dollars. Fees for other countries are on the same page.

Test type	Test fee	Extra schools
Medicine (CSP-10111)	$85, includes sending to 9 schools	$20 per additional school
US Casper 1 (CSP-10100)	$50	$20 per additional distribution
US Casper 2 (CSP-20100)	$50	$20 per additional distribution

The test fee includes Duet, Acuity's other assessment, if your program asks for it. Acuity also lists a fee for rescheduling within 30 days before your confirmed test time or at any time after it; the page we read gave no amount, so check it when you book. Fee assistance exists, and many programs accept it (using a fee assistance program). Applying to more than the included number of schools adds cost, so add schools only once you are sure.

Test dates still open (as of October 6, 2026)

Casper dates are set in advance with the programs, and each program accepts a subset of them. The lists below are what three sample school rows on the Dates and Fees page showed after October 6. Your school's row may differ, and some dates come with two start times, so look up your own program.

Test type (sample school row)	Dates listed from October 20, 2026	Row's distribution deadline for the last date
Medicine (Central Michigan University College of Medicine)	Oct 20, Oct 27, Nov 12, Dec 3, 2026; Jan 5, Feb 9, 2027	Feb 23, 2027
US Casper 2 (University of Detroit Mercy PA Program)	Oct 20, Oct 27, Nov 12, Dec 3, 2026; Jan 5, 2027	Jan 19, 2027
US Casper 1 (Howard University School of Nursing)	Oct 20, Nov 12, Dec 3, 2026; Jan 16, Feb 4, Feb 23, 2027	Mar 8, 2027

The distribution deadline usually sits about two weeks after the last test date. Don't aim for that last date. Acuity says results reach programs about 2 to 3 weeks after you test, so a program that reviews applications on a rolling basis may not see your file until then (when results are sent). Acuity itself suggests choosing the earliest date you can complete, which gives you room to reschedule and may let programs start reviewing sooner. That is our reading too: book early, because dates and times can fill up as the day approaches, and Acuity does not promise extra slots.

Test times are shown in North American Eastern time by default. The Dates and Fees page lets you display local time, and your account shows a countdown timer. Check the time zone twice. A late arrival can be refused entry.

Rescheduling, cancelling and missing a deadline

Reschedule or cancel inside your account. Acuity can't make custom dates for individual schedules, and says to speak to your instructor or employer if the date clashes (reschedule or cancel).
One test per type per cycle. You can't retake the same type in the same cycle. Acuity only considers a retake for a verified technical problem reported within one week of the test (retakes).
Scores expire. A score is valid for one cycle and one test type only (validity). Reapplying next year means a new test.
Missed the last date? For programs outside Canada, contact the program. Only the program can ask Acuity for an exception, and exceptions are not guaranteed (missed deadline).
Accommodations. Submit forms and documents at least 4 weeks before your test.

Test day basics

Casper takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including two optional breaks. You need a computer (no phones or tablets), Chrome or Firefox, a working webcam and microphone, and a quiet room where you are alone. Acuity advises logging in about 30 minutes early and running its system requirements check within 6 hours before the test. You may have pen, paper, a physical dictionary, headphones and a drink. Pre-written notes, phones and smartwatches are not allowed (test day guide, what you can have with you). The format is 4 video scenarios then 7 typed scenarios; see our guides to the video responses and typing speed.

A simple timeline

This is our own suggestion, not Acuity's.

Find your program's last Casper date on the Dates and Fees page and on the program's own site.
Submit your application so you have your IDs.
Take the free official practice test and the system check in your Acuity account.
Book a date at least a few weeks before the program's last date, not on it.
Do a few timed practice scenarios, then test.

If you want to practice, Acuity's own free 11-scenario practice test is the place to start. For extra timed practice with feedback, Confetto has an independent Casper Prep with a free set of video and typed scenarios (current pricing is on that page). You can also read our original sample scenarios, try the practice test, or follow our guide to preparing for Casper.

FAQ

When can I register for Casper 2026-27?

Dates for the 2026-27 cycle have been open since the spring; the first US dates listed were in March 2026. Open the Dates and Fees page, select your country, the 2026-2027 cycle and your program.

How much does Casper cost?

For US tests, Acuity listed $85 for the Medicine test (9 schools included) and $50 for US Casper 1 and 2, with $20 per extra school. Fees outside the US differ. Fees are non-refundable.

How far ahead should I book Casper?

Acuity requires at least 3 days and recommends the earliest date you can complete. Book earlier if you can, since slots can fill.

Can I retake Casper in the same cycle?

No, not for the same test type, except for a verified technical issue reported within a week.

Do I need Casper for every school?

Only the programs that ask for it. Each program decides, and some list Casper but do not require it. For medical schools, see which medical schools require Casper.

Sources

Acuity Insights, read October 6, 2026: the Dates and Fees page (US, English, 2026-2027 cycle) and Help Centre articles on reserving, rescheduling, retakes, score validity and test day. Dates and fees are as published that day and may have changed: check Acuity for current.

Casper is a registered trademark of Acuity Insights. Confetto offers independent practice and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Acuity Insights.