The Waiting Room.

JUNE 5 2025 UPDATE: UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA HAS REMOVED CASPER AS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE 2025-2026 CYCLE 

Pre-med student, Erik Soby, has successfully brought the issue of the CASPER test's relevance and efficacy in screening medical school applicants to mainstream media.

After much concern over the grading of the CASPER, an ethics exam written for 12 Canadian medical schools, the CBC has published a report outlining the issue. 

Major problems?

• Students do not receive their actual score, only a quartile

• The people grading have various academic backgrounds and may not be assessing each test fairly in order to increase their pay 

• People find their score to fluctuate heavily from cycle to cycle

• You must write your CASPER each year that you intend to apply 

• It can be pricey: $50 to write and $18 to release the score to each school

The greatest issue that has come to light is this: the CASPER test, despite having been used for years, does not have compelling evidence to be effective in assessing applicants. Plus, there are issues with conflict of interest as some CASPER-supporting studies have been done by Acuity staff (the host organization). 

Could this be the end of the CASPER? Does this mean something new will be added, or perhaps other sections will be weighted heavier? 

More developments are yet to come.

➡️Read more here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/gopublic/casper-test-medical-school-1.7507308

What’s New?

• $88 million investment over 3 years starting in 2026.

• Expands the Learn and Stay Grant to now include Family Medicine.

• Covers full tuition + direct education costs (books, supplies, equipment).

• In return? Students must commit to practice in Ontario with a full patient roster.

Why This Matters:

• Roughly 1 in 10 Ontarians still don’t have a family doctor.

• Goal: Connect 1.36 million more people to primary care.

Medical School Changes

• Starting in Fall 2026 (should apply to the 2025-2026 cycle applicants) 

  • 95% of med school seats reserved for Ontario residents.

  • Remaining 5% for out-of-province students.

  • Reviewing visa trainee programs to protect training spots for Ontarians.

• More support for internationally educated doctors to complete their training here.

More Schools, More Spots

• Two new med schools at TMU and York U.

• Largest med school expansion in a decade:

  • • Over 500 new undergrad spots.

    • Over 740 new residency spots by 2028.

Other Key Moves

• Practice Ready Ontario: Up to 100 foreign-trained family docs in rural communities by 2026.

• Extra $546 million to connect 600,000 more Ontarians to interprofessional care teams.

➡️Read more here: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005226/ontario-expanding-learn-and-stay-grant-to-train-more-family-doctors-in-ontario