Conditional Admission to Pharmacy (CAP)

CAP applicants must have a high school admission average of 90.0% or greater, as calculated by the Faculty of Science at Waterloo.

CAP applicants in year one CEGEP (with a minimum of 12 semestered academic courses) must have an admission average of 85.0% or greater, as calculated by the Faculty of Science at Waterloo.

See How to apply for CAP for more information on the programs eligible for CAP status and visit the program sites to learn more about the required courses.

All applicants are required to complete Casper and Duet as part of their application for the CAP 2025 admissions cycle. 

• Casper: 90-110 minute online, open-response situational judgment test
• Duet: 15-minute value-alignment assessment

You will register for the assessments for: Undergraduate Health Sciences (CSP-10202)

Casper and Duet measure different personal and professional competencies and attributes that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. These assessments will complement the other tools we use for applicant review and evaluation, as part of our efforts to enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process. 

Casper and Duet are administered by Acuity Insights.

How to sign up for Casper and Duet

• Create an Acuity Insights account and register to complete Casper and Duet.
  •  You will register for Undergraduate Health Sciences (CSP-10202) using your Waterloo ID# and a piece of government-issued photo ID. 
  • Note: if you do not have a Waterloo ID# yet, you can start the process, but you will have to update your file with your accurate Waterloo ID# by the distribution deadline.
  • Please register with the email address you are using for your application and check it regularly, as there may be updates to the test schedule.
• Select a Casper test date from the available testing dates and times, which have been approved in line with our admissions timelines. 
  • Duet will automatically show on your account homepage after reserving Casper.
  • These are the only testing dates for applying to our program and no additional tests will be scheduled. 
• Register for your test at least 3 days before your preferred test date and time to allow time to perform a system requirements check and take the sample test in your account. Last-minute bookings are not recommended.
• Ensure you have selected Conditional Admissions to Pharmacy for distribution before the distribution deadline listed on the Dates and Fees page.
• Although you can take Duet anytime after booking your Casper test, it should be completed within 14 days of taking Casper. The final deadline is the same as the final Casper test date.

Technical requirements for Casper and Duet

To take the assessments, you will need a:

• Valid email address (the same one you will use to submit your application).
• Desktop or laptop computer, ideally using Windows or macOS.
  • Smartphones and tablets are not supported.
• Working webcam and microphone.
  • Wired inputs or your computer’s built-in microphone are recommended.
• Reliable high-speed internet connection with download speeds of at least 1.5 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 2 Mbps.

Learn more about technical requirements.

Accomodations

Applicants requiring testing accommodations to complete Casper and Duet should submit an Initial Request Form (Part 1 and 2) at least four (4) weeks prior to their scheduled Casper test date. 

Learn more about the accommodations policy.

Help with Casper and Duet

If you have any questions, please contact the Acuity Insights team via the chat bubble on the bottom right of your Acuity Insights account or the Casper site. You can also review their collection of Frequently Asked Questions.

Resources to help you prepare

• Webinar for applicants - Everything You Need to Know About Taking Casper (2024/25)
• Dates and Fees
• Prepare for Casper
• FAQ

*Acuity Insights is not affiliated with any test prep company, nor does Acuity Insights endorse any third-party services for preparing for Casper. Because Casper is designed to elicit authentic responses, applicants don’t need anything to prepare other than taking the free practice test in their Acuity Insights account or reviewing the information provided on the Casper site.

The AIF provides the Admissions Committee with insights into the applicant’s personal qualities, extracurricular accomplishments, and motivation for a career in Pharmacy.

Your AIF should demonstrate:

• Motivation and passion for pursuing a career in the profession of pharmacy.
• Recognized contributions to leadership activities and community involvement through extracurricular activities.
• Pharmacy experience (work or volunteer) and if possible, work experience (either part-time or full-time).

For guidance on how to complete your AIF, please visit the Waterloo AIF information web page and watch the Waterloo AIF video series.

A section within the AIF asks you to provide the name and contact information for two individuals who will serve as your references:

• One academic (e.g., teacher, principal, or guidance counsellor).
• One from an employer or volunteer agency (someone you had a contractual responsibility with to either provide a service through employment or a service through a volunteer agreement).

Once you complete the AIF, your references will receive an email to submit a reference within 3 business days.

Note: Applicants who do not submit exactly two references will not be considered for CAP status.

References will not be accepted from relatives of the applicant.

If the last four years of your education have not been taught completely in English, you must provide a score from an acceptable test of English proficiency. More information can be found on the English language requirements web page.

High school transcripts are required for out-of-province and international applicants only.

The virtual interview will be an asynchronous assessment completed using the Kira Talent online platform.

Applicants who have successfully completed all other admission requirements by the specified deadlines on the Application Timeline, will receive an invitation to participate in the virtual interview process.

Candidates will be given a window of time to complete the virtual interview process. The virtual interview will be compromised of both video and written responses where candidates will be given the opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee more details about themselves and demonstrate their intent, motivation, and fit for the profession of pharmacy and Waterloo’s CAP status program.