NursingCAS Program User Guide
This guide provides you with documentation, reference guides, and direct links that answer common admissions questions about the NursingCAS Applicant Portal, Configuration Portal, and WebAdMIT. It also contains resources that may help you work more efficiently throughout your admissions process. If you have additional questions or need further assistance, please contact a member of your account team.
Cycle Timeframes
Applicant Portal
The Applicant Portal opens in early August and closes in late January, over a 17-month period. You can view the specific cycle dates, including final processing dates (e.g., last date to submit transcripts, last date to request letters of recommendation, etc.), on the NursingCAS Application Cycle Dates page.
Configuration Portal
Between mid-May and early July, configurations are entered into the prelaunch environment. The account team and AACN review submitted configurations in July.
WebAdMIT
You can view new applicants and initiate a transfer settings shortly after the new cycle opens in early August.
Program Participation Requirements
AACN requires all programs to designate two contacts at your institution who will receive all communication from AACN and NursingCAS, including the configuration, application, and WebAdMIT launch notifications.
AACN requires all organizations to sign a participation agreement to use NursingCAS. Reach out to ncas@aacnnursing.org if you have any questions regarding your participation form.
Applicant Portal
The first three sections of the NursingCAS application (i.e., Personal Information, Academic History, and Supporting Information) compose the core application. They contain questions that are commonly asked of applicants across all participating programs, such as an applicant's biographic information, standardized test scores, and experiences. The fourth section of the application is Program Materials, which is customized by you through the Configuration Portal (discussed in the next section).
You can access the NursingCAS application and NursingCAS Applicant Help Center to review the applicant experience. You can also create a test application in the Applicant Portal; we recommend creating a new account and adding "test" to your name (e.g., TestJohn TestDoe).
For a general overview of the applicant experience, review the following documents:
- Applicant Processing Reference Guide: learn how applicants move through the application and Liaison processes applicant materials, such as transcripts and official test scores.
- Application Statuses Reference Guide: review what each application status means and how you can interact with applicants at different stages.
- Review the requirements for the NursingCAS Complete application status.
- NursingCAS Quick Start Guide and FAQs: a suggested timeline for completing and submitting the application, links to important pages including cycle dates and fees, and a FAQs section.
You can direct any applicant inquiries related to the application to NursingCAS Customer Service.
Liaison Letters
When applicants request letters of recommendation, the recommender receives an email with a link to log in to Liaison Letters, the Recommender Portal. Applicants can request several types of evaluations, including:
- Recommendations with Likert scales: the recommender rates the applicant on various Likert criteria.
- Recommendations with a letter upload: the recommender uploads a letter of recommendation.
- Recommendations with Likert scales and a letter upload: the recommender rates the applicant on various Likert criteria and uploads a letter of recommendation.
Configuration Portal
Once you've configured your program, you'll need to have it approved by the account team and AACN before it is available to applicants. If your program is reviewed after the cycle launches, AACN will approve it.
Review the Program Transcript and Coursework Requirements and Application Statuses table below to learn how your transcript and coursework requirements affect the applicant's Application Status and the GPAs provided to you.
Program Transcript and Coursework Requirements and Application Statuses
This table is from the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center. All links below will redirect you to that help center.
Note that only bachelor's degrees and above are confirmed as awarded (if applicable) during verification.
WebAdMIT
Review the WebAdMIT Help Center for any questions related to working in WebAdMIT. The Reference Guides and WebAdMIT Training and Support sections are additional resources as you configure WebAdMIT for your needs. Documents commonly requested include:
- Application Coupons Reference Guide: learn how to request coupons to offset application fees and disperse them to applicants. To purchase coupons, use the Coupon Code Payment Gateway. To learn more about purchasing coupon codes, review our FAQs.
- Application Coupon Codes FAQs: view answers to frequently asked questions about coupon codes.
- Data Dictionaries and Master Code Lists: a comprehensive list of all fields available in the Export Manager and Report Manager, including associated lookup tables.
- Integration Help Center and WebAdMIT API: learn how to set up an API and schedule automatic data exports from WebAdMIT into your SIS/ERP.
- Manual Designations: learn how to add additional programs (i.e., designations) to an application in WebAdMIT.
- Requesting Official GRE CAS Codes: a guide on how to create CAS-specific codes in order to receive official GRE scores in WebAdMIT.
- Social Security Number (SSN) Documents Reference Guide: a guide on how to configure a PGP key to receive an encrypted file that contains the applicant's CAS ID and SSN.
- Transfer Settings Guide: a review of how programs and templates built in WebAdMIT are carried forward each cycle.
The Release Notes feature new enhancements in the Applicant Portal, Applicant Gateway, Configuration Portal, Liaison Letters, and WebAdMIT, in addition to upcoming training opportunities.
For any questions, contact the Client Support Specialist Team.
Cycle Enhancements
2026-2027
The table below contains enhancements for NursingCAS for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.
|
Portal |
Section |
Enhancement Details |
Implementation |
Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
User Interface |
The application is updated to a new, mobile-first, and modern applicant portal that we call CAS 3+. Visit the CAS 3+ Upgrade page to learn more about its key benefits and a preview of the upgraded application. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
Sign In Page |
For CASs that have overlapping cycles, a custom banner message appears, identifying the applicable cycle for the application. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Release Statement |
The Pre-Submission Release statement, where applicants can choose to share their basic contact information before they submit their application to your program, has been updated for conciseness. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Contact Information |
Applicants can validate their mailing addresses via the SmartyStreets integration. You can view verified address data from WebAdMIT. |
Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Race and Ethnicity |
The US OMB published a set of revisions to SPD 15, which results in a new combined race and ethnicity question, with Middle Eastern or North African added as a major race category. Review the release notes for more information about changes to the CAS Applicant Portal and Liaison Outcomes/WebAdMIT, as well as best practices in managing these changes. |
Action required by all participating programs. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
Academic History – High School Attended |
A High School Graduation Status question was added. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
Academic History – Standardized Tests |
Applicants can self-report their Duolingo test scores. You can view their scores under the Standardized Tests panel on the Applicant Details page. |
Action required by all participating programs. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – Achievements |
CASs can choose to collect and require country and state data for an applicant’s achievements (e.g., awards, honors, presentations, etc.). |
Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
Applicant-reported and Official Tests |
Starting January 21, 2026, ETS's TOEFL exam has a new 1-6 scoring scale for each section and overall total score. Review the release notes for more information about changes to the CAS Applicant Portal and Liaison Outcomes/WebAdMIT, as well as best practices in managing these changes. |
Action required by all participating programs. |
Available now |
|
CAS Configuration Portal |
Prerequisites |
You can now set the maximum number of courses that an applicant matches to a prerequisite. Review our best practices when using this feature. |
Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement. |
Available now |
|
CAS Configuration Portal |
Program Details |
The Seats Available program attribute can now be edited. Additionally, it now displays for applicants on the Add Program page and in Program Materials. A new URL(s) for Application on School Website program attribute is now available. |
Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement. |
Available now |
|
WebAdMIT |
Report Manager |
A new Multi-Row In Progress Report is available in the Report Manager, under the Applicant report type. |
Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
WebAdMIT |
Export Manager |
The Hispanic field in WebAdMIT aligns with the Do you consider yourself to be of Hispanic/Latino Origin? optional question from the CAS Applicant Portal. Currently, when users export this field from WebAdMIT, an applicant’s response populates as:
A new Hispanic (Yes / No / Blank) field has been created to accurately reflect an applicant’s response to this Do you consider yourself to be of Hispanic/Latino Origin? question:
The Hispanic (Yes / No / Blank) field is available in the:
The original Hispanic field is still available in WebAdMIT. |
Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
2025-2026
The table below contains enhancements for NursingCAS for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.
|
Portal |
Section |
Enhancement Details |
Implementation |
Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Biographic Information |
The X answer option was removed from the Gender question. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Other Information |
The first generation status question in the Additional Questions section was updated to: Are you the first generation in your family to attend college (i.e., neither your mother nor your father attended college)? |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
CAS Applicant Portal |
Academic History – Standardized Tests |
Applicants can self-report their Duolingo test scores. You can view their scores under the Standardized Tests panel on the Applicant Details page. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
CAS Configuration Portal |
Branding |
Pixel tracking can be enabled on the Add Programs and Program Materials sections to gain more insight into your program or organization's applicants. You can insert your tracking ID into the CAS Configuration Portal to establish standard tracking pixels from the major ad providers including Google, Meta, and LinkedIn. |
Action required by all participating programs. |
Available now |
|
Liaison Letters |
Recommendation Forms |
Recommenders can include comments on their ratings for Likert scales and questions. You can view their comments within WebAdMIT and the full application PDF. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Liaison Letters |
Email Templates |
The evaluation form type name is now included in the following email templates:
|
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
WebAdMIT |
List Manager Export Manager Scoring Applicant Header |
The following new fields were added:
|
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
WebAdMIT |
Export Manager |
The following fields were added to the Evaluators field grouping in WebAdMIT exports:
These fields correspond with the evaluations added via the Program Materials (Quadrant 4) section of the application. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
WebAdMIT |
Applicant Details Page Email Templates Export Manager List Manager |
The Title field is no longer collected in the application and will be removed from WebAdMIT. You will need to update any lists, exports, emails, and other integrations to account for this field removal. |
Action required by all participating programs. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
WebAdMIT |
Applicant Details Page Export Manager List Manager |
If your CAS has different recommendation types, a Letter Type column appears in the Evaluations panel and contains data for program-level recommendations. Additionally, a new Evaluation Sub Type field is available in the List Manager and Export Manager. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
WebAdMIT |
Applicant Details Page Export Manager List Manager |
The Refugee answer option was removed from the Visa Information question in the application; the correct option, I-94 Refugee, remains available. You should update any lists, exports, and other integrations to account for this answer option removal. |
Action required by all participating programs. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
WebAdMIT |
Applicant Details Page |
You have partial (i.e., limited) viewing rights for applicants in the On Hold application status. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
WebAdMIT |
Applicant Details Page |
The CAS Custom Questions panel has subpanels by question block, so you can more easily find applicant data and restrict your users' access to it via Work Groups. |
Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |