The TEAS exam — Test of Essential Academic Skills — is administered by ATI Testing and is required by the majority of associate degree nursing (ADN) and bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs in the United States as part of the application and admission process. Understanding TEAS exam eligibility means understanding two distinct things: the ATI registration requirements (which are minimal — essentially anyone can register) and the score requirements imposed by individual nursing programs (which vary significantly and determine whether your score makes you eligible for admission to a specific program).

ATI Testing imposes no formal academic prerequisites or credential requirements to register for the TEAS exam. You do not need a high school diploma, a GED, or any prior coursework to register and sit the TEAS. This means the exam is technically open to any individual who can pay the testing fee and schedule an appointment.

In practice, the TEAS is taken by candidates who are preparing to apply to nursing programs — the score is required by the nursing program, not by ATI — so most test takers are high school graduates or adults with some prior education who are pursuing nursing as a career. But from ATI's registration standpoint, there are no gatekeeping eligibility requirements for the test itself.

The TEAS exam is available through two delivery methods: in-person at ATI-approved testing centres or at academic institutions that administer the TEAS to their applicants, and via online remote proctoring for candidates who prefer to test from home. Not all nursing programs accept results from both delivery methods — some schools require applicants to take the institution-proctored version at a designated testing centre to ensure test security. Confirm with each nursing program you are applying to whether they accept ATI-proctored scores, institution-proctored scores, or both. Submitting a score from an unaccepted delivery method would require you to retake the exam.

TEAS scores are reported on a percentage scale from 0 to 100, with the composite score representing overall performance across the four content areas: Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English and Language Usage. Most competitive nursing programs require composite scores in the range of 60-75 or higher, though the specific minimum requirement — and whether it is treated as a minimum cutoff or a competitive benchmark — varies considerably by program.

A score of 60% may be the minimum to apply to a community college ADN program in a less competitive market, while a score of 80 or higher may be needed to be competitive for admission to a selective BSN program at a state university receiving many more applications than available seats. Research the specific score requirements and average admitted applicant scores at each program you are applying to before setting your target score.

What is a good TEAS score for nursing school? The answer depends entirely on the programs you are targeting. A score at or above 70% is generally considered competitive for most ADN programs. A score above 75-80% is generally considered competitive for most BSN programs. Highly selective BSN programs at major research universities may have average admitted applicant scores of 85 or higher. Some programs publish their minimum required scores; others publish the average score of their admitted applicant cohort.

Where average scores are published, aim to score at or above the average to be competitive — being at the minimum does not make you a competitive applicant when many candidates score well above the minimum. Candidates who are unsure whether their score is competitive for a specific program can often call the admissions office directly — many programs will tell you if your score falls within the competitive range for their current applicant pool.

The TEAS retake policy at the ATI level allows unlimited retakes, but individual nursing programs typically impose their own retake limitations. Common school policies include: allowing a maximum of two or three retakes within a 12-month period, requiring a waiting period of 30-60 days between attempts, counting only the most recent score (not the highest), counting only scores within a certain timeframe (typically 12-24 months), or averaging multiple scores.

The variation in retake policies across programs is significant, which is why candidates who take the TEAS multiple times should research the retake policies of all programs they are applying to before their second or third attempt. Submitting a lower retake score to a program that counts only the most recent result could hurt your application if your first score was higher.

The TEAS exam is divided into four sections that correspond to core academic skill areas required for success in nursing school. The Reading section tests comprehension, inference, and evaluation of written passages relevant to health and science contexts. The Mathematics section covers arithmetic, algebra, measurement, and data interpretation — the mathematical skills required for medication dosage calculations and clinical data analysis.

The Science section covers biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and scientific reasoning — the foundational science knowledge required for nursing coursework. The English and Language Usage section tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and vocabulary. Each section is scored separately, and many programs review both composite scores and individual section scores as part of their admissions evaluation.

The TEAS V7 (Version 7) is the current exam version. It contains 170 questions, of which 150 are scored and 20 are unscored pretest questions distributed throughout the exam. The total allotted time is 209 minutes (3 hours and 29 minutes). Question distribution: Reading (45 questions, 64 minutes), Mathematics (38 questions, 57 minutes), Science (50 questions, 63 minutes), English and Language Usage (37 questions, 37 minutes). Time allocation by section is strict — unused time from one section cannot be carried over to another.

The TEAS V7 reflects the updated examination content outline released by ATI in 2022 and differs from previous versions in its content emphasis and question format, so study materials should explicitly target TEAS V7.

Preparing for the TEAS exam before applying to nursing school is one of the most important investments you can make in your application. Unlike undergraduate GPA, which is already fixed by the time you apply, the TEAS score is something you can influence directly through targeted preparation.

Many nursing school applicants underestimate the TEAS and treat it as a formality — only to discover after receiving lower-than-expected scores that their target programs are no longer achievable. Treating the TEAS seriously and preparing adequately before your first attempt gives you the best chance of scoring competitively on your first try, without needing to use retake attempts.

A calculator is permitted for designated questions in the Mathematics section of the TEAS V7. ATI provides an on-screen calculator for the sections and questions where calculator use is allowed — you cannot bring your own physical calculator. The calculator is a basic four-function calculator with a limited set of functions. Understanding which types of Math questions are calculator-enabled and practising with an on-screen calculator interface rather than a physical one is worth incorporating into your TEAS Math preparation. Some candidates who are accustomed to physical calculators find the on-screen interface slower, which can affect performance under time pressure.

The TEAS Science section is frequently identified as the most challenging section for candidates without a strong background in biology and chemistry. The section covers human anatomy and physiology (respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, reproductive, nervous, and other body systems), life and physical sciences (cell biology, genetics, chemistry, physics), and scientific reasoning.

The anatomy and physiology content is the most clinically relevant component and is the area where nursing applicants with prior healthcare work experience or coursework have the greatest advantage. Candidates who have not taken biology or chemistry recently should plan to spend the most study time on Science relative to their current knowledge base.

Score requirements for the TEAS exam are set by individual nursing programs, not by ATI. This means there is no universal TEAS passing score — whether your score is sufficient depends entirely on which programs you are applying to and what their admissions criteria specify. Understanding how different program types approach TEAS score requirements helps you set a realistic target and evaluate your options based on your current score.

Community college ADN (associate degree in nursing) programs generally have lower minimum TEAS score requirements than university BSN programs, reflecting the different competitive dynamics of each program type.

Community college programs that primarily serve local applicants and have less selective admissions processes may accept composite scores as low as 55-62%. However, even at community colleges, meeting only the minimum score in a highly competitive application cycle may not be sufficient for admission if the program is receiving many applicants with higher scores. A minimum score is not a guaranteed admission score — it is the floor below which applications are not considered.

University BSN programs vary significantly in their selectivity and corresponding TEAS score expectations. State university BSN programs with open enrollment or moderate selectivity typically require composites of 65-75. Highly selective BSN programs at flagship state universities or private institutions may effectively require 80 or higher based on the scores of recently admitted cohorts, even if their stated minimum is lower.

Accelerated BSN programs for post-baccalaureate candidates seeking a second degree tend to be among the most selective nursing programs and often have the highest effective TEAS score bars. If you are targeting a selective program, researching the average score of admitted applicants — which some programs publish — provides a more accurate target than the stated minimum.

LPN (licensed practical nurse) programs have the most variable TEAS requirements. Many LPN programs, particularly certificate programs offered through vocational schools, community colleges, or hospital-affiliated training programs, do not require the TEAS at all. Some LPN programs use their own internal assessments (such as the HESI A2 or TABE) rather than the TEAS.

Candidates who are specifically interested in LPN programs and want to avoid the TEAS can search for LPN programs that don't require the TEAS test — these exist and may be a pathway to nursing if TEAS preparation is a significant obstacle. However, candidates who plan to eventually pursue an LPN-to-RN bridge program should be aware that the bridge program may require TEAS scores, so avoiding the TEAS entirely may only delay the requirement.

The individual section scores reported by ATI can affect your eligibility for specific nursing programs independently of your composite score. Some programs have minimum scores for specific sections — particularly the Science section and the Mathematics section — because these content areas are most directly predictive of performance in core nursing coursework.

A candidate whose composite score meets the program minimum but whose Science score is below a separately specified minimum may still be ineligible for admission. Review the full score requirement criteria for each program, not just the composite score minimum, before determining whether your TEAS results make you eligible to apply.

Sending TEAS scores to nursing programs is done through ATI's score delivery system. ATI maintains your official score reports and allows you to designate schools to receive your scores — either at the time of testing or afterward through your ATI account. There is typically a fee for sending scores to each program beyond the initial free recipients, though fee structures vary by ATI's current pricing.

Some programs require official TEAS scores sent directly from ATI; others accept self-reported scores for initial application screening and request official scores from admitted candidates. Confirm the score submission requirements for each program to avoid delays in your application.

Candidates who want to improve their TEAS scores should approach each retake as a targeted study opportunity rather than simply retaking the exam without additional preparation. Identify which sections and topics within sections produced your lowest scores on the previous attempt, then focus your preparation on those specific areas. The TEAS Math section is one of the most improvable areas through targeted practice — algebra, proportions, and unit conversions are learnable skills that respond well to structured practice.

The TEAS Science section — particularly anatomy and physiology — requires content knowledge that takes more time to build but is highly predictable in what it covers. ATI offers official study materials and practice tests designed to mirror the actual exam format, which are worth using regardless of what other third-party resources you use.

The TEAS Reading section requires comprehension and analysis of written passages rather than factual knowledge. This makes it one of the most practice-dependent sections — reading skills improve primarily through repeated practice with passage-based questions, not through memorisation. The section uses passages from health, science, and general informational contexts.

Key skills tested include identifying the main idea and supporting details, making inferences from text, evaluating the author's purpose and tone, understanding the structure of informational texts (charts, graphs, tables included), and applying information from passages to new contexts. Candidates who read widely and practice active reading comprehension with timed passages typically see consistent improvement in this section.

ATI's TEAS score report provides sub-section breakdowns showing your performance within each of the four main content areas. These breakdowns identify specific topic areas where your performance was below average, which is valuable information for planning a targeted retake preparation strategy. For example, a Science score that is below your target may reflect a specific weakness in chemistry rather than a general science deficiency — and your sub-section report will show you where the gap is. Using sub-section data to guide focused preparation is more efficient than studying all sections equally when you are preparing for a retake.