Exam guides

No single HESI A2 retake limit applies everywhere: each nursing program sets its own. See how seven schools handle attempts, waits, fees and expiry.

ATI sets no limit on TEAS attempts, but your nursing program does. See retake rules at six schools, what a retake costs, and how to plan your next try.

Nursing math conversion chart: metric, household, weight, length, temperature and time, with exact and rounded values marked, plus 4 worked examples.

Math for nursing is mostly arithmetic: fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and conversions. See what exams and dosage tests cover and where to start.

Nursing as a second career is possible through LPN, ADN, BSN or accelerated BSN programs. See timelines, old credits, entrance exams, cost and pay.

Nursing entrance exams are admission tests, and your program picks which one. Compare the ATI TEAS, HESI A2, Kaplan and NLN exams and find yours.

Pre-nursing is a track for students finishing prerequisites before applying to a nursing program. It is not a license or a guarantee of admission.

What is a good TEAS score? ATI sets no passing score. See TEAS scores by level (Proficient starts at 58.7%), school cutoffs and how to read your report.

How to become a pharmacy technician: finish high school, train in a program or on the job, register with your state and pass the PTCB or ExCPT exam.

How long is nursing school? About 1 year for an LPN, 2 to 4 years for an ADN, 4 years for a BSN, and 12 to 18 months for an accelerated BSN.

Pharmacy technician salary: BLS puts median pay at $45,750 a year, or $22.00 an hour, in May 2025. See pay by state and setting, ranges and job outlook.

You can take the NCLEX up to 8 times a year, with 45 days between attempts, but your state board may set tighter limits. Here's the NCLEX retake policy.

Is the TEAS hard? TEAS 7 packs 170 questions into 209 minutes, about 60–90 seconds each. See timing by section, the scores schools want, and a study plan.

LPN vs RN: LPNs train about a year and take the NCLEX-PN; RNs earn a degree, take the NCLEX-RN, and earn more ($97,550 vs $64,400 median, BLS 2025).

The NCLEX-RN pass rate for first-time US-educated candidates was 86.7% in 2025 and is 87.0% so far in 2026 (NCSBN). Repeat, PN and school rates inside.

NCLEX Quick Results cost $7.95 and arrive two business days after the exam, if your board takes part. Official results come within six weeks.

Nursing school prerequisites usually mean A&P I and II, microbiology, chemistry, English and psychology, a 2.5–3.0 GPA, and a TEAS or HESI A2 score.

PTCB vs ExCPT: the PTCE has 90 questions, costs $129 and needs 1,400 to pass; the ExCPT has 120 questions and needs 390. Compare eligibility and renewal.

HESI vs TEAS: your school decides which it accepts. TEAS has 170 fixed questions in 4 sections; the HESI A2 is modular. Compare format, cost and retakes.