Which nursing entrance exam do you need?

Learning that your program wants “an entrance exam” can feel vague, because there is more than one. You do not have to choose, though. Your program names the exam, and this guide shows you how to find it.

What is a nursing entrance exam?

A nursing entrance exam is a standardized test. A program uses it, along with your grades, to judge whether you are ready for its coursework. Programs pick the exam and set the passing score.

Elsevier calls the HESI A2 “a customizable admissions tool” that measures English, math and science. Most of these tests cover reading, math and science in some form.

This article compares four exams that appear on current program pages. The table also adds one more test that some practical nursing programs use.

Which nursing entrance exams are most common?

The ATI TEAS, the HESI A2, the Kaplan Admissions Test and the NLN Nursing Entrance Exam all appear on current program pages. We found no official count of how many schools use each one.

	ATI TEAS 7	HESI A2	Kaplan Admissions Test	NLN NEX (formerly PAX)	Wonderlic SLE
Made by	ATI	Elsevier	Kaplan	National League for Nursing (NLN)	Wonderlic
Sections	Reading, Math, Science, English and Language Usage	Modules your school picks; Elsevier describes English, math and science	Reading, Math, Writing, Science	Verbal, Math, Science	One test of cognitive ability
Questions	170 (150 scored)	No universal count in the Elsevier guides we read; Georgia Southern’s five modules total 250	91 at Rowan-Cabarrus and Eastern Mennonite; no count on Kaplan’s page	163 (145 scored)	50 (30 on the remote Quicktest)
Time	209 minutes	No universal time in the Elsevier guides we read; Georgia Southern’s module times add up to 235 minutes	165 minutes at the same two schools; no time on Kaplan’s page	60 minutes per subject test, 3 hours total	12 minutes (8 on the Quicktest)
Scoring	0 to 100%, with total and content scores adjusted across forms	Percent per module on school pages; programs set minimums	Percent minimums on school pages; Kaplan’s page does not explain scoring	Percent score per subject test plus a composite score, with percentile ranks	Fortis sets its own minimum for each program
Where you take it	At home with ATI’s online proctor, at your school, or through PSI (test center or online)	On site, or remotely with a proctor if your school offers it	School testing centers on the pages we read	At an approved testing center, or remotely with a live proctor, depending on the school	Proctored, online or on paper; Wonderlic lists both on-site and remote, and calls the Quicktest its remote version

The TEAS column is from ATI’s pages, and the NLN column is from the NLN’s technical brief. The HESI column is from Elsevier and Georgia Southern, whose numbers describe that one school’s setup, not a universal format. The Wonderlic column is from Wonderlic’s page, and its nursing use is from Fortis.

The Kaplan numbers come from schools, not Kaplan. Kaplan’s page for nursing programs lists the four subjects but no question counts or times. It also says programs can choose from a variety of assessments. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Eastern Mennonite University report 91 questions and 165 minutes. Blue Ridge Community College says to plan for at least 2.5 hours. Ask your school which version it gives.

The NEX replaced the PAX. The NLN released the NEX in February 2024, with longer sections and fewer scored items than the PAX, so older PAX guides won’t match. Some schools still say “pre-admission exam,” as College of Staten Island’s Fall 2026 NEX guide does.

How do you find out which exam your program wants?

Open the admissions page of every program you plan to apply to, because it names the exam.

Then write down five things for each school:

1. The exam name and, for the HESI A2, which modules it counts.
2. The minimum score.
3. How old a score can be. Georgia Southern accepts HESI A2 results from the last 12 months, and Dona Ana accepts NLN scores for 24 months.
4. Where you must test. Georgia Southern warns that some programs will not take scores unless you test at their own center.
5. The retake rule.

Some schools accept more than one exam. UTHealth Houston’s Pacesetter BSN says applicants who took prerequisites elsewhere must take either the HESI A2 or the TEAS. If the page is unclear, email admissions before you pay, since ATI warns that registering for the wrong TEAS format is not refundable.

We build practice for two of these exams only: the TEAS and the HESI A2. We do not cover Kaplan, the NLN exam or Wonderlic, and we are not affiliated with any of these exam makers. If your list includes the TEAS or HESI A2, our TEAS vs HESI A2 guide explains the difference. You can also try the free TEAS practice test or HESI A2 practice test.

Do LPN programs use the same entrance exams?

Often yes, but not always, so check the LPN program’s own page. An LPN nursing entrance exam can be the same test an RN program uses, or a different one.

Here are four practical nursing examples from school pages:

• Southeast Technical College (LPN): requires the TEAS, with a Math minimum of 62 and a Reading minimum of 73.
• Florida State College at Jacksonville (Practical Nursing): requires the HESI A2, taken as nine sub-tests in one sitting.
• Hazard Community and Technical College (PN): lists the NLN NEX, taken remotely with Proctor360.
• Fortis (Salt Lake City catalog): uses the Wonderlic SLE for Practical Nursing, with a minimum score of 19.

The same Fortis page sets 22 as the minimum for its associate degree in nursing. Do not assume a score from one program will work at another.

What counts as a passing score?

There is no single passing score, because each program sets its own. ATI says plainly that there is no universal passing score for the TEAS.

These examples show how much the numbers differ. All come from school pages, and each applies only to that program.

Exam	School	Score it lists
TEAS	Southeast Technical College (LPN)	Math 62, Reading 73
HESI A2	Florida State College at Jacksonville (PN)	75% average on four tests, at least 70% on each
HESI A2	UTHealth Houston	85% on each section recommended
Kaplan	Eastern Mennonite University	66% overall and 50% in Science
Kaplan	Blue Ridge Community College	45% on each section
NLN NEX	Dona Ana Community College	Verbal 66%, Math 63%, Science 62%, composite 145

A score under one school’s line may clear another’s. The NLN also says schools decide how to use NEX scores. Aim for your own program’s number, plus a margin.

Can you retake a nursing entrance exam?

Often yes, but your program usually sets how many tries you get and how long you wait. ATI says it does not cap TEAS attempts, though many schools do. We found no general HESI A2 cap in the Elsevier guides we read.

The limits vary a lot:

• UTHealth Houston: two attempts in total, in any mix of TEAS and HESI A2, and the last attempt counts.
• Georgia Southern (HESI A2): two attempts in 12 months, at least 30 days apart.
• Dona Ana (NLN NEX): 30 days between tries, up to twice a semester and four in a lifetime.
• College of Staten Island (NLN NEX): a six-month wait.
• Rowan-Cabarrus (Kaplan): one test and one retest per admission cycle.

For exam-specific rules, read our posts on how many times you can take the TEAS and how many times you can take the HESI. A low score is not the end. Look up the retake rule first, then plan your next date.

Do any nursing programs skip the entrance exam?

Yes, some do, and they may rely on grades instead. Northern Illinois University’s FAQ for its traditional BS in nursing says no TEAS, HESI or reading comprehension score is required. For transfer and current NIU students, it asks for a prerequisite GPA and an overall GPA of at least 2.75.

Other schools waive the exam for some applicants. Southeast Technical College waives the TEAS for applicants with ACT sub-scores of at least 21 in both Reading and Math. Fortis exempts applicants with a valid, unencumbered VN or PN license from the Wonderlic in its associate degree in nursing program.

These policies change by application cycle. Confirm each one with the school before you skip your prep.

Quick answers

Do all nursing schools require an entrance exam? No. Northern Illinois University’s traditional BS in nursing does not, and some schools waive it in certain cases. Check each program.

Is one nursing entrance exam harder than the others? We found no official difficulty ranking, and the exam you take is your program’s choice. Focus on the one your list requires.

How long should you prepare? We found no official study time for first attempts. ATI’s registration page says many students prepare for at least six weeks between TEAS attempts.

Can you take a nursing entrance exam at home? Sometimes. ATI offers a TEAS proctored online, and the HESI A2 and NLN NEX have remote options at some schools. Your program decides whether it accepts them.

How long do scores last? It depends on the school. Georgia Southern allows 12 months for the HESI A2. Dona Ana allows 24 months for the NLN exam. Fortis allows three years for a passing Wonderlic score.