Nursing School Prerequisites and Entrance Exams (TEAS, HESI A2)

Getting into a nursing program usually takes more than a completed application. Many programs ask you to finish specific college courses first, hold a minimum grade point average, sit an entrance exam and clear health and background screening. None of this is uniform: each school, and often each program within a school, sets its own list. This guide explains the common pieces so you know what to look for when you compare programs.

Start with the program, not a national checklist

There is no single national set of nursing admission requirements. A community-college ADN program, a four-year BSN program, an accelerated BSN for people who already hold a bachelor's degree and a practical nursing program (LPN/LVN) can each ask for different courses, scores and deadlines. Some programs admit students directly as first-year applicants, while others only admit after you finish a set of prerequisites, so the application may open a year or more after you start college.

Treat every requirement on this page as something to confirm on the program's own admissions page and with an admissions advisor. Your state board of nursing sets the rules for licensure, but the school sets the rules for getting in.

Science and general prerequisites

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that nursing education programs usually include coursework in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology and the social and behavioral sciences. Programs often turn these subjects into prerequisites that must be completed before the clinical nursing courses begin. Typical items you may see on a prerequisite list include:

• Anatomy and physiology, sometimes as a two-course sequence with labs
• Microbiology
• Chemistry, in some programs
• Statistics or another math course
• Psychology or human development
• English composition and other general education courses

Check three details for each course: whether a lab is required, how old a course can be before it expires, and whether credit from another college or from exam credit will be accepted. Ask each program for its list in writing, because two schools in the same city may disagree.

Grade point average rules

Programs commonly publish a minimum GPA, and some apply separate minimums to the prerequisite courses. When a program receives more qualified applicants than it can seat, meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission. Some schools rank applicants with a point system that combines grades, test scores and other factors; others use a waitlist. We do not report typical GPA cutoffs because they are set school by school and change from year to year. Read the admission criteria and any published selection process for the specific program.

Entrance exams: TEAS and HESI A2

Many prelicensure programs require a standardized admission test. Two widely used ones are the TEAS from ATI and the HESI Admission Assessment (A2) from Elsevier. Programs decide whether to require one, which one, and what score counts.

The ATI TEAS

According to ATI, the TEAS (Version 7) has 170 questions and allows 209 minutes of testing time. It is divided into four sections: reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage. The science section covers human anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry and scientific reasoning. ATI says the exam can be taken in person at a school or a PSI testing center, or online with a remote proctor, and that not every exam type allows rescheduling, so read the rules before you register.

ATI also states that a share of qualified applicants are turned away from nursing programs and recommends allowing several weeks of preparation. Treat that as a reminder to plan ahead, not as a prediction for your own application. ATI sells its own prep products; ask your school what it recommends before you buy anything.

The HESI Admission Assessment

Elsevier describes the HESI Admission Assessment Exam as a tool programs use to evaluate applicants on their existing knowledge in the areas that matter for the program. Elsevier's materials say HESI assessments can be administered in person or with live remote proctoring, with customizable administration. In practice this means the format, the sections required and the minimum scores can differ by school. Ask the school which sections count, whether scores from a previous attempt are accepted and how long a score stays valid.

Before you register for a test

• Ask which exam the program accepts, and do not assume one can substitute for the other.
• Ask about retake limits and waiting periods; they are set by both the test maker and the school.
• Ask whether the school hosts the exam on campus or requires you to book through the test maker.
• If you need testing accommodations, request them early and in writing; ATI notes accommodations may be available for documented disabilities.

Background checks, health screening and clinical requirements

Because nursing students train in clinical settings, programs often add requirements beyond academics. Ask whether yours expects immunization or titer records, a health screening, CPR or basic life support certification, a criminal background check or a drug screen. BLS notes that nursing positions may require CPR, basic life support or advanced cardiac life support certification, so the habit starts early.

Background checks matter again at licensure. BLS notes that registered nurses must be licensed by the state where they work, and that requirements such as passing a criminal background check vary by state and are set out by each state's board of nursing. If you have a criminal history or another issue that could affect licensure, contact your state board of nursing before you invest in a program, and ask the school how it handles such cases.

Graduate program requirements

Graduate-level admission looks different. BLS reports that nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists must earn at least a master's degree in their role. For MSN and DNP programs and post-master's certificates, expect to be asked for an active RN license, transcripts and a way to show readiness for graduate study. Some programs may list the GRE or a minimum amount of RN work experience, while others do not, and requirements can vary by specialty track. Because these rules are program-specific, read the admissions page closely, and see our guide to nurse practitioner specialties for how specialty tracks fit inside a graduate degree.

A practical checklist

1. List three to five programs and open each one's admissions page.
2. Write down prerequisites, minimum GPA, required exam, deadlines and screening items in one table.
3. Check that the program is accredited and approved in your state; see our methodology for how this site handles that.
4. Contact the admissions office with anything unclear and keep the answers in writing.
5. Confirm licensure rules, including background-check policy, with your state board of nursing.

Browse schools by state or compare programs to start building your list.