The ATI TEAS® (Test of Essential Academic Skills) is a standardized exam that nursing schools and allied health programs use to assess a candidate’s readiness for their program. These are the questions we hear most often, with links to the full answers.
About the exam
What is the ATI TEAS exam?
A standardized test of the academic skills you’ll rely on in a nursing or allied health program: reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage. Programs use it as part of their admissions decision. More about the ATI TEAS
How is the TEAS structured?
Four sections, taken in this order: reading, math, science, and English and language usage. The exam has 170 questions and a total time of 209 minutes, with each section timed separately. You can move between questions within a section, but once you finish a section you cannot return to it. A small number of unscored pretest questions are mixed in and do not count toward your score. Sections, question counts, and time limits
What is the passing score?
There is no universal passing score. Each school sets its own minimum, and many weigh the TEAS alongside GPA and other factors, so check the requirements of the program you’re applying to. What score do I need?
How much does the TEAS cost?
The fee depends on where and how you test — through your school, through PSI (test center or online), or remotely with ATI proctoring — and is set by the school or testing provider. Current TEAS exam costs
Registering and preparing
How do I register?
Start with the school you’re applying to: it decides whether you test on campus, through PSI (at a test center or online), or remotely through ATI, and tells you how to register. Whichever way you test, you’ll need an ATI account to see your results and send transcripts. When you are ready, register at atitesting.com/teas/register. How to register · Create an ATI account
Do I need to link my ATI account to my school?
Yes. When you create your account — or in Profile › Institution if you already have one — select the school you’re applying to. This is how your results and transcripts are matched to your application, and for some schools it also loads the practice items you need before exam day.
How should I prepare?
Start by finding out where you stand with the free online practice test, then study your weakest subjects first. ATI’s official prep — SmartPrep, practice tests, the Study Guide, and the app — is built by the creators of the exam and aligned to it. SmartPrep students have raised their average score by 7.5 percentage points. How to prepare for the TEAS
Where do I find my TEAS Prep after I buy it?
In your ATI account under MY ATI: SmartPrep and the Study Guide eBook are on the Learn tab, practice tests on the Assessments tab, Flashcards on the Flashcards Hub tab, and the app is downloaded from your app store. How to access your ATI TEAS Prep
Can I get testing accommodations?
Yes. Accommodations are available for every TEAS format, but how you request them depends on where you test, and most require at least 30 days’ notice. TEAS testing accommodations
Can I reschedule?
If you scheduled and paid for your exam on atitesting.com — TEAS at ATI, TEAS Online at Institution, or TEAS at Institution — you can reschedule through your ATI account for a fee, as long as another slot is available. TEAS at PSI exams are rescheduled with PSI, but you can start from your ATI account: open the TEAS Proctored by PSI card and click Manage Exam (it takes you to the PSI site), or call PSI at 833-537-1330. Changes must be received at least 2 days before your test date to keep your fee. Chamberlain University applicants contact the Chamberlain TEAS support team. Rescheduling policy
Can I retake the TEAS?
Yes. ATI does not require a waiting period between attempts. Retake rules — how many attempts are allowed and whether any time must pass between them — are set by the program you’re applying to, so check its policy before you register again. Retaking the TEAS
Exam day
What time do I need to sign in?
It depends on who proctors your exam. TEAS at ATI: you choose a date and time when you register, but you may sign in and begin any time during ATI testing hours on your exam date — 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT on Mondays, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT Tuesday through Friday, and 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT on Saturdays. You must be actively testing (past the pre-checks and on your first question) by the cutoff time. Remote exams proctored by your school or Chamberlain University: your exam begins at your scheduled start time, with a 30-minute grace period. In-person exams: no grace period — everyone starts together, so arrive early. In every case, sign in at least 30 minutes before you plan to start, and remember that ATI-proctored times are in Central Time. Testing hours and start times
What do I need to bring?
A physical, current, government-issued photo ID with the same first and last name as your ATI account, and your ATI login. Exam day requirements · Accepted ID
Do I need a calculator?
No. A calculator is built into the exam, and personal calculators are not allowed. The same calculator appears in ATI’s online practice tests and SmartPrep, so you can get used to it before test day. More about the calculator
Can I use scratch paper? What can be on my desk?
You may have one blank sheet of scratch paper or a small whiteboard, plus two writing instruments (in case one stops working) — nothing else. No drinks, snacks, phones, smartwatches, smart glasses, notes, or tissues on the desk, whether you test at home or in person. The paper or whiteboard must be blank when the exam starts; destroy the paper or erase the board when you finish. Scratch paper rules
How do I set up my room for an at-home exam?
A quiet, well-lit, private room with a clear desk; you’ll complete a room scan and stay fully visible on camera. Public locations such as cars, coffee shops, and open library areas are not allowed; in a library, reserve a private room, and keep your back away from windows. Room requirements
Can I take a break?
Yes — one 10-minute break after the math section, whether you test at home, at your school, or at a test center. Break policy
Can I wear headphones?
Not without an approved accommodation. Headphones and earplugs count as a testing accommodation and must be requested in advance. Request an accommodation
Can I wear a hat or head covering?
No — your face must be fully visible to the proctor and the camera, so hats, hoods, bonnets, headbands, and similar items are not allowed. A head covering worn for religious reasons, such as a hijab or another familiar religious head covering, is allowed and does not need to be requested in advance; the proctor approves it at check-in. Bonnets, shower caps, and plain scarves or wraps are not recognized as religious head coverings and must be removed. Head coverings during the TEAS
What if I have a technical problem during my exam?
Exit the exam immediately and call the ATI proctor line at 1-844-956-2790 (active during exam hours) for help getting back in — your answers are saved as you go. Problems with your own computer or internet are not grounds for a refund or free reschedule, so complete the Dry Run beforehand. If LockDown Browser gives you trouble, uninstall and reinstall it rather than relying on Check for Updates. Troubleshooting LockDown Browser
Scores and transcripts
When will I get my score?
It depends on how you tested:
- TEAS at ATI (remote, ATI-proctored): a preliminary score appears in your ATI account right away. It becomes final four business days after your exam date, and transcripts are released only once the score is final. About preliminary scores
- TEAS at your institution (in person or remote): your score usually posts to your ATI account immediately after the exam. Some schools choose to turn off score posting; if you don’t see your score, ask your school.
- TEAS at PSI: PSI sends results to ATI, so your score can take up to 48 hours to appear. PSI result timing
How long are TEAS scores valid?
Schools decide how long they’ll accept a score; two years is common, but policies vary. Check with your program. Score validity
How do I send my score to a school?
Every tester gets a transcript, but only some have to send it. TEAS at ATI and TEAS at PSI: one transcript credit is included, but it is not sent automatically — log in to your ATI account, open the Results tab, click Send Transcript, choose your school, and send it. TEAS at Institution or TEAS Online at Institution: your transcript is sent automatically to the school you tested through. Sending to additional schools requires additional credits. How transcripts work · Sending to more than one school