4 Things to Know Before Registering for the ATI TEAS Exam
Date Published: December 10, 2021
So, you’ve been asked to take the TEAS as a part of your admissions requirements for nursing or allied health school. But where do you begin? Here’s what you need to know before you register to take the TEAS.
What is the TEAS?
The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is a multiple-choice assessment of basic academic knowledge in reading, mathematics, science, and English/Language Usage. The objectives assessed on the TEAS exam are those which nurse educators deemed most appropriate and relevant to measure entry-level academic readiness of nursing program applicants. It is used as part of the admissions process by nursing and allied health schools nationwide.
About the exam
There are 4 different test-taking methods for the ATI TEAS, all of which are proctored (i.e., supervised by an individual who is trained to act as a test monitor). No matter which test-taking method for which you register, you will take the same exam as everyone else. However, each school has different guidelines for which test-taking methods they accept.
Make sure to check with the school(s) to which you are applying to confirm which TEAS methods fit their admission requirements. You should also ask for information on deadlines and the number of exam attempts that they allow.
You can learn all about the 4 different methods and other details about the ATI TEAS here.
How to register
Once you’ve determined which test-taking methods are accepted by the school(s) to which you are applying and have decided which method works best for you, it’s time to register to sit for the exam.
We’ve put together detailed instructions for each of the test-taking methods to help make your registration process as seamless as possible. Check out the registration guides below:
- TEAS online, proctored by ATI
- TEAS online, proctored by an institution
- TEAS in-person, proctored by an institution
- TEAS in-person, proctored by PSI
Pro tip: if you want to send your TEAS scores to multiple schools, learn all about how you can gain access to additional transcripts here.
How to prepare for the test
Did you know that around 40% of students end up taking the TEAS more than once? Having to take the test multiple times because you don’t receive the score you need the first time can become expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. That makes it ultra important to take your prep for this exam seriously to give yourself the best chance of success the first time you take it. ATI recommends that you allow at least 6 weeks to prepare before taking the TEAS.
Check out this free 6-week TEAS Study Plan that ATI has created to get an idea of what a great study plan might look like!
In addition to how long you study, it also matters what you study – having reliable study materials can make or break your prep efforts. ATI offers a variety of TEAS prep products that cover all of the content areas and question formats featured on the exam. When looking for study material, make sure to pick the option that fits your study habits and situation the best, including what kind of timeline with which you are working and if you prefer printed or digital material.
Registering for the TEAS is an important first step in your nursing or allied health journey, but it doesn’t have to be daunting. For more helpful tips, check out the FAQs at the bottom of this page and be sure to check out the Pre-Nursing Prep section of our student blog.
