Date Published: February 5, 2020
If your child is applying for nursing school, there’s a good chance they will need to take the ATI TEAS Exam. But what is the TEAS, and how can you help your student prepare to be successful on it?
As the creators of the TEAS Exam, ATI Nursing Education is sharing everything parents need to know about this important first step in your student’s nursing or allied health journey.
What is the TEAS?
TEAS stands for Test of Essential Academic Skills. This test was created by ATI and is designed to assess a student’s preparedness for entering a health science field of study, so it is used as an entrance exam by many nursing and allied health programs. Due to the limited amount of seats programs have to admit new students each year, a student’s score on the TEAS may play a role in determining one’s acceptance into a nursing or allied health program.
We recommend that you check with each school your child is applying to in order to fully understand their admissions criteria and how the ATI TEAS Exam affects admission to their program, as each school sets different benchmarks.
Related Read: About the ATI TEAS
What deadlines do I need to be aware of?
Each school that your student is applying to may have a different deadline for submitting their TEAS score, so it’s important to make note of each programs’ specific requirements. We recommend contacting the schools that your student is applying to before registering for the exam to get detailed information on deadlines and the number of exam attempts they are allowed.
The school may also give you information on where your student should take the ATI TEAS Exam.
Related Read: Everything You’ll Want to Know Before Taking the TEAS Exam
How does my student register for the ATI TEAS Exam?
Your student should follow these steps to successfully register for the TEAS:
- Step 1: Contact the schools to which you are applying to determine the location you will need to take the exam – some schools will administer the test on their campus, others will go through a testing center such as PSI.
- Step 2: Visit www.atitesting.com/teas-prep. Scroll down to the registration section of the page and click “Start Registration”.
- Step 3: If you have an existing ATI account, select “Sign In”. If you need to create one, select “Create an Account”. You will need to know your ATI login on exam day, so make sure it is something you will remember!
- Step 4: Once logged in:
- If you are taking the exam at the school you are applying to, click “TEAS” under the “Register for…” header on the left side of the page.
- If you are taking the exam at a PSI testing center, click “TEAS at PSI” under the “Register for…” header on the left side of the page.
- Step 5: Follow the prompts to complete your registration. After registering and paying for the exam, you should receive a confirmation email from ATI.
If you registered to take the exam at a PSI testing center, you should receive an email within 24 hours of ATI registration that will give you a link to schedule your test date and location. You will need the candidate ID# from your ATI confirmation email during this process.
What can my student bring to the exam?
Your student will need to bring a government-issued photo ID and their registration receipt that includes their ATI testing ID. They should also bring two sharpened #2 pencils to use on the scratch paper that will be provided.
Bonus Note: Ensure that your child knows their ATI login information. If they do not know this information, they may not be allowed to take the exam.
What should my student not bring to the exam?
Students are prohibited from bringing any personal items with them into the exam room. This includes purses, backpacks, and additional apparel such as jackets, coats, hats, and sunglasses. Electronics are also prohibited in the exam room, including cell phones, any digital or smartwatches, or calculators – a calculator will be provided to use during the test.
Food or drink is not allowed to be brought into the exam room except for a documented medical necessity.
Related Read: 10 Frequently Asked Questions about the ATI TEAS Exam
When should my student start preparing for the ATI TEAS Exam?
The biggest mistake that students make on the ATI TEAS Exam is not giving themselves enough time to prepare. As the creators of the exam, we recommend at least 6 weeks of preparation before taking the TEAS. Prepping for this test isn’t just helpful, it’s crucial; approximately 40% of students have to take the exam more than once!
Helpful Resource: ATI TEAS Exam – 6-Week Study Plan
We’ve developed a variety of prep products to help your student prepare for the exam efficiently and effectively. You can check out all of our great prep solutions here.
