TEAS Exam Cost 2026: ATI Registration & Retake Fees

Quick Answer

TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) exam cost in 2026: ATI base test fee is $80-$102 depending on the testing site. National average is $102 through atitesting.com direct registration. Institutional sites charge $80-$85 (UA-PTC $102, Citizens SON PA $85, LaGrange $85, OCCC OK $80). PSI testing centers $70-$100. TEAS 7.0 with 170 questions over 209 minutes (Reading 64 min, Math 54 min, Science 63 min, English 28 min).

Retake limit: 3 times per calendar year with 30-day waiting period. Official ATI TEAS Study Guide $50-$90; SmartPrep tutorial $60-$150; Online Practice Test $60. Transcript fee $27 per school. Composite score 50-70%+ required for nursing programs (ADN 50-60%, BSN 65-75%). Median TEAS prep cost $110-$250. The TEAS is required for most ADN and BSN nursing program applications.

Last verified: September 17, 2026. ATI base $102 verified at atitesting.com/teas/register; institutional fees verified at UA-PTC, Citizens SON PA, OCCC, LaGrange (atitesting.com, September 2026).

• ATI base fee: $80-$102 (avg $102 atitesting.com).
• Institutional: $80-$85 (UA-PTC $102; Citizens PA $85; LaGrange $85; OCCC $80).
• PSI testing centers: $70-$100.
• TEAS 7.0: 170 questions, 209 min (4 sections).
• Retakes: 3/year max, 30-day wait between attempts.
• Transcript fee: $27 per school.
• Study Guide: $50-$90; SmartPrep $60-$150; Practice Test $60.
• Score required: ADN 50-60%; BSN 65-75%.

Plan-by-plan breakdown

The TEAS exam in 2026 is the most common nursing school entrance exam in the US. It is accepted by 80%+ of ADN and BSN nursing programs and developed by ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute). The 7th edition (TEAS 7.0) has been in effect since June 2022 and remains the standard through 2026.

TEAS exam delivery modes in 2026: (1) TEAS Online proctored by ATI (remote proctoring service from ATI); (2) TEAS Online proctored by an Institution (institution's online proctor); (3) In-Person proctored by an Institution (on-campus testing center); (4) In-Person proctored by PSI (PSI Testing Center). All modes cost the same; ATI certificates the same credential.

TEAS pricing structure: ATI charges $80-$102 for the base exam fee depending on the testing location. Direct registration at atitesting.com typically costs $102. Institutional sites negotiate bulk rates with ATI and charge $80-$85 (sometimes higher or lower). PSI testing centers have their own pricing ($70-$100). Retake fee is the same as the initial fee for each subsequent attempt.

TEAS 7.0 structure: 170 multiple-choice questions across 4 sections: (1) Reading 64 minutes, 45 questions covering key ideas, craft, integration of knowledge; (2) Math 54 minutes, 38 questions covering numbers, algebra, measurement, data; (3) Science 63 minutes, 50 questions covering human anatomy, life science, physical science, scientific reasoning; (4) English and Language Usage 28 minutes, 37 questions covering conventions, knowledge of language, vocabulary. Total time: 209 minutes (3 hours 29 minutes). Calculator embedded in the exam; personal calculators not allowed (atitesting.com, September 2026).

TEAS study materials and prep cost

TEAS study materials vary widely in cost and depth. Most students need 4-8 weeks of preparation before taking the TEAS exam.

ATI TEAS Study Guide (7th edition) is the official study manual. Cost $50-$90. Contains 200+ practice questions with answer explanations, content review for all 4 sections, test-taking strategies. Available in print and digital at atitesting.com and major bookstores.

ATI TEAS SmartPrep Tutorial is the official online prep course. Cost $60-$150. Includes content review videos, practice questions with answer explanations, 2 full-length practice tests, and personalized study plans based on diagnostic results. Subscriptions typically 90 days.

ATI TEAS Online Practice Test is the cheapest paid prep option. Cost $60. Includes 2 full-length practice exams with detailed score reports and question-by-question explanations. Helps identify weak areas before the official exam.

ATI TEAS Comprehensive Package bundles the Study Guide + SmartPrep + Online Practice Test + Flashcards + Mobile App for ~$150-$200. The cheapest comprehensive prep path.

ATI TEAS Mobile App is $5-$10 with limited questions or free with limited content. Useful for on-the-go studying.

ATI TEAS Flashcards are digital flashcards for the Science and English sections. Cost $10-$25.

Free prep resources: Khan Academy (biology, chemistry, basic math), YouTube TEAS prep videos, free reading comprehension practice. Total free prep cost: $0 (atitesting.com, September 2026).

TEAS scores and nursing school admission

TEAS score requirements vary by nursing program in 2026. Choosing a target program early helps prioritize study focus.

Community college ADN programs typically require TEAS composite score 50-60%. The minimal cutoff is 50% for some programs; preferred 60%. Examples: Baptist Health College Little Rock requires 60% minimum / 65% preferred for RN Traditional and Accelerated.

BSN programs (4-year university) typically require TEAS composite score 65-75%. Highly competitive BSN programs require 75%+. Examples: Hawaii CC requires Proficient or higher level for admission (typically 58%+). Most BSN programs use TEAS composite as one of multiple admission factors (GPA, prerequisite completion, healthcare experience).

Practical Nursing (LPN/LVN) programs typically require TEAS composite score 50-60%. Lower than ADN/BSN cutoffs. Baptist Health College Little Rock Practical Nursing requires 50% minimum / 55% preferred.

How TEAS composite is calculated: Reading % + Math % + Science % + English % ÷ 4 = composite %. Many programs also require minimum individual section scores (typically Reading 60%, Science 55%+) for admission eligibility.

For students scoring below the program cutoff, retake is allowed up to 3 times per calendar year with 30-day waiting periods. Most nursing programs accept scores from any of the 3 attempts; students choose the highest score set to submit (Hawaii CC, 2026).

TEAS transcript delivery process

TEAS scores must be sent directly from ATI to nursing programs. Most programs do NOT accept printed score reports directly from students. The transcript delivery process in 2026:

(1) Register and take the TEAS exam at atitesting.com or institutional site; (2) Receive score report immediately after exam completion; (3) Request official TEAS transcript through the ATI store ($27 per school); (4) ATI processes the request within 1-3 business days; (5) Nursing program receives the transcript electronically.

Most TEAS exam fees include 1 free transcript to one school. Additional transcripts are $27 each. For students applying to multiple nursing programs, plan for $27-$$100+ in transcript delivery fees.

Most TEAS transcripts are valid for 2 years from the test date. Some programs accept older scores for transfer applications. Each program sets its own TEAS validity policy; check before submitting (atitesting.com, September 2026).

Total cost of TEAS preparation and testing in 2026

Total all-in cost to take the TEAS exam in 2026 ranges $110-$400 per attempt depending on study materials chosen:

Budget path: ATI TEAS Online Practice Test $60 + ATI direct exam $102 + 1 free transcript = $162 total. Most cost-effective.

Standard path: ATI TEAS Study Guide $50-$90 + ATI direct exam $102 + 1 free transcript = $212-$252 total.

Comprehensive path: ATI TEAS Comprehensive Package (Study Guide + SmartPrep + Practice Test + Flashcards) $150-$200 + ATI direct exam $102 + 1 free transcript = $252-$302 total.

Premium path: ATI Comprehensive + SmartPrep $60-$150 + ATI exam $102 + 1 free transcript = $312-$452 total.

Retake cost: $102 per retake attempt (if first attempt unsuccessful). 3 attempts max per calendar year means $204-$408 total exam cost (excluding study materials) for the maximum retake path.

For multiple-school applications: transcript fee $27 per additional school. 5-school application = $27 × 4 = $108 in transcript fees (atitesting.com, September 2026).

How to pass the TEAS on the first attempt

First-attempt TEAS pass rates in 2026 are not published by ATI, but educator estimates suggest 50-65% of test-takers pass the composite 65% threshold required for BSN programs on the first attempt.

Recommended prep timeline: 4-8 weeks at 1-2 hours/day for students with prior science and math background. 8-12 weeks at 1-2 hours/day for students without recent science coursework. The bulk of study time should focus on the Science section (50 questions, 63 minutes) and Reading section (45 questions, 64 minutes) — these two sections are the largest and most likely to trip up test-takers.

For students with prior anatomy/physiology/biology coursework, the Science section is typically straightforward. For students without recent science coursework, a refresher on basic biology, chemistry, and human anatomy is essential. Khan Academy's biology and anatomy sections are free and comprehensive.

For students struggling in math, focus on basic algebra, percentages, ratios, and unit conversions. The TEAS math is 8th-10th grade level; most college students pass without intensive prep.

For students struggling in reading, practice timed reading comprehension passages. The TEAS reading section is similar to SAT/ACT reading passages with literal comprehension, inference, and integration of knowledge questions (atitesting.com, September 2026).

TEAS vs HESI A2: which exam to take

TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) by ATI and HESI A2 (Health Education Systems Incorporated Admission Assessment) by Elsevier are the two main nursing school entrance exams in the US. Most nursing programs accept one or both.

TEAS is accepted by 80%+ of US nursing programs. Exam cost $80-$102. Cost-effective prep materials (Study Guide $50-$90, Online Practice Test $60). TEAS is the more popular exam overall.

HESI A2 is accepted by 60%+ of US nursing programs, especially in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and the Southeast. Exam cost $50-$115 depending on the testing institution. HESI prep materials typically $80-$150. HESI A2 is preferred by many programs in the Southeast and is sometimes the requirement rather than TEAS.

Some programs accept either exam. Before paying for either, verify your target program's exam requirement. Most program websites list TEAS or HESI A2 explicitly on the admissions page.

For students applying to multiple programs, check the exam requirements at each. Some programs accept TEAS only, some HESI only, some either, some specific section minimums that differ between exams.

For 2026, TEAS remains the most widely accepted nursing entrance exam (atitesting.com, September 2026).

What enterprise buyers should do next

1. For nursing schools, integrate TEAS prep into the high school-to-nursing pipeline. ATI offers bulk licensing for schools to administer the TEAS as a benchmark assessment, enabling schools to track student readiness and TEAS performance.
2. For community colleges, offer TEAS prep workshops at $50-$200 per student as a non-credit continuing education course. Total revenue per cohort of 25 students: $1,250-$5,000. The investment pays for itself through improved TEAS pass rates and downstream enrollment.
3. For healthcare staffing agencies, fund TEAS prep materials ($50-$200 per student) for candidates pursuing nursing careers. The investment pays back through the staffing agency's success in placing newly licensed RNs.

What to watch next

• ATI is considering releasing TEAS 8.0 in 2027-2028 with updated content distribution. Expect a 6-12 month transition window with both TEAS 7.0 and TEAS 8.0 accepted during the transition.
• AI-powered TEAS prep (adaptive learning, personalized study plans based on diagnostic results) is launching on atitesting.com in 2026-2027. Expect ATI pricing to remain stable through 2027.
• Some nursing programs are piloting TEAS alternatives (CASPer situational judgment test, NCLEX Readiness Exam) for 2027 admission cycles. Verify your target program's exam requirement before preparing.