The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), administered by Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI), is a standardized entrance exam for nursing and allied health programs. It evaluates skills in reading, math, science, and English/language usage. A common question among applicants is: how many times can you “fail” or retake the TEAS? The short answer is that there’s no strict limit on lifetime failures ATI allows unlimited retakes over time but the number of attempts is regulated by waiting periods and school-specific policies to ensure meaningful preparation between tests.
According to ATI guidelines, the average policy across institutions permits up to three attempts per 12-month period. However, this varies widely by school or program. For instance:
- Many colleges, like Salt Lake Community College and Valencia College, enforce a three-attempt limit annually, with a 30-day wait between retakes.
- Others, such as Wake Technical Community College, cap it at two attempts per calendar year (January–December), also requiring 30 days between tries.
- Columbia Basin College allows one retake per testing window, which spans several months.
If testing directly through ATI (remote proctoring or at an ATI site), the minimum wait is 14 days between attempts, regardless of prior scores. All attempts—successful or not are recorded on your ATI transcript, which schools review. Even unsubmitted tests count as attempts. Scores are typically valid for two years, though some programs accept them for only one or three years; always confirm with your target institution.
Failing the TEAS isn’t the end it’s an opportunity to improve. Use your score report to identify weak areas (e.g., low math scores signal targeted review). ATI recommends at least six weeks of study before retaking, using resources like their Smart Prep program, which has boosted scores by over 7.5% on average. Free practice tests are available on the ATI website. Budget for fees: each attempt costs around $115–$125, plus any proctoring charges.
Before registering, visit your school’s admissions page or contact their testing center to verify exact rules policies can change, and deadlines matter. For example, retake scores must arrive before application cutoffs. With diligent prep, most students see gains on retakes; persistence pays off in competitive health programs. If you’ve maxed annual attempts, consider alternative pathways like community college prerequisites to build eligibility.
In summary, while “failures” aren’t capped forever, plan strategically: aim for 2–3 tries yearly, space them 14–30 days apart, and leverage feedback for success. Check ATI’s site (atitesting.com) for the latest.