TEAS retake policy: how soon you can retest and what to change first
ATI requires no waiting period between TEAS attempts. Your school or program sets how many attempts it accepts, any wait and which score it counts. Every completed, scored exam counts as an attempt, appears on your official transcript and is a new registration at full price, so change your method before you rebook.
How soon can you retake the TEAS?
“ATI does not require a waiting period between TEAS attempts. Retake rules are set by the school or program you are applying to, not by ATI.” (ATI: How soon can I retake the ATI TEAS exam?)
“Each completed and scored TEAS Exam counts as an attempt” (ATI: How many times can I take the ATI TEAS exam?)
“The number of attempts is reported on your official ATI TEAS transcript.” (ATI: Transcripts and score submissions)
“Retakes: each attempt is a new registration at the full price.” (ATI: Cost of the TEAS exam)
The retake code number, when needed, comes from the school that administers your exam.
You cannot retake one section: all four sections must be completed in one sitting for a total score.
What do nursing programs set for TEAS retakes?
Of 236 schools in our dataset of 263 program records from official school pages, 121 state a retake rule we could code: 93 limit the number of attempts, 49 require a wait between attempts (from 2 weeks to 3 months, most often 30 days), 24 use the highest score, 8 the most recent and 6 only the first attempt.
These counts come from keyword coding of our summaries of each school’s page, so treat them as approximate. They describe the schools we checked, not all programs. Rules change: confirm on your program’s page.
University of Alaska Anchorage School of Nursing (AK): The test can be taken only every 21 days; your highest score from the last 36 months is used.
Shasta College (CA): A maximum of three attempts, at least 90 days apart; a test taken sooner counts as an attempt but its score is not used. TEAS version 7 only.
Trinity Washington University (DC): Results are valid one year, so test in the 12 months before the deadline. Wait 30 days between attempts, with up to three attempts in 12 months.
Seminole State College of Florida (FL): Up to 3 attempts per calendar year, at least 30 days apart; scores are valid for 2 years.
South Florida State College (FL): Up to three attempts per calendar year, three months apart, taken in person; scores are valid for five years.
University of Central Florida (College of Nursing) (FL): Up to 3 attempts per calendar year, at least 30 days apart, and all four parts must be taken each time.
Samford University (Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing) (AL): The TEAS may be taken a maximum of three times per calendar year.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (College of Nursing) (AL): The TEAS may be taken twice per academic year and must be taken in person.
University of Arkansas Eleanor Mann School of Nursing (AR): Your highest total composite from within one year of the deadline counts; the TEAS may be taken up to 4 times per calendar year.
University of Arizona College of Nursing (AZ): Up to 2 attempts per application cycle; the highest score is used, and scores expire after one year. The college offers the TEAS remotely.
Yavapai College (AZ): Testing must be done at Yavapai College, once per application cycle; scores from other schools are not accepted.
California State University, Fresno (CA): 75% must be reached within two attempts; a third attempt is considered only five years after the first. In-person or remote testing is accepted.
ATI states that about 40% of students take the TEAS more than once. That is ATI’s figure, offered as context: it is not a prediction for any one student. In forum posts we reviewed, students who changed how they studied before a retake described bigger improvements than those who repeated the same approach; these are self-reports, not typical results.
What to change before you retake the TEAS
Rank your sections by the scored items at stake (Science has 44 scored items, Reading 39, Math 34, English 33), then match each problem you had to a concrete change.
My exam was stopped, flagged or not scored (ID, room or computer problem): Work through the test-day checklist for your format, including the ID name check and, for TEAS at ATI, the Dry Run on the same computer, room and connection. If remote testing caused the problem, ask your school whether it accepts an in-person format.
I mostly reread notes or watched videos: Swap rereading for retrieval: answer from memory first, then check the explanation. Practice testing and spaced review are among the best-supported study methods. Spread review across days instead of one long session, and keep a missed-question log with why each answer was wrong. In math, mix problem types once you can do each type on its own.
Topics came up that I had not studied, or I could not recall facts: Start from your score report’s Topics to Review list and your lowest sub-content areas, not the whole book. Relearn each topic, then test yourself on it again in a later session before you count it as fixed.
I ran out of time or rushed the end of a section: Practise with section timers and the pacing checkpoints in the test-day guide. Answer every question: unanswered items count as incorrect and there is no guessing penalty. When a question stalls you, choose your best answer, flag it and come back if time remains in that section.
Select-all-that-apply, ordered-response or hot-spot questions tripped me up: Practise each format. There is no partial credit, so a select-all answer needs every correct option and nothing else. Use the labs for ordered-response and hot-spot practice.
I misread questions, or picked an answer that was true but did not answer the question: Before you look at the options, restate in a few words what the question asks. In Reading, find the sentence that supports your choice. If two answers seem right, prefer the one the passage states or directly implies.
I made arithmetic, unit or careless slips: Use the on-screen calculator for arithmetic you could get wrong under pressure, and write units on your scratch paper. Check that your answer is in the form the question asks for: units, rounding, percent or decimal.
Nerves, panic or blanking cost me points: Take at least one full-length practice test under test-day rules so the real day feels familiar. Use the short reappraisal script and if-then plans from the test-day guide. If anxiety is severe, campus counseling or a licensed professional can help, and you can ask about accommodations before you register.
How do you read your score report before a retake?
Your Individual Performance Profile shows your total score, each content-area score, how you compare nationally, your preparedness level and a Topics to Review list of the objectives you missed.
Sub-content scores are raw percent correct and are not equated, so ATI says not to compare them across forms. Use them to rank what to study, not to measure progress.
After a proctored exam, your results include a personalized Focused Review tied to your Topics to Review.
ATI’s sample score report shows the attempt number and the days since your last attempt.
Questions to ask your program before you rebook
How many attempts do you accept, and over what period (per year, per cycle or lifetime)?
Is there a waiting period between attempts?
Which attempt counts: highest, most recent or first? Can section scores come from different attempts?
Do you set section minimums as well as a total?
How old can a score be, and is my result still valid for this cycle?
Which formats do you accept: remote, in person, PSI, or only exams at your school?
Do I need a remediation plan or a retake code from you before I test again?
What if you still fall short?
Programs set very different minimums and retake rules, so compare others in your area, ask about the next application cycle, and ask an admissions advisor whether a remediation plan or prerequisite course would help your application.
ATI requires no waiting period between attempts. Your school sets any wait: on the school pages we checked, stated waits range from 2 weeks to 3 months, most often 30 days. Check your program’s page before you book.
How many times can you take the TEAS?
Your school decides how many attempts it accepts, often per year or per application cycle. ATI counts every completed and scored exam as an attempt, even if you never send the result, and the number of attempts appears on your official transcript.
Can I retake just one section of the TEAS?
No. You must complete all four sections in one sitting to receive a total score and preparedness level. A few schools describe using section scores from different attempts, but the exam itself is always taken whole.
Does a TEAS retake cost the full price?
Yes. ATI says each attempt is a new registration at the full price. ATI's cost page lists “TEAS at ATI (remote, proctored by ATI): $120, plus applicable sales tax.” and the same $120, plus applicable sales tax, for TEAS at PSI (checked 25 October 2026; confirm the price at checkout). Schools set the fee for exams they proctor.
Will schools see all my TEAS attempts?
The number of attempts is reported on your official ATI TEAS transcript. If you have several results, ATI lets you choose which one to send, but some schools ask for every attempt, so read your program’s rules.
Which TEAS score do schools use if I take it more than once?
It depends on the school: some use your highest score, some your most recent and some only your first attempt. Among the school pages we checked, 24 mention the highest score, 8 the most recent and 6 only the first. ATI advises asking your program which attempt it counts before you test again.
What happens if I fail the TEAS three times?
That depends entirely on your program. Some make applicants ineligible for the current cycle after their limit, some require a remediation plan before another attempt, and a few set no limit. Ask the program, and consider programs with different requirements.
Can you fail one section of the TEAS and still pass?
ATI has no pass or fail, so there is no failed section in ATI’s terms. Some schools use only the total score; others also set section minimums, such as a Reading or Science floor, and you would need to meet those too.
TEASPATH is independent of ATI. ATI TEAS® and TEAS® are registered trademarks of Assessment Technologies Institute, L.L.C., which is not affiliated with and does not endorse TEASPATH. Practice results and estimates are not official scores or admission predictions. Rules change: confirm with ATI and your program before test day.