Navigating the TEAS Exam for UCF Nursing Programs: A Comprehensive Guide

For aspiring nurses seeking admission to the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Nursing, the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is a critical component of the application process. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the TEAS exam requirements for various UCF Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs, including important information about registration, preparation, test-taking policies, and score submission.

Understanding the TEAS Exam

The TEAS exam is a standardized assessment used to evaluate the academic readiness of students applying to nursing and allied health programs. It assesses essential skills in reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage. The ATI TEAS is composed of 170 questions, with 20 of those being unscored pretest items. This leaves 150 scored questions that individuals will be evaluated on. The total time allotted to complete the test is 209 minutes.

Important Note: The TEAS 6 exam was retired in June 2022, and ATI now administers the TEAS Version 7 exam.

TEAS Requirements for UCF BSN Programs

A competitive TEAS score is crucial for admission to UCF's BSN programs. While specific score requirements may vary, a strong performance on the TEAS significantly enhances an applicant's chances of acceptance.

General Requirements

Official Score Submission: An official TEAS score report must be sent directly from ATI Testing to UCF. Admissions decisions will not be made until after the application cycle ends. This process may take up to 6-8 weeks. If the ATI TEAS is taken at any institution other than UCF, an official Individual Performance Profile report must be sent from ATI directly to the UCF College of Nursing for verification of test score.
Score Validity: ATI TEAS scores are valid for two years for admission to Valencia Nursing and Health Sciences programs.

Program-Specific Requirements

It is important to note that admission statistics are for the limited-access, campus-based BSN programs.

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Traditional BSN, Second Degree BSN, and Concurrent BSN Programs

Prerequisites: Complete all but one of UCF’s nursing prerequisites by the application deadline.
General Education Program (GEP): GEP requirements must be completed prior to starting Traditional, Second Degree, or Concurrent BSN programs.

RN to BSN Program

Prerequisites: Complete all but one of UCF’s nursing prerequisites by the application deadline. This means 7 of the 8 for RN to BSN applicants.
GEP and Foreign Language: For the RN to BSN program, you cannot be missing more than nine credit hours of combined GEP and/or foreign language courses prior to starting. Meet the three UCF requirements: General Education Program, State Writing and Math Requirement, and Foreign Language Admission with no more than three courses outstanding in these areas prior to starting the BSN program, and these courses must be completed prior to taking 4000-level courses.

Concurrent ASN to BSN Programs (Seminole State College and Valencia College)

Additional Prerequisites: Seminole State College Concurrent ASN to BSN and Valencia College Concurrent ASN to BSN students have additional prerequisite courses.
- Seminole State College: In addition to UCF’s nursing prerequisites, Seminole State College Concurrent ASN to BSN program students must also complete the following and earn a “C” (2.0) or better.
- Valencia College: In addition to UCF’s nursing prerequisites, Valencia College Concurrent ASN to BSN program students must also complete the following and earn a “C” (2.0) or better; A 3 credit course that satisfies Valencia’s Core Gen. Ed. MGF1130 Mathematical Thinking or any Core Gen. Ed. Chemistry is preferred and strongly encouraged. Must be a BSC, BCH, CHM, PCB or PHY course.
Seminole State Application: Complete and submit a Seminole State Application for Admission at least 3 months before the Concurrent ASN to BSN application deadline. Select “Associate of Science in Nursing (RN-AS)” as your major. Submit a SSC online application to SSC through the nursing application portal. Send official TEAS score report from ATI Testing to SSC. If you have taken the TEAS at the SSC Testing Center, your scores will be sent automatically to SSC.
Valencia College Application: New UCF students must apply to Undergraduate Admissions at least three months before the BSN application deadline. When applying, ensure application terms matches program start term. Send all official transcripts and CLEP/AP/IB score reports to UCF Undergraduate Admissions. Select “NURS-PEND Nursing Pending” as your major. are accepted to UCF, you will receive a UCF student ID number. Send official TEAS score report from ATI Testing to UCF. official TEAS score report from ATI Testing to Valencia.

Registering for the TEAS Exam

To register for the TEAS exam, follow these steps:

Create an ATI Account: In order to test, you will need to create an account at ATItesting.com.
Schedule Your Exam: All appointments must be booked a minimum of 24 hours prior to the desired date/time.
Payment: Bring a credit card to pay the $70 cost of the ATI TEAS assessment at the testing center on the day of your scheduled test.

Preparing for the TEAS Exam

Adequate preparation is key to achieving a competitive score on the TEAS exam. Consider the following resources:

ATI TEAS Study Manual: The official ATI TEAS Study Manual is a comprehensive resource that covers all sections of the exam.
Practice Tests: Take practice tests to familiarize yourself with the exam format and identify areas where you need to improve.
TEAS Review E-books: Cantarella. (2020). TEAS review (3rd edition.).
Valencia College TEAS Reviews: Based on the content and format of the actual exam. Below are TEAS Reviews created by Valencia College Staff.
Allow ample preparation time: at least six weeks to prepare for the exam.
Virtual TEAS testing options are available directly through ATI.

Test-Taking Policies and Procedures

Familiarize yourself with the following policies and procedures before taking the TEAS exam:

Identification Policy: Test takers are required to present one (1) primary form of government-issued identification that includes their photograph and signature. Bring your government-issued photo ID on test day - We are unable to accept Florida Smart ID at this time.
Arrival Time: Test takers are asked to arrive 15-minutes prior to their scheduled appointment time.
Report Location: Report to the UCF/University Testing Center at 4297 Andromeda Loop N., Orlando, FL 32816. The UTC office is located on the first floor in Howard Phillips Hall, room 106. This building is located next to the Library and the Reflecting Pond. Howard Phillips Hall is building #14 on the campus map.
Calculator: The ATI TEAS allows for the use of a four-function calculator. However, test takers are not allowed to bring their own calculators.
Prohibited Items: Items such as outwear (hoodies, sweaters, jackets, pullovers, cardigans, any form of second layer clothing), watches, and electronic devices are not permitted into the test room. UTC does offer lockers at no additional cost. Personal items will not be permitted in the Testing Center. Testing candidates are the only persons allowed in the Testing Center. must wait outside of the Testing Center.
Rescheduling: Test takers may reschedule their appointments at no cost up to 7 days prior to the scheduled test date/time by following the instructions below.

Retake Policy

You must wait 30 days to retake the TEAS. In order to test, you will need to create an account at ATItesting.com.
Retake Limit: NOTE: TEAS may be taken 3 times in a 12-month period; this includes tests taken at other institutions or with ATI Remote Proctoring.
Waiting Period: This waiting period for the Re-Test Policy provides the test taker with an opportunity to spend additional time preparing for the exam. The test-taker is responsible for tracking re-takes.

Accommodations for Test Takers with Disabilities

The office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) works in collaboration with the University Testing Center (UTC) to ensure that reasonable accommodations are made for test takers with documented disabilities. Test takers with disabilities seeking alternative testing arrangements (e.g.

Additional Information for Applicants

General UCF Application Requirements

New UCF Students: New UCF students must apply to Undergraduate Admissions at least three months before the BSN application deadline. When applying, ensure application terms matches program start term. Select “NURSPEND” as your major. Send all official transcripts and CLEP/AP/IB score reports to UCF Undergraduate Admissions.
Former UCF Students: Former UCF students who have been out for more than two semesters must complete the Readmission Application. Select “NURS-PEND Nursing Pending” as your major.
Application Deadlines:
- By Nov. Feb.
- By Feb. Aug.
- By Aug.
- By Oct. Jan.
- By Jan.
- By Oct. Jan.
- By Jan.
- By Feb. Aug.
- By Aug.
- By Oct. Jan.
- By Jan.
- By Feb. Sept.
- By Sept.
- By Dec.
- By Aug. Nov.
UCF Admission: ** You must be admitted to UCF by the deadline. After you are accepted to UCF, you will receive a UCF student ID number. The student ID number is required to complete the online application to the College of Nursing.
Transfer Credit Evaluation: After admission to the university, the Transfer Credit Evaluation, located in your myUCF portal, will list all courses received at the time of admission along with associated UCF equivalencies. If a course does not have a UCF equivalency, you will have the opportunity to upload a syllabus and have the course evaluated. For General Education Program (GEP), State Core, State Writing and Math, Civic Literacy, or Foreign Language courses, students must complete a Transfer Credit Evaluation Request through the Registrar’s Office. Check your myKnight audit to see how courses transferred. View your unofficial transcript by logging in to your MyVC Account.
Application Timing: * If you’re applying to UCF for the first time, please submit your admissions application 3 months in advance of the nursing application deadline. If you’ve attended the university previously, please submit your readmission application two to three weeks prior to the nursing application deadline. When applying or reapplying, please ensure that you are applying for the semester in which the BSN program begins.
Location Restrictions: Applicants must be physically located in the State of Florida for the duration of their education. Should you be physically located outside of the State of Florida for more than a vacation or brief visit to another state, regardless of your legal state of residence or the type of license you have, you will be unable to apply or continue your nursing degree program at the UCF College of Nursing.
Online Program Restrictions: Please note: Online BSN programs do not meet immigration requirements for students holding an F1 or J1 Visa to maintain status.

Seminole State College Concurrent ASN to BSN Program Specifics

Application: Complete and submit a Seminole State Application for Admission at least 3 months before the Concurrent ASN to BSN application deadline. Select “Associate of Science in Nursing (RN-AS)” as your major. Submit a SSC online application to SSC through the nursing application portal. Send official TEAS score report from ATI Testing to SSC. If you have taken the TEAS at the SSC Testing Center, your scores will be sent automatically to SSC.

Valencia College Concurrent ASN to BSN Program Specifics

Application: New UCF students must apply to Undergraduate Admissions at least three months before the BSN application deadline. When applying, ensure application terms matches program start term. Send all official transcripts and CLEP/AP/IB score reports to UCF Undergraduate Admissions. Select “NURS-PEND Nursing Pending” as your major. are accepted to UCF, you will receive a UCF student ID number. Send official TEAS score report from ATI Testing to UCF. official TEAS score report from ATI Testing to Valencia.

RN to BSN Program Specifics

Licensed RNs: Licensed RNs simply submit one application directly to UCF. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
RN to BSN Online Application: New UCF students must apply to Undergraduate Admissions at least 3 months before the BSN application deadline. When applying, ensure application terms matches program start term. Send all official transcripts and CLEP/AP/IB score reports to UCF Undergraduate Admissions. Select “Nursing Online-For Students Enrolled in ASN” as your major.
RN to BSN Application Deadline: RN to BSN applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis each semester. Admission decisions are typically made a few months prior to the semester start date.

Seminole State College Nursing Program Application

Submit the Nursing Program ApplicationPrerequisite requirements: Prior to submitting a nursing program application, students are highly encouraged to meet with a nursing advisor to review the requirements to apply to the program: GPA, prerequisite courses, TEAS score, etc. Depending on the requirement term that the student became an active degree seeking Associate of Science nursing student, the prerequisite courses will vary. All students should see a nursing advisor for their specific requirements. Students applying to the concurrent program are encouraged to also see a UCF nursing advisor regarding the requirements to apply.
Active Student Status: Students must be degree seeking, Associate of Science-Nursing, and active for the term in which they plan to begin the nursing program if accepted. Exception: Students that are in their final semester of an Associate of Art (AA) degree program.
Transcripts: All official transcripts for every college/university attended MUST be in the student’s record prior to submitting a nursing application. Seminole State cannot give credit for AP, CLEP, IB, or AICE courses listed on another institution’s transcript. To receive credit for AP, CLEP, IB, or AICE courses, follow the directions below: AP (Advanced Placement): order directly from the College BoardCLEP: order directly from the College BoardIB: order directly from IBOAICE: order directly from Cambridge International
TEAS Score Requirement: An official TEAS score of 78% or higher MUST be in the student’s record prior to submitting a nursing application.
Florida Residency: If the student is a Florida resident, FL residency documents must be submitted to Seminole State immediately after applying for admission to the college.

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