Required Nursing Admissions Entrance Exam

Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
Entrance Exam for Prelicensure & Accelerated Prelicensure Tracks

Study Materials
Testing Sites
Fees and Payment Methods
Testing Regulations
Testers Seeking Accomodations for Disabilities
Score Submission Methods

Test Description

This exam is required of all applicants to the Prelicensure (summer and fall) and Accelerated Prelicensure (summer) tracks of the BSN program at the University of North Florida.  The required exam is the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) from ATI.  Note that the entrance exam does not take the place of any other admission criteria in the selection process and that there are no substitutions or exemptions for this exam requirement.

The exam is standardized, timed, multiple choice, computer-based, and comprised of the following:

Test items typically cover content from grades 10 – 12 in U.S. high schools.  The TEAS composite score (Math, Science, Reading Comprehension, English) will comprise one half (1/2) of the points toward interview selection.  Each section is worth a maximum of 100 points (100%) for a total TEAS score maximum of 400. The remaining 50% of the interview selection score will come from the applicant’s prerequisite GPA (originally to 2 decimal places) multiplied by 100; the maxima prerequisite GPA score is 400.  Note that candidates must have both overall and prerequisite GPAs of no less than 2.90 for admission consideration, regardless of one’s TEAS score. There is currently no minimum score on the TEAS for admission consideration at UNF. 

The combined, overall score from the TEAS and prerequisite GPA will rank candidates for interview selection.  Note that not all applicants are selected for interview.   

Study Materials

Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC
ATI offers two products to help applicants prepare for the TEAS:  Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS®) Study Manual and Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS®) Online Practice Assessment.  These products can be purchased exclusively at www.atitesting.com/onlinestore.  For assistance with product ordering, you may contact ATI toll-free at 1.800.667.7531. 

Testing Sites

Test takers currently have four options when taking the exam for admission to the University of North Florida’s School of Nursing:

1. Test at the University of North Florida campus, located in Jacksonville, FL on sponsored days.  Registration occurs through the School of Nursing electronically (only) at the link below :
   
   

Registration for the 2008 admission period at UNF has closed.
  Dates for 2009 admission testing will be posted online
early in the Fall 2008 term.
Please check back for these dates.
Registration for Testing at UNF

2. Test at the Florida Atlantic University campus, located in Boca Raton, FL.  FAU is equipped with an open testing center.  Please contact FAU’s Department of Testing and Evaluation directly at 561.297.3160 for a testing appointment.

3. Test at the Florida State University campus, located in Tallahassee, FL.  You may contact their Center for Assessment and Testing directly at 850.644.3017 to arrange for a testing appointment.

4. Test at an approved site other than UNF, FAU, and FSU.  Students who are not available to test at one of these campuses should contact ATI at 1.800.667.7531 for assistance in locating a school to proctor the exam.  Be sure to indicate that you desire to test for admission to UNF.

 
Fees and Payment Methods

The exam is administered by ATI with the applicant’s choice of an approved testing site referenced in the above section.  The testing fee payment is required immediately prior to beginning the exam (i.e. at exam login) electronically; a valid credit card is required.  The exam is $20.  Proctoring fees are an additional cost, as charged by the testing option selected by the test taker, and are required to be paid before the exam if one tests at UNF.  Those testing at other sites should inquire with the testing center administrators regarding fees and fee due dates in regard to the TEAS.

Fees and payment methods will vary depending on the applicant’s testing site:

1. Test at the University of North Florida campus, located in Jacksonville, FL on sponsored days.  The UNF Testing Center will charge a $25 proctor fee, which must be paid prior to taking the exam.  This is in addition to the $20 exam fee, which is paid electronically by credit card when one sits for the exam.  The proctor fee must be submitted by cash, personal check, Traveler’s check, or money order (payable to the University of North Florida) to the UNF Cashier’s Office, which is located on the first floor of Bldg 1 (J.J. Daniel Hall).  The Cashier’s Office cannot accept phone payments or credit cards.  You must obtain and retain your receipt for admission to the exam, so be sure to pay well in advance.  We recommend stapling the receipt to your confirmation email for safekeeping and having the Cashier’s Office clearly indicate your name on the receipt as proof that it was your fee payment.
   
   

   Note that the UNF Cashier’s Office is open 8:30am to 6pm Monday through Thursday and 8:30am to 4pm on Friday and can be reached at 904.620.2472.  If you mail in your payment you may phone them to arrange for a fax copy of your receipt to be sent to you.  DO NOT SUBMIT PAYMENT TO THEM WITHOUT THE FORM (.PDF) BELOW, AS THEY WILL NOT KNOW FOR WHAT THE MONEY IS! 
   

   UNF CASHIER PAYMENT FORM (pdf)
    

2. Test at the Florida Atlantic University campus, located in Boca Raton, FL.  They will charge a $25 proctor fee, which is in addition to the $20 exam fee.  Please contact FAU’s Department of Testing and Evaluation directly at 561.297.3160 for additional fee and payment information.  Those testing at FAU may also pay an additional $20 to ATI (via their online store at www.atitesting.com) to have scores submitted electronically to UNF; those not opting for this convenience fee should read below for important information on score submission methods and deadlines.
   
   Test at the Florida State University campus, located in Tallahassee, FL.  Please contact FSU’s Center for Assessment and Testing directly at 850.644.3017 for additional fee and payment information.   Those testing at FSU may also pay an additional $20 to ATI (via their online store at www.atitesting.com) to have scores submitted electronically to UNF; those not opting for this convenience fee should read below for important information on score submission methods and deadlines.
   
3. Test at an approved site other than UNF, FAU, and FSU.  Students who are not available to test at one of these campuses should contact ATI at 1.800.667.7531 for assistance in locating a school to proctor the exam.  Testers using an alternative site set up with the help of ATI should contact their testing site regarding additional fee and payment information.  Those testing at alternative sites may also pay an additional $20 to ATI (via their online store at www.atitesting.com) to have scores submitted electronically to UNF; those not opting for this convenience fee should read below for important information on score submission methods and deadlines.

Testing Regulations

Applicants will be allowed to sit for the TEAS one time per application period (i.e. one time per summer; one time per fall).  Please be sure to select the correct testing term (i.e. UNF Summer or UNF Fall) when registering to test at UNF.   

Applicants for summer admission, regardless of testing site, must complete the TEAS by January 15th.  Applicants for fall admission, regardless of testing site, must complete the TEAS by March 15th. 

All students testing at UNF must present photo identification, email registration confirmation notice, and receipt for proctor fee payment.  Failure to supply these materials at sign-in will prevent one from testing.

The following items are prohibited during the exam and should not be brought into the testing room.  Prohibited items will be held by the proctor(s) until the conclusion of the exam: 

1. Book bags, knapsacks, and large purses
2. Food and drink
3. Calculators
4. Pens (pencils are permitted and will also be available the day of the exam)
5. Visual and audio recording devices
6. Beeping timepieces
7. Cell phones, laptops, PDAs, iPods/MP3 players, CD players, Walkmans, and other electronic devices
8. Books, newspapers, magazines, notebooks, and loose-leaf paper (scratch paper will be provided)

Testers Seeking Accommodations for Disabilities

UNF test takers seeking disability accommodations should contact the School of Nursing at 904.620.2684 for assistance immediately.  Documentation regarding the disability to support the claim for accommodations should be supplied as far in advance as possible to the UNF Disability Resource Center.  In all cases, claims will need to be verified; in some case, paper-based testing materials will need to be ordered and shipped.  

Those seeking testing accommodations at UNF such as extended time (requires pencil/paper exam) should indicate this on the registration form and contact Beth Dibble (at the above information) ASAP to allow ample time for arrangements to be made.  Documentation will be required from the tester to support claims made for non-traditional testing and is subject to review by the university’s Disability Resource Center.  In some instances, an alternative testing date may be required.

Those seeking testing accommodations at other sites should make appropriate arrangements with that testing site in advance of the testing date.

Please note that if you wish to request special admission consideration based on a disability, it is the intent of the University to consider this information within the following guidelines:  (1) documentation regarding the disability is to be provided on a voluntary basis, (2) all information will be kept confidential, (3) refusal to provide information will not subject the applicant to adverse treatment, and (4) information will only be used in connection with the university’s voluntary efforts to overcome the effects of conditions that may have resulted in limited participation of persons with disabilities. 

Score Submission Methods

Results are available to applicants at the completion of the computer-based exam (most test takers); those who seek testing accommodations and who are tested on paper as a result, will have access to scores after approximately 2 business days.  Applicants are encouraged to print and retain a copy of the TEAS results for their own records by logging into your ATI account from home. 

UNF testing site applicants should not submit copies of their results to any UNF office unless specifically directed to do so.  Those who use the UNF Assessment ID can be assured that UNF will receive all test takers’ results at the conclusion of the testing period. 

Those who test at sites other than UNF may elect to pay an additional $20 to ATI to have scores automatically and electronically submitted to UNF.  This can be done immediately prior to testing while making payment for the exam itself, or this can be done after the exam is completed through ATI’s online store at www.atitesting.com.  Candidates who test at sites other than UNF and who elect for this option are responsible for ensuring that the UNF School of Nursing received the results.Note that listing “UNF” as your institution when creating an ATI account does not constitute paying for results to come to us automatically.  Questions regarding this service option should be directed to ATI at 1.800.667.7531.

Students who test at sites other than UNF can elect to submit their scores to UNF for free by accessing the results from home at www.atitesting.com.  Results are found in the tester’s account under “My ATI” in the left-hand menu.  The results (vertical report showing percentage correct in each of the four categories) can either be printed and faxed (must include a cover sheet indicating Sender, Date, # of Pages, Contact #, Contact Email, and Testing Site Location) to the UNF Nursing Admission Coordinator’s attention at 904.620.2848 (must confirm receipt of results with the School of Nursing), or the results can be saved in .pdf format to open in Adobe Acrobat and emailed to Beth Dibble, Nursing Admissions Coordinator, at bdibble@unf.edu.  Email is highly preferred.  When faxing results, include an email address on the fax coversheet so that we may notify you of the fax receipt on our end.

For those applicants who have already taken the TEAS for entrance to another nursing program and who are satisfied with their scores, the UNF School of Nursing will honor exam results that are no more than 10 years old.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify the Nursing Admission Coordinator in writing that the exam was previously completed and that those scores will be used.  The applicant is then responsible for submitting proof of the exam results (available through one’s ATI online account under “My ATI”) to the Nursing Admission Coordinator by the appropriate application deadline.

Similar to those applicants who have taken the TEAS for another institution, if a test taker reapplies to UNF for nursing consideration and is content with his/her previous TEAS score, the previous score will be honored.  Test scores should be no more than 10 years old.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify the Nursing Admission Coordinator in writing that the exam was previously completed and that those scores will be used.  The applicant is then responsible for submitting proof of the exam results (available through one’s ATI online account under “My ATI”) to the Nursing Admission Coordinator by the appropriate application deadline.

Contact the School of Nursing/ATI

School of Nursing
Brooks College of Health