RT Entrance Exams & the TEAS: What to Expect- which exam respiratory therapy programs require, what the TEAS covers, how it’s scored — and why your science prerequisites are also your best exam prep.
Many respiratory therapy programs require an entrance exam, and for most that means the TEAS. It’s one more hurdle in an already competitive process — and because the score usually factors into ranked admission, it’s a hurdle worth clearing well, not just clearing. The good news: the part of the exam that trips applicants up most, the science section, overlaps almost entirely with the prerequisites you’re already completing.
This guide explains which entrance exams RT programs use, what the TEAS covers and how it’s scored, what a competitive score looks like, and how to prepare efficiently. You can confirm whether a specific program requires an exam — and which one — through the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), and find official TEAS details from its publisher, ATI (the TEAS test maker).
Short answer: Many RT programs require an entrance exam, most commonly the ATI TEAS (currently TEAS 7), though some use the HESI A2 or the HSRT instead. The TEAS has four sections — Reading, Math, Science, and English & Language Usage — and the Science section leans heavily on anatomy and physiology and biology. Because of that overlap, completing or refreshing your science prerequisites is also some of the most effective TEAS prep you can do.
Not every RT program requires an entrance exam, and those that do don’t all use the same one. The first step is simply finding out what — if anything — your program requires, because preparing for the wrong exam wastes weeks of study time.
The three you’ll most likely encounter:
| Exam | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ATI TEAS (TEAS 7) | Four fixed sections; composite score. | The most common allied-health entrance exam. Widely accepted across programs. |
| HESI A2 | Modular — the program picks which sections you take; section-by-section scores. | Section-specific minimums; may include a Physics section the TEAS doesn’t have. |
| HSRT | Health Sciences Reasoning Test; critical-thinking focused. | Used by some programs in place of a content exam. |
A key difference: the TEAS uses a composite score, so a strong section can partly offset a weaker one, while the HESI A2 is section-specific — you could ace Math and still fall short on an anatomy and physiology minimum. Confirm both which exam your program requires and how it scores it before you start studying.
The TEAS 7 measures foundational academic skills across four sections. Here’s what each covers:
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Science | The section that matters most for healthcare programs: human anatomy and physiology, basic biology and chemistry, and scientific reasoning. Often the most heavily weighted, and where applicants most need preparation. |
| Reading | Comprehension, identifying main ideas, and interpreting information from passages and graphics. |
| Math | Arithmetic, ratios and proportions, basic algebra, and data interpretation — the same skills used in clinical calculations. |
| English & Language Usage | Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and vocabulary. |
Notice how closely the Science and Math sections track your prerequisites. The Science section is essentially a test of the anatomy, physiology, and biology you study in those courses, and the Math section uses the same reasoning as your college math requirement. That overlap is the key to efficient preparation, which we’ll come to shortly.
Understanding the scoring helps you set a realistic target and avoid surprises:
The exam score works alongside your GPA in the admission decision. To see how the two combine in a ranked pool, read how competitive RT school admission is and what GPA you need for respiratory therapy school.
Here’s the connection most applicants miss: the TEAS Science section — the part that decides many scores — covers the same anatomy, physiology, and biology you learn in your science prerequisites. Studying for the exam and completing those courses aren’t separate tasks; they reinforce each other.
This works in your favor in a few ways:
The most relevant courses for TEAS Science are Anatomy & Physiology I & II (BIO 270 / BIO 275), Microbiology (BIO 210), and Chemistry (CHEM 151 / CHEM 152), while college math (MATH 107 / MATH 220) maps onto the TEAS Math section. Completing them through the RT Science Prerequisite Bundle — online and self-paced — builds your prerequisite record and your exam readiness together.
A focused plan beats cramming. Here’s a practical approach:
Prepared well, the entrance exam becomes a chance to strengthen your application rather than just a box to check — especially when your science prerequisites have already done much of the heavy lifting.
Do all respiratory therapy programs require the TEAS?
No. Many require an entrance exam, and the TEAS is the most common, but some use the HESI A2 or HSRT, and a few require no exam at all. Always confirm with your specific program before studying.
What’s on the TEAS?
The TEAS 7 has four sections: Reading, Math, Science, and English & Language Usage. The Science section emphasizes anatomy and physiology and biology, and is often the most decisive for healthcare applicants.
What TEAS score do I need for RT school?
It varies by program. Respiratory therapy programs commonly look for composite scores in roughly the mid-60s to mid-70s percent range, with competitive programs expecting more. Because admission is ranked, aim above the minimum.
How is the TEAS different from the HESI A2?
The TEAS uses a composite score across four fixed sections, so a strong section can offset a weaker one. The HESI A2 is modular with section-specific minimums and may include Physics. They aren’t interchangeable unless your program says so.
How should I study for the TEAS Science section?
Your science prerequisites are your best preparation — the Science section covers the anatomy, physiology, and biology those courses teach. Recent coursework, plus targeted practice questions, is an efficient combination.
How many times can I take the TEAS?
Programs and the test maker limit retakes, often to a set number within a time window with required waiting periods between attempts. Scores are generally valid for about five years. Confirm your program’s policy.
If your respiratory therapy program requires an entrance exam, it’s most likely the TEAS — and the Science section, which decides many scores, tests the same anatomy, physiology, and biology as your prerequisites. That overlap means the smartest exam prep and the strongest application are built from the same coursework: complete or refresh your science prerequisites with strong, recent grades, and you prepare for the TEAS while raising your prerequisite GPA and meeting recency rules. After you graduate from a CoARC-accredited program, the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) administers the credentialing exams that lead to licensure — so building real science fluency now serves you well past admissions. (For context on the field’s growth, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) reports strong demand for respiratory therapists.)
Want to prep and strengthen your application at once? Complete your science prerequisites through the RT Science Prerequisite Bundle — self-paced, online, regionally accredited courses that build TEAS-relevant science knowledge and your prerequisite record together. Confirm your program’s exam requirement and score policies with its admissions office as you plan.
Prepare for the exam while building a stronger application:
Whether an entrance exam is required, which exam, score minimums, section requirements, retake limits, and score validity vary by institution and change over time. The TEAS is a registered exam of its publisher; this guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by the test maker. This information is general guidance only — always confirm requirements directly with the respiratory therapy program you intend to apply to.
