HESI A2 guideHESI A2 in 2027
Applying to Nursing School in 2027? When to Take the HESI A2
Work backward from your 2027 nursing application deadline: when programs open HESI A2 testing, how waiting periods and one-attempt rules limit retakes, how long scores stay valid, and how fast results reach the program.
Short answer
Take the HESI A2 early enough that a retake still fits before your 2027 application deadline, but not so early that your score expires. Programs set the windows: Indian River State College opens Summer 2027 testing on March 1, 2027 and allows one attempt per application period; Middle Tennessee State lets you retake after 14 days; Central New Mexico requires 45 days between attempts; Tarleton State, one month. Scores last one year at Central New Mexico, 18 months at Indian River State, and two years at Tarleton. List each program's deadline, wait, and validity, then pick a first date that leaves room for one retake.
The three dates that set your plan
For a 2027 application, three program rules decide when you should test:
- The application deadline, and whether scores must be in hand by then.
- The retake rule: how long you must wait, and whether you get more than one attempt per application period.
- Score validity: how old a score can be when you apply.
There's no national HESI A2 calendar. Elsevier provides the exam, and programs or testing centers decide when you can sit it. These real 2027 examples, checked on October 26, 2026, show how much the rules differ:
| Program | Testing window or retake wait | Attempts | Score validity | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian River State College (Summer 2027 PN and Bridge to RN) | Testing and registration open March 1, 2027; Fall 2027 applicants check back in January 2027 | One attempt per application period | 18 months, usable twice | In Evolve within 24–48 hours |
| Middle Tennessee State University (Fall 2027 BSN) | Retake after a 14-day wait | Not limited on the page | Not stated | Not stated |
| Central New Mexico Community College | Second attempt at least 45 days after the first | 2 in 12 months, a third a year later | One year | Not stated |
| Tarleton State University (Traditional BSN) | One month between first and second attempts; 12 months before the third | 3 total | Two years | Uploaded to NursingCAS |
| Florida State University (Fall 2027 BSN) | Testing procedures to be announced | To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
Work backward from the deadline
Use this as a planning frame and replace the numbers with your program's:
| Step | Timing | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm required exams and minimums | 3–4 months before the deadline | Programs differ on which exams count; see the 2027 requirements guide |
| Study the assigned exams | 6–10 weeks | Give the most time to the exams your programs actually score |
| First attempt | Early enough that the retake wait, plus a few days for results, still lands before the deadline | One retake is the safety net |
| Retake, if needed | After your program's wait (14 days to a month in the examples above) | If your program allows only one attempt per period, there's no same-cycle retake |
| Send or confirm scores | Before the deadline | Some programs read Evolve; others want uploads |
The table shows why one-attempt programs need a different strategy. At Indian River State, a weak score can't be fixed in the same application period, so the first attempt has to be your best-prepared attempt.
Don't test too early
Validity windows cut the other way. A score from summer 2026 is fine for a program that accepts two years, but at a program with a one-year limit it may expire before you apply. If you're applying to several programs, the shortest validity window and the earliest deadline set your range.
When you're applying to more than one program
Make a simple grid with one row per program: deadline, required exams, minimums, wait between attempts, attempts per period, validity, and how scores are sent. Then:
- Study for the strictest program. If one needs 80% in every section, that's your target for all of them.
- Sit the superset of exams if programs want different sections and you're testing once.
- Ask about sharing scores. Indian River State lets a score be used twice within 18 months; other programs may want their own sitting. Middle Tennessee State notes that extra result copies to other schools cost $15 through Evolve.
Plan your study weeks once the date is set
With a date fixed, split your weeks across the exams your programs count, front-loading the weakest. The HESI A2 study guide shows how to prioritize when several exams are required, and the free HESI A2 study planner spreads your days for you. For full practice on every exam, build a HESI A2 study plan around your 2027 test date.
If your first attempt falls short, the retake guide explains what to change before the second.
Trust the source
Official sources
Exam policies can change. Use these primary sources for the most current details.
- HESI A2 Admissions Assessment ExamIndian River State College↗
- Nursing Admission Exam Information (HESI)Middle Tennessee State University School of Nursing↗
- HESI A2 ExamCentral New Mexico Community College↗
- Traditional BSN Admission CriteriaTarleton State University↗
- Important Update: HESI A2 Requirement for Fall 2027 BSN Applications (August 26, 2026)Florida State University College of Nursing↗