How Many Times Can You Take the HESI A2? Retake Policies Explained

If your first HESI A2 score did not meet your nursing program's requirement, you are not alone, and you are not out of options. Most programs allow retakes, but the rules vary so much from school to school that the answer to "how many times can I take it" is never a single number.

The honest answer is this: the HESI A2 has no national retake policy. Each nursing program sets its own limits on attempts, waiting periods, and score validity, and many programs cap attempts at two or three within a 12-month window. This guide explains the common policies, what schools look at, and how to make your next attempt count. If you are still deciding what score you need, start with our guide to what counts as a good HESI A2 score.

There Is No National Retake Policy

The HESI A2 is published by Elsevier, but Elsevier does not set retake rules for admissions. Your nursing program decides how many attempts it accepts, how long you must wait between attempts, and which score it uses. This is why two friends at different schools can have completely different retake experiences.

It also means the rules you read online, including the ones in this guide, are general patterns and not guarantees. The only source that matters for your situation is your specific program's admissions office.

Common Retake Limits and Waiting Periods

While policies vary, most schools follow a similar shape. The Nursing School Planner guide to nursing entrance exams notes that most schools cap attempts, often at two or three within 12 months, and require a waiting period between tries. The Nurse.org comparison of entrance exams lists retake wait periods of 14 to 30 days as common minimums.

Policy area	Most common pattern	What to check with your school
Attempt limit	2 to 3 attempts within 12 months	Whether the limit counts every attempt or only scored attempts
Waiting period	14 to 45 days between attempts	Whether the wait starts from test day or score release
Section retakes	Some schools allow retaking only weak sections	Whether you can retake one section or must retake the whole exam
Score used	Best score or most recent score	Which attempt the admissions committee actually sees
Score validity	1 to 2 years, varies by school	When your score expires and whether you must retake

Why Schools Limit Attempts

The limits are not arbitrary. Nursing programs use the HESI A2 as a readiness signal, and they have a limited number of seats. Schools also know that taking the exam repeatedly without changing your preparation rarely produces a different result. A retake policy is designed to make sure every attempt is a serious one, backed by real preparation.

That is the mindset to adopt too. A retake is not a do-over of the same preparation. It is a new attempt with better information about where you lost points.

Which Score Do Schools See?

Ask this question directly, because the answer changes your strategy. Some programs use your best score across attempts. Others use your most recent score, and a few average attempts or require every section to meet a minimum.

Score validity is a separate question. Many programs accept HESI A2 scores for one to two years, and some require that you take the exam again if your application is delayed. Confirm the expiration rule before you plan application dates.

Before You Retake: Diagnose First

The biggest mistake retakers make is studying the same way and expecting a different score. Instead, follow this sequence:

1. Get your section-level breakdown from the first attempt, and list your sections from weakest to strongest.
2. Spend most of your study time on the bottom two sections, since the biggest score gains come from the biggest gaps.
3. Take a timed diagnostic practice test before you schedule the retake, and only book the exam when the diagnostic passes your target.
4. Study with the real section format in mind, including timing, so the retake feels familiar rather than new.
5. Schedule the retake early enough that a second waiting period cannot push you past application deadlines.

Questions to Ask Your Admissions Office

One email or phone call resolves every unknown in this article. Ask these questions in order:

• How many times may I take the HESI A2, and does the limit apply per year or per application cycle?
• How long must I wait between attempts?
• Can I retake only the sections I failed, or must I retake the full exam?
• Which score do you use, the best attempt or the most recent one?
• How long are my scores valid, and do they expire before I enroll?
• Do you require a minimum score in every section, or an overall composite?

Write the answers down. Policies change, and the written response protects you later.

The Bottom Line

You can almost always retake the HESI A2, but the number of attempts, the waiting periods, and the score rules belong to your nursing program. Most schools allow two to three attempts within 12 months, with a waiting period of a few weeks to a month and a half. Confirm the specifics with admissions, diagnose your weak sections, prepare until a timed practice test reaches your target, and then make the retake count. For the full preparation picture, our HESI A2 study guide and practice tests are the place to start.