New JerseyHSRT Exam

New Jersey Nursing Programs
That Require the HSRT

Two New Jersey pathways require the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT): Rowan College of South Jersey for its nursing and allied health programs, and the Rowan University BS in Respiratory Therapy that RCBC and RCSJ students transfer into. Here's everything you need to know to prepare.

NJ Programs Requiring the HSRT

Rowan College of South Jersey

New Jersey

Sewell, NJ (Gloucester County Campus) + Cumberland County Campus

Nursing (ADN)LPN-to-RNPractical Nursing (PN)Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)Respiratory Therapy

HSRT role: Used in competitive ranking for selective admissions, no published hard minimum. Higher scores improve your position in the applicant pool.

Programs: Required across Nursing, LPN-RN, PTA, Practical Nursing, and the Respiratory Therapy track. Respiratory applicants must request the HSRT-N variant at the Testing Center.

What to know: RCSJ is one of the few programs in New Jersey using the HSRT. The exam tests critical thinking and clinical reasoning, not nursing content knowledge.

Prep timeline: 4–6 weeks of focused preparation is typical. The HSRT tests Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Induction, Deduction, and Numeracy, not science facts.

Program website ↗Full RCSJ HSRT prep guide →
Min Score
Competitive
No hard minimum

Rowan University: BS Respiratory Therapy

New Jersey

Entry into Practice (BSRT) · Glassboro, NJ · reached via the RCBC and RCSJ respiratory therapy 2+2 pathway

Respiratory Therapy (BSRT)Allied Health2+2 Transfer

HSRT role: A minimum composite score of 72 is required for admission, alongside a 2.5 overall GPA and a 2.8 science GPA. Only 30 students are admitted each fall, so aim well above 72.

Deadline: March 1 for a fall start. The HSRT may be retaken no sooner than two weeks after a prior attempt, up to two retakes.

Where to test: Rowan University Testing Center, or through Rowan College of South Jersey (Gloucester or Cumberland campus).

Program website ↗Full Rowan BSRT HSRT prep guide →
Min Score
72
composite

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New Jersey HSRT questions

Which New Jersey programs require the HSRT?
Two pathways. Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) requires the HSRT for its Nursing (ADN), LPN-to-RN, Practical Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Respiratory Therapy programs. Rowan University requires it for the BS in Respiratory Therapy (Entry into Practice), which RCBC and RCSJ students transfer into.
What HSRT score do I need for New Jersey nursing programs?
RCSJ has no published hard minimum, it uses the HSRT for competitive ranking, so a higher score improves your position in the applicant pool. Rowan University's BS Respiratory Therapy requires a minimum composite HSRT score of 72, plus a 2.5 overall GPA and a 2.8 science GPA. Because only 30 students are admitted each fall, aim well above 72.
Can I retake the HSRT for the Rowan respiratory therapy program?
Yes. The HSRT may be retaken no sooner than two weeks after a prior attempt, up to two retakes. The application deadline is March 1 for a fall start, so plan your attempts accordingly.
Where do I take the HSRT in New Jersey?
At the Rowan University Testing Center, or through Rowan College of South Jersey at its Gloucester County or Cumberland County campus. RCSJ respiratory therapy applicants should request the HSRT-N variant at the Testing Center.
Does the HSRT test nursing or science knowledge?
No. The HSRT measures six reasoning skills, Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Induction, Deduction, and Numeracy, not nursing content or science facts. All information needed to answer each question is provided within the question itself, so preparation focuses on reasoning practice, typically 4 to 6 weeks.
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