OregonHSRT Exam

Oregon Nursing Programs
That Require the HSRT

Two Oregon community colleges. COCC in Bend and PCC in Portland, use the Health Sciences Reasoning Test for nursing admissions. Here are the requirements and how to prepare.

PCC applicants: The HSRT is a Phase II exam, only the top 80–100 Phase I applicants take it. If you're invited to Phase II, your HSRT score is the deciding factor for admission.

Oregon HSRT Programs

Central Oregon Community College (COCC)

Oregon

Bend, OR

Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)

HSRT score is weighted as part of COCC's competitive points-based nursing admissions formula. No hard minimum score, a higher score improves your overall ranking against other applicants in the pool.

Program website ↗COCC HSRT prep guide →
Min Score
No minimum, weighted in points formula

Portland Community College (PCC)

Oregon

Portland, OR

Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)

PCC uses a two-phase admissions process. Only the top 80–100 applicants who clear Phase I (GPA + prerequisites) advance to Phase II, where the HSRT is required. If you reach Phase II, your HSRT score directly determines your ranking.

Program website ↗PCC HSRT prep guide →
Min Score
Phase II, top 80–100 applicants only

Applying to COCC or PCC? Start with a free diagnostic.

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Oregon HSRT questions

Which Oregon nursing programs require the HSRT?
Two community colleges. Central Oregon Community College (COCC) in Bend and Portland Community College (PCC) in Portland both use the Health Sciences Reasoning Test for Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) admissions.
What HSRT score do I need for COCC nursing?
COCC has no hard minimum. Your HSRT score is weighted as part of its competitive points-based admissions formula, so a higher score improves your overall ranking against other applicants in the pool.
How does Portland Community College use the HSRT?
PCC uses a two-phase admissions process. Only the top 80 to 100 applicants who clear Phase I (GPA and prerequisites) advance to Phase II, where the HSRT is required. If you reach Phase II, your HSRT score directly determines your ranking for admission.
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 rather than memorization.
How long should I prepare for the HSRT?
Most students prepare for about 4 to 6 weeks. Because the HSRT tests reasoning rather than memorized facts, effective preparation means practicing HSRT-format questions across the six skill domains and reviewing the reasoning behind each answer, not reviewing science content.
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One question per skill area (Analysis, Inference, Evaluation, Induction, Deduction) with full explanations. Faculty-developed.

Everything else on the HSRT

Understand the exam

Prepare

6 reasoning skill areas

Schools that require it

Scoring & admissions

State-specific guides

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