Which schools require the HSRT exam?

The HSRT is required by nursing programs primarily in Minnesota (Anoka-Ramsey CC, M State, NTC, Central Lakes, Century College, South Central College, RCTC) and allied health programs in Texas (Lone Star College dental hygiene and respiratory care, HCC Coleman respiratory therapy and OTA). Programs in New Jersey (Rowan College of South Jersey) and Oregon (COCC, PCC) also use the HSRT.

What is a passing HSRT score?

HSRT scores are reported as a percentage. Minnesota nursing programs typically require 65–74% minimum. Texas allied health programs use the HSRT as a competitive ranking factor without a hard minimum cutoff — a higher score improves your ranking in the applicant pool.

How do I prepare for the HSRT?

The HSRT tests critical thinking and logical reasoning — not memorized content. No nursing or allied health background knowledge is needed. Preparation focuses on reading comprehension, inference, analysis, and quantitative reasoning. StudyBuddy is the only platform with dedicated HSRT prep, including 64 lessons, 460+ practice questions, and 10 timed mock exams.

Is the HSRT the same as the TEAS?

No. The TEAS 7 tests science knowledge (A&P, biology, chemistry), math, reading, and English. The HSRT tests pure critical thinking and logical reasoning — no science content knowledge is needed. Many students find the HSRT more challenging because there is no content to memorize.

HSRT Score Requirements — 2026

HSRT Score Requirements — Every Program That Requires It

The complete list of nursing and allied health programs requiring the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT), with score requirements and admission details.

Quick Answer

HSRT score requirements vary significantly by program — from 58% at open-enrollment community colleges to 85%+ at elite BSN programs. The minimum score gets you in the door; competitive admitted students typically score 5–10 points above the published minimum. Use the table below to find your target schools, then build a study plan around that score.

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19 programs found

School	State	Program	Min. HSRT Score	Notes
Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids · Community College	Minnesota	Nursing AS / LPN	74%	Minimum 74 required. Holistic admissions: 55% Metrics (HSRT + GPA + credits), 31% Experience, 14% Attributes (essays). HSRT score range 74–100 used in points formula.
M State (Minnesota State) Moorhead · Community College	Minnesota	ADN / LPN / Sonography / Med Lab	60%	ADN/PN/MLT: 60% min. LPN-ADN Bridge: 70%. Sonography-Echo: 73%. Point-based selection — HSRT used as tie-breaker (Analysis, then Inference sub-scores).
Northwest Technical College Bemidji · Community College	Minnesota	ADN / LPN	70%	Minimum 70% required for nursing admission. Contact NTC for current retake and testing policies.
Central Lakes College Brainerd · Community College	Minnesota	ADN / LPN / Advanced Standing	65%	RN: 70% minimum. LPN/PN: 65% minimum. Rolling admission while seats are available — apply early. Advanced Standing track available for LPNs.
Century College White Bear Lake · Community College	Minnesota	Nursing	Competitive	HSRT used in admissions evaluation — no published minimum. The HSRT reportedly accounts for approximately 40% of the admissions rank at Century.
South Central College North Mankato · Community College	Minnesota	ASN / PN	70%	ASN: 74 minimum. PN: 70 minimum. Must test at SCC campus — scores from other institutions not accepted.
Rochester Community & Technical College Rochester · Community College	Minnesota	ADN / PN	Competitive	HSRT used as a weighted component of application points — no pass/fail cutoff. HSRT-PN version for Practical Nursing applicants; HSRT-AD version for Associate Degree (RN) applicants.
Lone Star College — Dental Hygiene Kingwood · Community College	Texas	Dental Hygiene AAS	Competitive	Competitive — avg interview invite score 23/33 (2025). Top 32 invited to interview. HSRT may only be taken ONCE per application period — multiple attempts invalidate your application.
Lone Star College — Respiratory Care Kingwood · Community College	Texas	Respiratory Care AAS	Competitive	Used in competitive ranking. No published minimum. Testing available year-round. Only once per year.
HCC Coleman — Respiratory Therapy Houston · Community College	Texas	Respiratory Therapy AAS	Competitive	30% of rubric points from HSRT. 70% academic criteria. No minimum score — points awarded by score range. Up to 2 results accepted.
HCC Coleman — Occupational Therapy Assistant Houston · Community College	Texas	OTA AAS	Competitive	25% HSRT + 20% interview + 5% essay + academic criteria. No minimum score. HESI critical thinking may substitute.
Palo Alto College (Alamo Colleges District) San Antonio · Community College	Texas	Dental Hygiene AAS	Competitive	Top 45 applicants invited to take HSRT after GPA + observation hours ranking. Top 30 offered seats. Tiebreaker: HSRT "Evaluation" sub-score. Application via ADEA DHCAS.
Alamo Colleges District San Antonio · Community College	Texas	Dental Hygiene (Palo Alto College)	Competitive	Alamo Colleges District (5 campuses in San Antonio) uses the HSRT for its Dental Hygiene program at Palo Alto College. District-level admissions office confirms HSRT is used for health sciences admissions. Top 45 applicants take HSRT; 30 selected.
College of the Mainland — Dental Hygiene Texas City · Community College	Texas	Dental Hygiene AAS	Competitive	HSRT-AD required for dental hygiene admissions. No published minimum. Scores valid for current application period only. New program (Fall 2024), initial CODA accreditation.
Rowan College of South Jersey Sewell · Community College	New Jersey	Nursing / LPN-RN / PTA / PN	Competitive	Used in selective admissions ranking across Nursing, LPN-RN Bridge, PTA, and PN programs. No published minimum. Only HSRT school in New Jersey.
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Central Oregon Community College Bend · Community College	Oregon	ADN / PN	Competitive	No minimum; HSRT score × 0.30 = 30% of application points
Clatsop Community College Astoria · Community College	Oregon	ADN (AAS Nursing)	Competitive	Phase II exam — up to 10 points awarded for overall HSRT score. Also requires ATI TEAS in Phase I for additional points.
Columbia Gorge Community College The Dalles · Community College	Oregon	ADN (AAS Nursing)	Competitive	Phase II exam — HSRT administered alongside proctored essays. Testing dates: April 15–16, 2026.
Portland Community College Portland · Community College	Oregon	ADN (AAS Nursing)	Competitive	Phase II exam — only top Phase I scorers are invited to take the HSRT. No published minimum. HSRT score combined with essay, resume, and letter of interest determines final selection.

HSRT score requirements and program policies change annually. Always verify with your program before testing. StudyBuddy is the only dedicated HSRT prep platform — no other course covers this exam.

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AI-powered HSRT prep. Diagnostic identifies your weak spots first.

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Common Questions

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