Why there is no uniform set price
The company that develops the exam, Elsevier, does not nationally set the HESI A2 fee. Instead, individual nursing programs or testing centers set their own prices, which is why costs can vary so much from one school to the next. That also means the best cost information will always come from your specific program, rather than a generic online estimate.
Typical Price Range
Overall, the cost of one HESI A2 attempt for most students will be in the $40 to $100 range, depending on prices at various institutions at the time, but the full range across all schools is from about $30 on the low end to more than $110 at some testing centers. Many schools pegged their standard fee at a lower $45-$60, with additional costs for remote proctoring or faster scheduling.
What determines the price?
Where you fall within that range of cost depends on a number of factors.
- On-campus vs. third-party testing centers — tests administered directly through the testing center of your nursing program generally cost less than tests booked through outside proctoring services, which often charge their own service fee in addition to the base exam cost.
- Remote vs. in-person testing – Some schools allow HESI A2 testing remotely via services such as Proctor, which may have an additional proctoring fee over testing in person.
- Number of sections required – many schools have a set fee regardless of how many sections you complete, but not all do so be sure to check.
- Whether critical thinking or personality profile sections are included — some schools charge a slightly higher combined fee when these additional assessment components are bundled with the core academic sections.
Other Costs to Consider in Your Budget
In addition to the base exam fee, there are a few other costs to keep in mind as you plan your overall budget.
- Retake fees – If you do not pass your program has required score, you will likely have to pay the exam fee again on each subsequent attempt.
- Score transfer fees – If you are interested in sending your results to other schools besides the one where you first took the test, some providers will charge you an additional fee for each transcript request.
- Prep materials – Not required, but many students also factor in the cost of a prep book, app subscription or practice test bundle on top of the price of the test itself.
- Application or proctor fees – some schools charge an additional administrative or proctoring fee as part of their overall nursing program application costs, on top of the core HESI exam fee itself.
How to track your exact expenses
- The best way to know your exact HESI A2 cost is to contact your specific nursing program directly, rather than relying on general online estimates.
- Check your program’s admissions info or website, since many schools list their specific HESI A2 fee along with other application requirements.
- If pricing information is not clearly posted online, contact your admissions office directly.
- Be sure to ask about the retake pricing specifically, because this cost is easily missed when you are budgeting for just one try.
- Also, be sure to look for a proctoring fee, especially if you are considering a remote testing option versus testing in person.
Tips to Keep the Cost in Check
- If you can, try testing on campus, since these options tend to be cheaper than third-party proctoring services.
- Since one of the best ways to keep your overall HESI costs down is by avoiding a retake, you will want to be as prepared as you can be for your first attempt.
- Ask your program about attempt limits and score validity, as some schools only accept scores within a certain timeframe, which could affect whether you need to retest even after an initial passing score.
- Factor prep materials into your overall plan and consider the cost of quality practice resources versus the cost of a potential retake.
Conclusion
There is not a set price tag for the HESI A2, but most students can expect to pay between $40 and $100 per attempt with some variation depending on your particular school and testing format. Since each institution sets its own prices, not nationally, the best way to know your exact cost is to check directly with your nursing program. As you calculate your initial exam cost, you should also consider the possibility of retaking the exam or transferring your score, and the costs associated with those options. This will enable you to develop a realistic, full budget as you navigate the nursing school application process.
