What to Bring to the TEAS Exam: Test Day Rules and What to Expect
ATI documents four ways to sit the TEAS, Version 7, as of September 2026: in person on campus at your program, in person at a PSI Testing Center, online and remote proctored directly by ATI using the Respondus LockDown Browser, or online and remote proctored by your own institution, which several ATI support articles tie to the Proctorio Chrome extension instead. Which of these your program offers, and whether you sit a computer based or paper and pencil exam, is your school’s decision, not ATI’s. One requirement holds across every mode: a current, original, government issued photo ID whose first and last name matches your ATI registration exactly, since digital, photographed, or expired IDs are turned away. ATI supplies the calculator in every mode, built into the exam software for computer based testing or handed out as a physical unit for paper and pencil testing, and personal calculators are never allowed. Once the exam starts, the clock runs 209 minutes across 170 items, 150 of them scored. This guide covers what ATI actually publishes for test day, and flags the rules your specific test site sets on its own.
Figures reflect ATI’s published TEAS test day and technical requirement pages, checked September 2026. Your specific mode, and any additional site rules, are set by your test administrator.
How ATI Documents TEAS Delivery
ATI’s own registration pages lay out the same four modes the opening capsule describes above, plus one more option some institutions run in house: a paper and pencil version instead of the computer based format. ATI does not decide which of these your program offers; your school does, sometimes more than one, and your registration confirmation email is where that choice actually shows up.
Photo ID: The One Universal Rule
Every mode ATI documents shares the same identity check. You need a current, government issued photo ID, the original document, not a photo of it, a printout, or a digital or mobile version, with the first and last name matching your ATI registration exactly. ATI’s guidance points to a driver’s license, a state issued ID card, a passport, a military ID, or a permanent resident card as acceptable forms; a student ID, a credit card photo, or a temporary license does not meet the bar. ATI’s guidance is direct about the stakes: if your ID does not meet these requirements, ATI Proctors will stop your exam and trigger ATI’s no refund, no retest policy, so check your ID against the list before test day. For online remote exams, expect to photograph your ID during a pre check step, and ATI’s own guidance calls a skipped or rushed ID photo the single most common reason a remote exam gets flagged or stopped.
What ATI Provides: Calculator and Scratch Paper
You never bring your own calculator. For a computer based exam, in person or remote, a four function calculator is built directly into the Mathematics section on screen. For a paper and pencil exam, the proctor hands you a physical four function calculator instead. Personal calculators, including the one on your phone, are prohibited in every mode.
Scratch paper works differently depending on where you sit. In person testing centers supply it, and for the paper and pencil format, bring two sharpened No. 2 pencils with attached erasers yourself, as ATI’s guidance instructs; no other writing instrument is permitted. Online remote candidates, whether proctored by ATI or by their institution, supply their own: one 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of blank paper, destroyed once you finish, or a desktop dry erase whiteboard with two writing instruments, which ATI’s guidance allows in place of paper. If your program runs an in house paper and pencil day, check your registration email for its scratch paper policy specifically.
ATI’s prohibited items list is otherwise short and consistent across modes: outerwear, bags, phones, personal electronics, and outside food or drink stay out of the testing space, with narrow exceptions for religious attire and documented medical needs. Remote testing adds two rules of its own, no headphones without an approved accommodation and no other people in the room, both confirmed by a live camera scan before you start. The table below covers the full picture, including where a rule depends on your mode.
| Item | Rule | Institution or mode dependent? |
|---|---|---|
| Government issued photo ID, original and current, name matching your registration | Bring it, every mode | No |
| ATI username and password | Bring it, every mode | No |
| Two sharpened No. 2 pencils with attached erasers | Bring them for a paper and pencil exam only | Yes, only applies if your program uses that format |
| Calculator | Leave your own at home; ATI provides one in every mode | No |
| Scratch paper | Provided at in person sites; bring one 8 1/2 by 11 blank sheet for remote testing and destroy it after, or use a desktop dry erase whiteboard with two writing instruments instead | Yes, differs by mode |
| Webcam and microphone | Required for remote testing only, internal or external is fine | Yes, applies to remote modes only |
| Jackets, coats, hats, sunglasses | Leave at home; religious apparel is exempt after inspection | No, though the inspection step is run locally |
| Purses, backpacks, cell phones, smartwatches | Leave at home or out of the testing space entirely | No |
| Headphones | Leave at home unless you have an approved accommodation on file | No |
| Other people in the room | Not permitted for remote testing; a live room and desk scan checks before you start | Yes, applies to remote modes only |
Technical and Workspace Requirements for Online Remote Testing
Device rules differ by who proctors your remote exam. For an institution proctored remote exam, ATI’s guidance requires a PC or Mac desktop or laptop; phones and tablets are not permitted. For an exam ATI proctors directly, ATI’s own quickstart guidance also allows an iPad, propped vertically and run through the Respondus app, in addition to a PC or Mac, but Chromebooks are excluded in either case. You need the most recent version of Google Chrome, JavaScript and cookies enabled, and any pop up blocker turned off, plus a webcam (minimum resolution 320 by 240) and a microphone, built in or external. ATI’s TEAS specific guidance sets a minimum internet speed of 0.5 to 1 Mbps and requires a well lit, private space, since your proctor runs a live desk and room scan before the exam opens. Before test day, complete ATI’s required Dry Run, which confirms your system, camera, microphone, and proctoring software, Respondus LockDown Browser for an ATI proctored exam or Proctorio for an institution proctored one, all work together.
The 209 Minute Exam, as Orientation for Test Day
Once checked in, the structure is the same across every mode. TEAS Version 7 runs 170 total items, 150 scored plus 20 unscored pretest items, across 209 minutes total. Each section is timed separately: Reading 55 minutes for 39 scored items, Mathematics 57 minutes for 34 scored items, Science 60 minutes for 44 scored items, its largest by both time and count, and English and Language Usage 37 minutes for 33 scored items. ATI’s own pages do not agree: some mention a short break, often around 10 minutes, after Mathematics; others describe no break at all, so confirm with your proctor. Arrival guidance is similarly inconsistent: in person pages suggest 15 to 20 minutes early, remote guidance suggests 20 to 30 minutes, and a third ATI page sets 30 minutes for both, so plan on the full 30 minutes to cover every version.
The Constant Across Every TEAS Test Day: Ask Your Test Administrator
TEAS Version 7 is not administered by one central agency running one uniform room; it is run by hundreds of individual programs and testing centers, each choosing its own delivery mode, proctoring vendor, and local variations on top of what ATI publishes. ATI’s own help articles repeatedly point candidates back to their registration confirmation email and program testing coordinator. Treat everything in this guide as the floor ATI publishes nationally; your program’s specific instructions are the ceiling that actually governs your test day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ID do I need for the TEAS exam?
A current, original, government issued photo ID whose first and last name matches your ATI registration exactly. A driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID, or permanent resident card typically qualifies; a student ID, a credit card photo, a temporary license, or a digital or photographed ID does not.
Can I bring my own calculator to the TEAS exam?
No. ATI provides the calculator in every delivery mode, a four function tool built into the exam software for computer based testing or a physical unit from the proctor for paper and pencil testing. Personal calculators, including a phone’s calculator, are not allowed.
What are the technical requirements for the online TEAS exam?
A PC or Mac desktop or laptop, not a phone or tablet for an institution proctored at home exam, though ATI’s own quickstart guidance allows an iPad for an exam ATI proctors directly; the latest Chrome with JavaScript and cookies enabled, a webcam and microphone, a minimum internet speed of 0.5 to 1 Mbps per ATI’s TEAS guidance, and proctoring software tested through ATI’s required Dry Run beforehand.
Is there a break during the TEAS exam?
ATI’s own pages disagree: some reference a short break, often around 10 minutes, after Mathematics; others describe no break at all. This is not a guaranteed rule at every test center and program, so confirm break policy with your test administrator before test day.
Want to walk into test day already comfortable with the format? Try a TEAS practice test, or start with a free TEAS practice test to preview the section timing and question types before you commit to a full study plan.
Sources
- ATI, TEAS Exam Day Requirements and Expectations
- ATI, What Identification Do I Need for the TEAS Exam?
- ATI, What Are the TEAS Exam Day Requirements?
- ATI, TEAS Exam Day Details and Requirements
- ATI, What to Bring for an ATI TEAS In-Person Exam
- ATI, TEAS Online, Proctored by ATI, Quickstart Guide
- ATI, What Are the Technical Requirements for a TEAS Exam Taken at Home Proctored by an Institution?
- ATI, Technical Requirements
- ATI, TEAS Online Proctored by ATI
- ATI, TEAS Exam Details
Med Preps is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI). TEAS is a registered trademark of Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
For educational and exam preparation purposes only. Not a substitute for formal clinical training.