HESI LPN-A2 Frequently Asked Questions
What Exams are required to be eligible for the ECC Practical Nursing Program?
For Practical Nursing (LPN) applicants, the HESI LPN-A2 Exam must be completed.
The admission exam is only one of several steps needed for meeting the eligibility criteria. Please visit
the ECC Practical Nursing program page for complete information on eligibility requirements
What is the HESI LPN-A2 Exam?
The HESI LPN-A2 Admission Exam is designed to assess a student’s academic and personal readiness for higher education in a healthcare-related field, such as nursing. The test is an internet-based, timed,
multiple choice test evaluating your knowledge in the following content areas:
English Language
- Reading Comprehension: Provides reading scenarios in order to measure reading comprehension, identifying the main idea, finding meaning of words in context, passage comprehension, making logical inferences, etc.
- Vocabulary and General Knowledge: Contains vocabulary terms that are used commonly in both general spoken English and in the healthcare fields:
- Grammar: Contains basic grammar, including parts of speech, important terms and their uses in grammar, commonly occurring grammatical errors, etc.
Mathematics
- Basic Math Skills: Focuses on math skills needed for healthcare fields, including basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, decimals, ratios and proportions, household measures, general math facts, etc.
Learning Style/Personality Profile
- Learning Style: assessment of the student’s preferred learning style.
- Personality Style: assessment of the student’s personality profile
When should I take the exam?
The ECC Practical Nursing program strongly recommends that students successfully complete the
following course(s) before taking the HESI LPN-A2 Exam:
- Intro to Anatomy and Physiology Lab & Lecture
- General Psychology or Human Development
It is understood that some students may not have completed all of the above coursework prior to testing. In this case, students are encouraged to use the review materials or contact The Learning Center for tutoring assistance.
What is a passing score?
The minimum required scores to be considered for admission are as follows:
- HESI LPN-A2: 77% Reading Comprehension Score
What kind of study materials are there?
A review book for the A2 Admission Exam–Admission Assessment Exam Review 5th Ed., ISBN: 978-0323582261 may be purchased at the Elsevier Website: http://www.us.elsevierhealth.com
How can I prepare for the exam?
Students may contact the Union Learning Center to set up an appointment for individual HESI prep sessions for specific areas of concern. To contact the Learning Center, call 636-584-6688, email general_tutoring@eastcentral.edu, or stop in any time during business hours.
How long does it take to complete the exam?
The HESI LPN-A2 exam has a total allotted time of 240 minutes.
The individual sub-sections in each exam are not separately timed, so pacing yourself is very important.
I took the exam(s) somewhere else. Can I transfer the results to ECC?
No. Results from exams taken for other institutions are not transferable to ECC.
How many times can I take the exams?
You are allowed to take each exam a maximum of twice within one calendar year. The date of second attempt must be at least 30 days after the date of your first attempt.
How long will my test scores remain valid?
Your scores will remain valid for two years. If your scores are more than two years old, you must re-take the exam to apply for the ECC Nursing program.
I changed my mind and no longer want to take the exam. Can I get a refund?
If you wish to cancel your appointment, you must contact the appropriate Testing Center at least five business days before your test day to receive a refund. Once the Testing Center confirms your appointment has been canceled, contact the Nursing Department at 636-584-6616 or nursing@eastcentral.edu to arrange a refund.
How can I reschedule my exam?
If you wish to reschedule your appointment for a different day, contact the appropriate Testing Center first. You will then need to re-register using the online form for the new testing date.
I didn’t get the score I wanted. What do I do next?
Applicants who wish to re-take the exam are encouraged to speak with a nursing advisor before making a second attempt. The maximum number of times an applicant can take the test in one calendar year is twice, and the Nursing Department recommends applicants wait 30 days after a first attempt to test again.
Failure to achieve the minimum passing score on the second attempt will disqualify the applicant for admission to the ECC Nursing program for that admission cycle.
What if I have a disability and require a special accommodation?
Requests for special accommodations must be reasonable and arranged prior to your scheduled test. Students must provide all special accommodation documentation to Access Services for review and approval. ECC will then submit the request to Elsevier, which will review the request to ensure compliance with their testing policies.
The process of applying to ECC and registering a disability may take several weeks to months, and there may be an additional waiting period of 2 to 4 weeks to arrange your testing date once your accommodations have been approved. We suggest that students requiring special accommodations begin this process as soon as possible.
I have questions that are not answered on this page. Whom can I contact?
If you have questions pertaining to the administration of the HESI exams (e.g., testing rules and procedures, scheduling, etc.), you are welcome to contact the Testing Center at 636-584-6550 or uniontc@eastcentral.edu.
If you have questions about taking the exams at the Rolla campus, contact the Rolla Testing Center at 573-466-4076 or rollatc@eastcentral.edu.
If you have questions pertaining to exam content (e.g., how to prepare or improve your score) or any other aspect of the ECC Nursing program application process, please contact the ECC Nursing Department at 636-584-6616 or nursing@eastcentral.edu.
