Entrance Exam

In the United States, entrance exams for allied-health programs—such as medical/health assistants, technologists, technicians, coordinators, operators—primarily focus on evaluating basic academic readiness in math, reading, and science. The process is characterized by a mix of standardized testing and a significant trend toward test-optional policies for entry-level roles. Most allied-health certification programs can be found at community colleges and can be earned 1-2 years of coursework. Allied-health certification programs are widely available at community colleges across the United States. These institutions serve as a primary hub for training the non-physician, non-nurse workforce that delivers more than 75% of modern healthcare. 

1. Primary Entrance Exams

Many allied-health programs require one of two major standardized assessments to rank applicants for competitive cohorts: 

• ATI TEAS (Version 7): Increasingly the gold standard for Radiologic Technology and Surgical Technology programs. It tests reading, math, science, and English.

• HESI A2 (Admission Assessment): Frequently used by Medical Assistant and Paramedicine programs to assess similar academic categories, sometimes with added personality or learning style profiles.

• Kaplan Admissions Test: Used by some specialized programs, such as Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), often requiring a minimum score around 56% for competitive entry.