The rise in Spanish heritage language and Spanish native speaker (SHL/SNS) learners in language programs traditionally designed for second language (L2) learners has prompted an interest in the development of a more inclusive placement exam for diverse learners. Some practitioners opt for an instrument that compiles a comprehensive profile of the learner's ability. Taking the perspective of the natural acquisition of SHL/SNS of select linguistic areas as well as background information on the learners' exposure to Spanish, we developed a simplified placement exam that efficiently identifies learners of different backgrounds and abilities. A one-way ANOVA demonstrates that the small number of items developed in the test effectively index different levels of ability. Additional informal analyses indicate that once the parameters for course recommendations are applied, levels of ability can still be observed after the SHL/SNS and L2 learners are separated. The present article outlines the approach and outcomes of the placement test to illustrate how an in-house instrument can be designed to meet the needs of an institution's programs and diverse learners.