can someone answer this EC question for me!!!

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

I have a question ? When you do the EC program and finish the CPNE do you have to wait until graduation before you are eligible to sit for the NCLEX or can you get your ATT and do it before graduation. The reason I ask is I belong to several Yahoo groups and I got a message in my inbox about somebody finished with everything but had to wait a year until the next graduation before she could sit for the NCLEX. I hate to sound dumb here but I would really like to know....

call bon...it would seem that if you have completed everything that you shouldn't have to wait for a ceremony

but i don't really know

Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

From my understanding, they have 4 different graduation dates a year. I don't think you can sit for the NCLEX prior to graduation, but I would still call the BON to verify. You can look up the graduation dates on their website. It takes a while (4-6 weeks) for them to process your paperwork for graduation ~ I took that time to study for the NCLEX and have a baby (LOL!). I can tell you that for me, it didn't take long after graduation to get the ATT and schedule the test.

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

Well this makes me feel better any way.

From my understanding, they have 4 different graduation dates a year. I don't think you can sit for the NCLEX prior to graduation, but I would still call the BON to verify. You can look up the graduation dates on their website. It takes a while (4-6 weeks) for them to process your paperwork for graduation ~ I took that time to study for the NCLEX and have a baby (LOL!). I can tell you that for me, it didn't take long after graduation to get the ATT and schedule the test.
Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

Call or e-mail EC. When I graduated in 2001 EC was having graduation dates every month. The actually graduation ceremonies are held several times a year but for purpose of completeting the program there was a date every month. I took my NCLEX and passed in Feb and my graduation date was in March. As soon as you get a graduation date then you can apply for the ATT and then schedule the NCLEX. I took the NCLEX in April. It all went pretty quickly. It was a great program for me. So so glad I did it!!:mad:

It depends on the BoN requirements. I am NCLEXing for Hawaii and they just require an affidavit from Excelsior after program completion, called a Verification of Nursing Program Completion. It might take just as long to get that back from EC as the actual grad processing though! EC told me about a month. Some BoNs only require final transcripts, which of course reflects program completion.

In Texas, it is your program completion date that makes you eligible to take the NCLEX, which is not the same as your graduation (degree conferral) date.

Your program completion date is generally approx. one month or so before your actual graduation date. This is the date when EC compiles all of your credits and determines that you have met all requirements for graduation.

EC has a cut-off date for completing the CPNE for every graduation cycle.

For example, I took the CPNE in late September (which was the very last thing I had to do before graduation) and I didn't make the Sept. CPNE cut-off date, so my program completion date was late October (making me eligible to take the NCLEX) and the date on my actual degree was in late November.

Now also keep in mind the speed (or lack therof) on the part of the TX BNE.

Even though I applied for RN licensure as soon as I became eligible in late October, I did not get my GN permit until early December.

Of course this was in 2003 which was the first year they decided to start requiring fingerprint cards for criminal background checks, so they may have gotten more efficient in later years.

Specializes in rehab; med/surg; l&d; peds/home care.

EC has monthly conferral dates:

i posted the link in the thread "does anyone know about ec practical exams"? from singlelife.

i'll try to attach it here too....it's found in the list of Examination Publications Request, under misc. items.

here: https://www.excelsior.edu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/EXCELSIOR_COLLEGE/MY_EXCELSIOR_COLLEGE/PUBLICATIONS/GRADUATION_PROCESSING_PARAMETERS.PDF

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

Thank you all for your replies...

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