EC quick?

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If you go through EC is it quick? What is the fastest people can study and take tests?

tnmarie

268 Posts

Specializes in geriatrics, hospice, private duty.

I've seen people taking exams every week and finishing ALL of their theory exams in like 2 months. This is a very rare thing and I'm not even sure that those students passed the CPNE or NCLEX. How fast you go depends on your level of motivation, your study habits, and how hectic your life is.

Something to keep in mind: No matter how fast you complete your exams, you WILL wait 3-6 months to take your CPNE PLUS 6-8 weeks for graduation to process PLUS how ever long it takes for you to get at NCLEX testing date in your state.

Something else to keep in mind: Most RN bridge programs have at least a year wait time. You can be finished or almost finished with your Ec degree before you would even make it off the wait list of most brick and mortar schools.

Finally, if you are looking for a "quick and easy" way to get your RN, it doesn't exist. Ec is a lot of work and very challenging, maybe even more challenging than brick and mortar schools.

Good luck!

EDIT: I also forgot to add that it WILL take you at least two months to take the FCCA, regardless of how fast you completed other courses as it is not work-at-your-own-pace as the other exams are.

bmcnurse843

23 Posts

Its just I have already gotten into LPN to Rn at my local college. it starts in August. I just finished LPN and havent even taking me boards yet. It is only a 3 semster program since they give you credit for most of the RN program because you taking LPN with them..I just dont know if I want to go back to classes and I dont know if I want to do it online or not. My sister did it in a year but she recommended me going to school for it vs online. I just wanted some opinions.

delarmer

26 Posts

Specializes in OB/GYN.

What is FCCA?

NvRGvUp

53 Posts

Tnmarie you are amazing and so thorough! Fcca is basically another exam that is taken biweekly over 8 weeks at your home..and that is all I can say about it! :)....I also went through "normal" schooling and then went to EC.... The normal school said that I could be done in a year...BUT it is really difficult to do that....but if you put your mind to it....you can do anything! I love EC much praise and love to the school!

tjmiller

34 Posts

It can take up to SIX months for the CPNE?

Editorial Team / Moderator

Lunah, MSN, RN

14 Articles; 13,766 Posts

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Its just I have already gotten into LPN to Rn at my local college. it starts in August. I just finished LPN and havent even taking me boards yet. It is only a 3 semster program since they give you credit for most of the RN program because you taking LPN with them..I just dont know if I want to go back to classes and I dont know if I want to do it online or not. My sister did it in a year but she recommended me going to school for it vs online. I just wanted some opinions.

If you can do a brick and mortar program, I would recommend going that route. EC is best as a back-up plan or for those whose lives aren't set up for being able to sit in a classroom. Just my opinion, of course. I am an EC grad.

Editorial Team / Moderator

Lunah, MSN, RN

14 Articles; 13,766 Posts

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
It can take up to SIX months for the CPNE?

Yep. Depends on a lot of factors, though, such as which RPAC you choose and if you choose a specific site in that RPAC. I applied to MPAC, chose only Mansfield, and thus waited a little more than 6 months for my CPNE. NPAC has the highest number of sites, I believe, and if you are flexible about where you test, your wait will not be as long.

Specializes in Ambulatory Care-Family Medicine.

I would do brick and mortar school if you can, i chose ec because i couldn't afford to not work full time to attend classes

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

It was quick for me but a couple of things have changed since 2010. It will be only as fast as your determination/motivation to succeed. Total time from enrollment to RN for me was 10 months. But everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, (including the stars), was lined up at the right time and place. The exams were cheaper, the CPNE was cheaper, expensive still, but cheaper and my brother paid for that because I'm his little sister, (even though Ms. Nightingale and i went to LPN school together), the FCCA was an open-book, at-home paper exam, there was no Math requirement, and EC offered a packaged program to finance it all at the time, and I studied on two specific occasions: DAY & NIGHT. And, every time anybody looked for me, I was on my knees! Had it not been for EACH AND EVERY ONE of these details, I would still be in college.

Aliakey

131 Posts

Specializes in Emergency.

From start date to graduation date, it took me 23 months to complete EC. But, I studied the heck out of everything and was aiming to keep my GPA as high as possible (looking towards an MSN track), so I spent a lot of time preparing for each exam. EC was my first choice because: 1. Texas BON was fine with it, 2. The program was fully-accredited, and 3. I could not afford to take two years off from full time work (paramedic) to attend any of the brick n' mortar nursing schools in my area. Got bills to pay and a family to feed ;)

So was it worth it for me? I passed the CPNE and NCLEX the first time around and was just offered the "dream job" I was really hoping for as an emergency department RN at my favorite hospital. During that interview, my new employer had absolutely no problem with an EC education... never came up as an issue or concern, and in fact, the "self-discipline" needed to complete the program on your own can be a strong selling point.

Hope it helps!

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