Excelsior CPNE Wait Time

savagetrojan · Oct 10, 2011

Hello All,
How long did you have to wait to take your Excelsior CPNE test?
Also, including CPNE test wait time, what is the quickest time a person could get through just the nursing classes of the associate degree program (I've got all pre-reqs completed)?
Thanks!

Did you count Info Lit, and Micro in there?(Just asking). Those are also required. With that being said. Excelsior is a very individual experience. I know nurses that study for months for an exam and have plugged away for a few years before finishing and then there are individuals that fly through. YOU are the only one that knows your current work schedule, family life, determination/desire, and ability to pay. All this has to go into answering this question. The fastest I have heard of someone going through it is NINE months. I started March 2011 and have one exam left and FCCA and CPNE, that's with taking the last four months OFF. On this forum I would guess to say the AVERAGE time is roughly 13 months. As for wait time for the CPNE....well,.....once you have finished all eight nursing theory exams AND the FCCA you become CPNE eligible. The average wait is around 4-5 months once you have sent in the 2k and given them a date you are eligible. I hope this helps answer your question!

frankie,RN · Oct 10, 2011

i personally had 2prereqs- a&p and micro. plus the nursing theory exams. started in april, last exam. in august. no tests in june. broke...enrolled. in end of june. fcca in sept. cpne in dec. it doesnt work that way for everyone, learn a pace that promotes your own success. even tho im a single parent of 2 schoolaged boys. i only work 2 12h shifts on weekends. plenty of time to study. i budgeted my fundage and cut back onspending so not to have to pick up those extra 3 agency shifts a week. do what works for u. at your own comfy pace. focus on success and passing first....... then incorporate. ur timeframe into that. good luck w/ ur studies

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 10, 2011

Took me one year, one month, and one day ... and that was with a 7-month wait for my CPNE, from the time I was eligible/applied (November 2007) to the day I passed the CPNE (June 2008). Imagine if I'd gone right after I was eligible, haha! But I probably wouldn't have passed...

LoopsRN2 · Oct 10, 2011

Some have made it through the program in 7 months! The time really varies, I did best when I tested ever 3-5 weeks, some did an exam every 2 weeks. My CPNE wait time was 4 months, and I test November 4th.

BeachieRN84 · Oct 10, 2011

I did the program start to finish in 9 months. It took me 4 months for all the nursing exams and then I also needed A&P, Micro, Info Lit, Humanities, Sociology and Life Span Psych so I chipped away at that while I waited for the CPNE, I applied in May and got a September date, I passed it last month in NY!

I am now not so patiently waiting for my graduation date so I can take my boards! It takes 6-8 weeks AFTER your CPNE to graduate from EC :-P

frankie,RN · Oct 12, 2011

beachnurse84. congratulations. what was the secret to ur success?? such as study habits. workshops? anything? por favor.

angieh56 · Oct 12, 2011

Did you count Info Lit, and Micro in there?(Just asking). Those are also required. With that being said. Excelsior is a very individual experience. I know nurses that study for months for an exam and have plugged away for a few years before finishing and then there are individuals that fly through. YOU are the only one that knows your current work schedule, family life, determination/desire, and ability to pay. All this has to go into answering this question. The fastest I have heard of someone going through it is NINE months. I started March 2011 and have one exam left and FCCA and CPNE, that's with taking the last four months OFF. On this forum I would guess to say the AVERAGE time is roughly 13 months. As for wait time for the CPNE....well,.....once you have finished all eight nursing theory exams AND the FCCA you become CPNE eligible. The average wait is around 4-5 months once you have sent in the 2k and given them a date you are eligible. I hope this helps answer your question!

Thanks for all the great replies everyone!

To answer your question I have taken micro I believe Info Lit is the only pre req I have left to take :)

Thanks again!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 12, 2011

Thanks for all the great replies everyone!
To answer your question I have taken micro I believe Info Lit is the only pre req I have left to take :)
Thanks again!

Save Info Lit for later -- you don't actually have to finish the non-nursing stuff before you can starting the nursing exams. I saved Micro and my Sociology CLEP to do during my CPNE wait time. :)

Also, regarding Info Lit -- do a search on this forum for Penn Foster, there is a less expensive alternative to Info Lit -- I think Penn Foster's course is ENG 103 or something like that. Many students have used that course in place of Info Lit.

BeachieRN84 · Oct 13, 2011

beachnurse84. congratulations. what was the secret to ur success?? such as study habits. workshops? anything? por favor.

Frankie I sent you a private message :-)

When is your CPNE?

frankie,RN · Oct 13, 2011

thank you so much Beachnurse84

i am testing at st peters on dec2nd. i do excelsiors workshop nov8th. im still waiting for my wound to arrive. hopefully tomorrow. i just got into the groove of studying approx 6+ hours/day M-F. but i have been studying since beginning of sept. thank u. cant send a private message but i would love to read your journal. good luck and best wishes to u.

RNmage · Oct 13, 2011

Started in October 2010, finished the tests February 2011, took cpne 1st time July (failed) retested beginning of October (pass). It all depends on your will power, motivation and account balance.