excelsior cpne wait time

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2016

Hello, there. We've moved your thread to the Excelsior College Online forum. Good luck to you.

https://allnurses.com/excelsior-college-online/

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2016

A coworker just got a test date for June, and he applied in August. He also had applied for any test site.

10 months seems to be about right.

I finished my FCCA in October 2012, had all my stuff turned in at the beginning of December 2012, got a test date at the end of January 2013 for March, and I only applied for the Lubbock test site. I was not ready in March, was able to reschedule for May.

No idea why it is taking so long now. I know there are 12 test sites now; when I did mine I think there were 14 sites and around a 4-6 month wait; I would not think 2 fewer sites would make a 4-5 month increase.

UlanaD · Jan 13, 2016

EC is like any other school, they have to compete for spots at the hospitals with other nursing programs. I remember in PN everybody was on pins and needles during the negotiations hoping we got the closest hospitals and we ended up having to drive 80 miles one way in the dead of winter to one site, all other sites were 30-50 miles and we ended up with an evening rotation that totally screwed up any work time. EC is always looking for new locations (talk to your hospital management!!!) and by the time you get to CPNE there may be more hospitals so the wait time will be less. If you can do all your exams in a year and then 6-10 month wait for cpne you are still under 2 years unlike a normal program that is 3 years, if you can get in at all. At least with EC you can study and take your exams when it's convenient for you and work a full time job if you need to. The exam route is so reasonable that you could do it all and be debt free when you graduate instead of $40000 in debt with a brick & mortar program. You have to weigh the pros and cons.

WorseNurse · Jan 18, 2016

I applied last March and tested this past weekend.

NursePrinny · Jan 28, 2016

Are these test dates taking so long because of the particular site everyone is choosing?

I keep on reading btwn 2 to 10 months for a date on here. Can you choose several sites at once or do you have to choose 1 site only?

WorseNurse · Jan 29, 2016

Are these test dates taking so long because of the particular site everyone is choosing?
I keep on reading btwn 2 to 10 months for a date on here. Can you choose several sites at once or do you have to choose 1 site only?

You pick a region.

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2016

Yup, you pick a region (NPAC or SPAC), and then you can pick any number of sites in that region.

Right now, NPAC has 7 test sites (5 in NY, 1 in PA, 1 in TX), SPAC has 5 (all in GA).

You would think NPAC would get you a test site faster due to more sites, but my friend applied for any test site in NPAC in August 2015 and just got his test date 2 weeks ago for June 2016 (not sure which site, I know not TX though).

kristi16 · Mar 1, 2016

I do the fcca in May. I just got off the phone with Excelsior about when I would receive the cpne material. I then asked if I was willing to go to any testing site for clinicals how long was the wait? Right now the average time is 8-12 months. Wow that is a long time. I feel so discouraged today. Another year to wait that just doesn't seem right.

MedicFireRN · Mar 1, 2016

I applied in November 2014 and tested in July 2015. I put any site in SPAC. I also called a bunch. That was the first available date when they assigned me a date (which they did in March 2015). 10 months is average right now. There's a survey going around in the facebook groups right now, and here is what has been found about test wait times. The survey has had about 85 responses right now. Note: click on the graph to see the whole thing :)