How far out is NCLEX-RN scheduling? May 2020 COVID

BiscuitStripes, BSN, RN · May 19, 2020

24 minutes ago, caal19 said:
There's like nothing in July anywhere except Norwalk, CT. Absolutely nothing in August anywhere. There were 2 other locations in northern CT I did not look at though. There was 1 location in Brooklyn that I saw had June 26. They go suuuuuper fast though so they're probably not available anymore. However, after checking the site MANY times, I managed to land a July date in NJ. It seems like they're constantly updating bc a bunch of June dates/times opened up as well. They were filled pretty quick, but the site was always changing/refreshing/updating. So if you dont get your first choice date/time/location, don't freak out like I did and just keep checking. I even emailed NCSBN and asked if they plan on opening up more sites/supplying more options. It seems like they're working on it. It depends on state regulations and availability of volunteers.

What other states did you check by chance? Know anything about the availability of states in the South? Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi?

AB3614, BSN, RN · May 19, 2020

3 hours ago, ER_BiscuitStripes said:
What other states did you check by chance? Know anything about the availability of states in the South? Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi?

I have heard the availability in Georgia is very limited, at the moment. Those that are graduating in May and just now receiving their ATT are only seeing available dates for September.

bitter_betsy, BSN · May 19, 2020

There is a May date for Macon and 3 June dates for Augusta. Nothing else from Jax up to Wilmington until September (I did not check GA east of Macon as I hate I26 and will not drive down it). I haven't checked FL because I don't know what their status is regarding entry into the state anymore. For a while if you didn't have a FL license - they turned you away at the state line. Jax however didn't have seats until late Sept.

In GA and SC things are slowly reopening. I know one of my restaurants in GA can only have 16 people in the building due to sq footage and the normal capacity is 300. Its possible that once regulations start to relax, more seats will open up.

Once you are registered, you can go in and check multiple times per day for a new seat and switch if you want to. You can literally check anywhere in the country. Just be aware if you go to another state (and you try to fly) that you know what their rules are regarding quarantine. If you drive, remember that many rest areas aren't open yet and you'll be relying on Walmart and gas stations for potty breaks and drive throughs for food. There are some states that are still rather locked down. Also - make sure you have a hotel room before you go because hotels may or may not be allowed to open as well. My particular hotel was forced to close on 3/18 and is finally being allowed to reopen Friday with extremely strict rules. We aren't corporate - so its possible that its easier for corporate hotels to comply but it doesn't make sense for many of the smaller, non-corporate entities to reopen because they will just lose money.

Just don't panic. Its going to be a day by day thing.

Also - check your State BON. In my state, once they receive the endorsements, they have 14 business days to get the information to Pearson. It takes Pearson a bit to do their thing as well, but there were people in our class that had their ATT 6 days after our BON received our endorsements (our school sent an email out letting us know they were sent and also received). The flip side is on day 14 there were still a group of students that were fighting with their person telling them to be patient... Again - don't panic. Its a day by day, minute by minute thing.

Your best bet is to just start studying like you will be taking the test tomorrow - because you might. Worst case, take it. Its $200 and you may pass. If you don't, most likely the next test date is 45 days out anyway. Yes you are out $200, but you have the knowledge of what its like and have time to better prepare. If you pass - you have plenty of time to just relax!

nursepaloma, RN · May 20, 2020

Thanks for the reassurance. I live in south FL and I have not received my ATT yet. I was feeling increasingly concerned I will not be able to take the test until late fall/Winter.

bitter_betsy, BSN · May 20, 2020

Oh also dont wait for the email. Just keep checking pearson. A good number of us never received the initial email. We went into pearson and realized that something funky happened and we just needed to click a button amd resend ourselves the email

nursepaloma, RN · May 20, 2020

8 hours ago, bitter_betsy said:
Oh also dont wait for the email. Just keep checking pearson.

? good to know thanks!

maggie0, BSN, RN · May 20, 2020

Here in NY I got my ATT literally 10 hours after graduation, and was able to find a spot for the end of the month. However, my nearest center had no spots--just none. The next closest had one in July. I'm going to have to drive for a couple hours, but it's worth it...

Do test-takers in other states have to wear a mask? We do--that'll be kind of weird.

BiscuitStripes, BSN, RN · May 21, 2020

12 hours ago, maggie0 said:
Here in NY I got my ATT literally 10 hours after graduation, and was able to find a spot for the end of the month. However, my nearest center had no spots--just none. The next closest had one in July. I'm going to have to drive for a couple hours, but it's worth it...
Do test-takers in other states have to wear a mask? We do--that'll be kind of weird.

I don't understand why my school takes 10 weeks to get our stuff to the state and get us ATTs when ya'll are literally getting them same day. Good for ya'll, just a bummer for me haha.

maggie0, BSN, RN · May 21, 2020

On 5/21/2020 at 1:17 AM, ER_BiscuitStripes said:
I don't understand why my school takes 10 weeks to get our stuff to the state and get us ATTs when ya'll are literally getting them same day. Good for ya'll, just a bummer for me haha.

They know whether you passed the minute the final is graded--what's the hold up, I wonder? My school has been wonderful about guiding us through all the paperwork.

BiscuitStripes, BSN, RN · May 21, 2020

On 5/21/2020 at 2:51 PM, maggie0 said:
They know whether you passed the minute the final is graded--what's the hold up, I wonder? My school has been wonderful about guiding us through all the paperwork.

It’s a California’s state school. We finished 5/8. The instructors have until 5/21 to submit grades to cal state. Cal state then has two weeks to input them into our official record which extends us to 6/5. Then it goes to a different office and they have another 2 weeks to confer degrees, which puts us at 6/19. Then we can order transcripts. Takes 7-10 business day’s to process. That puts me the week of June 29th or early July. Then it takes state of TN where I applied a week or two to process transcripts so that puts me mid July. When I finished first week of May. Crazy.

maggie0, BSN, RN · May 21, 2020

Yeah, I guess it's just a matter of state regulations. My school is a NY state school--I'd think the super-fast process might be because of NY's "special situation" right now, but as far as I know, most grads of my program take the test within a month of graduation. Bummer for you, indeed! But if I'm not mistaken, you also get $$$ ?

BiscuitStripes, BSN, RN · May 21, 2020

2 minutes ago, maggie0 said:
Yeah, I guess it's just a matter of state regulations. My school is a NY state school--I'd think the super-fast process might be because of NY's "special situation" right now, but as far as I know, most grads of my program take the test within a month of graduation. Bummer for you, indeed! But if I'm not mistaken, you also get $$$ ?

Not sure what you mean by getting money haha. My program cost me $60,000 for a 2 year BSN program.