How long after ADN to take NCLEX-RN

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After you get your ADN, how long must you wait before you can take the NCLEX-RN? Does it have set times of year, like the MCATS?

How is this exam to pass? Cake? Requires a lot of studying? Moderate?

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

You have to get your ATT first and it has a set of dates within which you can take the NCLEX. My ATT was from 6/25 to 9/5 I think. I took the NCLEX-RN today and it was... odd. Some stuff I'd never heard of and detailed things that I would have never known had I not actually had a pt with that dz. Good luck!

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If memory serves, once you get the ATT (Authorization To Test), which is given after your application is received and approved, you have 60 days in which to schedule and take the exam. The length of time needed to get that ATT, however, varies by State and by the lead-time you give. You can expect that if you are submitting paperwork within a few weeks after graduation, like everyone else, you might be waiting a little longer than someone who does it on the "off" time. I graduated early May, waited to send my stuff until mid-June, and got the ATT by the end of June. I got it the same week as a friend of mine who sent hers in a month before I did.

How often the testing site offers it depends on the testing site. Some are open 7 days a week, some 6. I imagine there are those open less often, don't know. And since the exam requires a block of 6 hours for each test-taker, you may find some sites only offer it at a set time once a day, others twice (am. and pm). Depends on the population of your area, too, of course.

It would be a very rare bird indeed that would tell you that the NCLEX-RN was "cake". Some find it to be the most hair-raising experience of their lives and others don't think it was so bad, but I don't think I've heard it called easy by anyone yet. Keep in mind that walking in unprepared (aka "didn't study") is tantamount to going to a gunfight with a knife. You might come out of it ok. But more than likely, you won't.

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So where do you go for your ATT? Can I find that online for NY? Same question with regards to the NCLEX.

I didn't expect it to be easy, just figured I'd ask. I would obviously prepare beforehand - I wouldn't waste my time otherwise.

Is it expensive? I'm sure it varies by state. :)

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Specializes in NICU Level III.
So where do you go for your ATT? Can I find that online for NY? Same question with regards to the NCLEX.

I didn't expect it to be easy, just figured I'd ask. I would obviously prepare beforehand - I wouldn't waste my time otherwise.

Is it expensive? I'm sure it varies by state. :)

Our school facilitated ours. We had to do fingerprints, passport sized photos, and get some paper notarized. All of the papers we needed were given to us by our school, but we had to go to CVS or something to get the photos and a police station for the fingerprints. All of this was then sent to the main campus of our uni (we were a branch in a different city) and it was signed by the dean on the day we graduated. Then it was mailed to the state board of nursing...which somehow let PVue to know we were really graduated. First we had to register for the NCLEX at the Pearson Vue website and pay 200 bucks for that. (The previous paperwork I was talking about was 139, but that was for TX.) THEN, we we got the ATT, it had instructions on it on how to select a testing date/time from the PVue website.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

I graduated in December. It took a month to get my ATT. Then I had 90 days to take the NCLEX. I took it in February. I also took a Hurst Review course.

The test itself was difficult. I think it is impossible to study for it because there is so much information they can draw from. I felt very uneasy about it afterwards. But I passed with 75 questions. I think if you truly understand the basic nursing concepts, then you can answer questions about things that may appear like foreign material but are actually within your knowledge base. Does that make sense?

Good luck to you.

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Specializes in nicu.

Your ATT is valid for 90 days. Since it is computerized testing, it is available anytime during the year. You school with assist you with doing your paperwork for the state board and for pearson vue (they are the ones that actually proctor the exam). As far as the NCLEX itself is concerned, you MUST prepare for it. It is not cake. It is also like no other test you have ever taken. There will be things on there you have never heard of (but are real, nothing made up on this test) and you will have to make decisions on you patients care. I personally thought it was the hardest test I ever took.

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So where do you go for your ATT? Can I find that online for NY? Same question with regards to the NCLEX.

I didn't expect it to be easy, just figured I'd ask. I would obviously prepare beforehand - I wouldn't waste my time otherwise.

Is it expensive? I'm sure it varies by state. :)

If you're in NY, you'll need to have your school send transcripts to SBON. Obviously, this occurs after you have actually graduated. I don't know of a NY school that doesn't do that automatically, but you should find out for sure. You can download a copy of the application you must complete from the Office of the Professions website (here's the URL to save you some time: http://www.op.nysed.gov/nurse.htm).

Once you have it completed (and please, COMPLETE it--blanks might just get your application denied!), send it in with fees and wait for ATT to arrive. I seem to remember getting mine in email format, actually. As for cost, I'm pretty sure it was $135 for the application and licensing fee together; it cost another $200 for the exam. You pay for that when scheduling the exam online, through Pearson Vue, the facility that does all the exams.

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

hi,

I graduated may 18th, got my paperwork mailed the next week, and tested June 18th (could have tested about a week earlier if i wanted to), passed and started job July 18th. ( and no, supriseingly everthing happening on the 18th was not planned).

I thought NCLEX was fairly easy compared to what it is made out to be, you cannot really study for it in my oppion, but what you can do is practice answering those types of questions. It all depends on the perosn.

Good luck

Sweetooth

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