Illinois NCLEX testing centers

bitter_betsy, BSN · May 20, 2020

I cannot answer any of your questions.... however I can tell you that Illinois is in a particular state of um..... yea.... well that's another story. But - due to all this nonsense and your state being shut down and no one allowed to do anything except your Governor, I'm sure that your job will compromise with you. Just stay in touch with them. Let them know you have completed your coursework. If your school has sent your endorsement, let your job know that. When you get your date, let them know that. Just keep in touch with your employer each step of the way. They realize this stuff is out of your control. If they don't - you do not want to work there anyway. There is only so much you can do and right now - that is literally nothing. If you have applied, gotten fingerprinted and are waiting for your endorsement to be sent so that your ATT can be sent - you are literally at the mercy of others. Study your butt off right now. Be prepared to take the NCLEX the day after your get your ATT - and I'm not even joking about this. My options were the next day or about 5 weeks out. I had time, so I picked a date further out. Right now where I am my option is September but occasionally dates show up a few in the future (so it is possible to get an earlier date when someone cancels - you just have to keep checking) - I'm trying to test 6 days earlier so I have time to retake before my job starts, but now there aren't spots 45 days before my job starts....

Seriously - the most important part is to keep in touch with your employer. You cannot control and of this and you cannot control when your governor allows your cities to reopen. Depending on where you are the cities are trying to open up anyway.

Stay in touch with your employer. Study. Don't Panic. It will be OK.

IJEOMA12 · May 20, 2020

I really don't understand the input you are adding to her especially, as she needs help to take her NCLEX. All you can advise her to do is, try calling her SBON, NCLEX or her school just to figure out the hold. When you keep talking about her governor have everything lockdown sounds laughable because, he is doing all he can to save his people especially, with the death toll in that state from Covid. I think the governor is doing his best, lives are more important than anything now, once there is life, other things can bv take its course. Especially you being a nursing student or nurse should gave credit to those who put lives first before anything. Life is very precious, we should take good care of it. Nevertheless, I think the governor is doing his very best to protect his citizens.

Enjoy your day.

gradnursechicago, BSN, RN · May 20, 2020

6 hours ago, bitter_betsy said:
I cannot answer any of your questions.... however I can tell you that Illinois is in a particular state of um..... yea.... well that's another story. But - due to all this nonsense and your state being shut down and no one allowed to do anything except your Governor, I'm sure that your job will compromise with you. Just stay in touch with them. Let them know you have completed your coursework. If your school has sent your endorsement, let your job know that. When you get your date, let them know that. Just keep in touch with your employer each step of the way. They realize this stuff is out of your control. If they don't - you do not want to work there anyway. There is only so much you can do and right now - that is literally nothing. If you have applied, gotten fingerprinted and are waiting for your endorsement to be sent so that your ATT can be sent - you are literally at the mercy of others. Study your butt off right now. Be prepared to take the NCLEX the day after your get your ATT - and I'm not even joking about this. My options were the next day or about 5 weeks out. I had time, so I picked a date further out. Right now where I am my option is September but occasionally dates show up a few in the future (so it is possible to get an earlier date when someone cancels - you just have to keep checking) - I'm trying to test 6 days earlier so I have time to retake before my job starts, but now there aren't spots 45 days before my job starts....
Seriously - the most important part is to keep in touch with your employer. You cannot control and of this and you cannot control when your governor allows your cities to reopen. Depending on where you are the cities are trying to open up anyway.
Stay in touch with your employer. Study. Don't Panic. It will be OK.

Thank you for your help! Illinois is one of the most complicated states to get licensure in, I've had to jump through multiple hoops to get to this point! I've been updating my work and letting them know the situation. My hospital I am working at is in Chicago so they are a little more understanding of the situation but still hope to hear that I am able to test ASAP! Right now I've been working my butt off studying every day so if I do get my ATT card I am able to test at any point.

gradnursechicago, BSN, RN · May 20, 2020

5 hours ago, IJEOMA12 said:
I really don't understand the input you are adding to her especially, as she needs help to take her NCLEX. All you can advise her to do is, try calling her SBON, NCLEX or her school just to figure out the hold. When you keep talking about her governor have everything lockdown sounds laughable because, he is doing all he can to save his people especially, with the death toll in that state from Covid. I think the governor is doing his best, lives are more important than anything now, once there is life, other things can bv take its course. Especially you being a nursing student or nurse should gave credit to those who put lives first before anything. Life is very precious, we should take good care of it. Nevertheless, I think the governor is doing his very best to protect his citizens.
Enjoy your day.

I wish I could call or email the state board, but whenever I try, they never answer and it never goes to voicemail or anything and emails never ever get answered! Illinois specifically says on their site to not call regarding my application or processing of paperwork and to only check the status through an online site which hasn't changed at all. It's a bit frustrating because I just need to know if they are still processing applications and how long the wait time is. I agree lives are more important than me testing but I want to help as much as possible and won't be able to help at all if I don't get my license by July.

Eliana Menningen, BSN, RN · May 22, 2020

You can check the status of your Continental application on their website. Your ATT will be updated on Pearson once your school submits your final transcript or roster to Continental, you will also need to submit fingerprints. Our class finished in mid April, I got my ATT a week after the school submitted everything, was able to take the NCLEX the following Monday and already have my license. It was a quick process surprisingly. I'm in Chicago.

Unfortunately, everyone in IL is now graduating so the process might take longer. Originally we were told it could take anywhere from 2-10 weeks to recieve our ATTs. From my class the longest anyone has had to wait to test was 2 months, but this was by choice. Most of us were able to test in a couple of weeks. Hope this helps!

hakuchuumu, ADN · May 22, 2020

I don't know anything about Continental, but I just scheduled my NCLEX in IL. I got my ATT on May 18th and scheduled same day for early July. There were dates in early-to-mid June available, too, but I picked July.

gradnursechicago, BSN, RN · May 22, 2020

That’s exciting! So are you getting licensed in IL? It’s been over two weeks now and I still haven’t heard back. It’s impossible to get ahold of anyone to ask if they are even processing paperwork right now. I am also applying from Missouri so there might be a little bit more of a delay. I’m so ready to take the NCLEX so I’m getting anxious!

gradnursechicago, BSN, RN · May 22, 2020

7 hours ago, Eliana Menningen said:
You can check the status of your Continental application on their website. Your ATT will be updated on Pearson once your school submits your final transcript or roster to Continental, you will also need to submit fingerprints. Our class finished in mid April, I got my ATT a week after the school submitted everything, was able to take the NCLEX the following Monday and already have my license. It was a quick process surprisingly. I'm in Chicago.
Unfortunately, everyone in IL is now graduating so the process might take longer. Originally we were told it could take anywhere from 2-10 weeks to recieve our ATTs. From my class the longest anyone has had to wait to test was 2 months, but this was by choice. Most of us were able to test in a couple of weeks. Hope this helps!

I have everything turned in and have completed my fingerprints. My school sent in my ED NUR form (I’m applying from missouri) and according to tracking was received two fridays ago. I just wish they would send me an update saying they are still processing paperwork and are viewing applications. I also want to make sure it didn’t get lost in the midst of all this craziness. I neeeeed to test and pass by early July otherwise my start date could get pushed back until the fall and I just can’t afford to not be working that long. Thank you for your help!

Eliana Menningen, BSN, RN · May 23, 2020

10 hours ago, gradnurse314 said:
I have everything turned in and have completed my fingerprints. My school sent in my ED NUR form (I’m applying from missouri) and according to tracking was received two fridays ago. I just wish they would send me an update saying they are still processing paperwork and are viewing applications. I also want to make sure it didn’t get lost in the midst of all this craziness. I neeeeed to test and pass by early July otherwise my start date could get pushed back until the fall and I just can’t afford to not be working that long. Thank you for your help!

If you paid Continental online and have the original emailed receipt you can attempt to reply directly to that email address (my receipt came from a personalized email, not the customer service email). I know you'll get an automated response, but I was able to get through with a prompt response earlier in the month. Politely explain your situation and ask for guidance on whom to contact to ensure they received everything.

A classmate from my cohort did the opposite and applied for licensure in another state. I know it took her an extra 3 weeks to get her ATT to test in the other state. Has anyone from your class recieved their approval to test yet? Its probably a good gage on when to expect yours to go through, especially since accreditation and licensing requirements can vary slightly from state to state.

hakuchuumu, ADN · May 23, 2020

12 hours ago, gradnurse314 said:
That’s exciting! So are you getting licensed in IL? It’s been over two weeks now and I still haven’t heard back. It’s impossible to get ahold of anyone to ask if they are even processing paperwork right now. I am also applying from Missouri so there might be a little bit more of a delay. I’m so ready to take the NCLEX so I’m getting anxious!

No, I'm an IL resident, but I live in NC and am getting licensed in NC because I went to school here. My spouse is active duty, so life is complicated. We are going to be up in IL to visit family in early July, so I picked a date while we would be home because availability in NC is basically gone until late September and we're moving out of the country in August. However, I actually checked availability throughout today and was able to snag a date next week here in NC, so I'm going to go ahead and get it over with!

Best of luck to you on your journey! Dealing with boards and Pearson and everything else at the end of nursing school has been quite the journey, especially during this pandemic!

gradnursechicago, BSN, RN · May 24, 2020

On 5/22/2020 at 8:09 PM, Eliana Menningen said:
If you paid Continental online and have the original emailed receipt you can attempt to reply directly to that email address (my receipt came from a personalized email, not the customer service email). I know you'll get an automated response, but I was able to get through with a prompt response earlier in the month. Politely explain your situation and ask for guidance on whom to contact to ensure they received everything.
A classmate from my cohort did the opposite and applied for licensure in another state. I know it took her an extra 3 weeks to get her ATT to test in the other state. Has anyone from your class recieved their approval to test yet? Its probably a good gage on when to expect yours to go through, especially since accreditation and licensing requirements can vary slightly from state to state.

That's a good idea, I'll try to go through my emails and find out if I have a person I could email. It is so difficult getting through to anyone, it's crazy! I have a bad feeling it might take a little bit longer to process everything since I am applying from out of state. The rest of my class is applying for Missouri and they haven't received their ATT yet but they at least were told they have all the paperwork needed and they were processing it. I haven't gotten any updates on the CTS website. Thank you for your help!

23 hours ago, hakuchuumu said:
No, I'm an IL resident, but I live in NC and am getting licensed in NC because I went to school here. My spouse is active duty, so life is complicated. We are going to be up in IL to visit family in early July, so I picked a date while we would be home because availability in NC is basically gone until late September and we're moving out of the country in August. However, I actually checked availability throughout today and was able to snag a date next week here in NC, so I'm going to go ahead and get it over with!
Best of luck to you on your journey! Dealing with boards and Pearson and everything else at the end of nursing school has been quite the journey, especially during this pandemic!

Oh WOW!! You have an exciting nursing career ahead of you! Best of luck to you and your test! Let me know how it goes, you got this! ?