Is it true that the pearson trick doesnt work anymore?

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 2, 2014

Back in August of this year, they changed the way that payments are processed, in effect, changing the way the PVT is done. In short, it no longer works the way it used to, but it is probably just as accurate as it used to be as I doubt they changed the way the scoring system reports to the billing system. The old way was that you inputted your information and attempted to schedule an exam. If you failed, you would be presented the "Credit Card Screen" where you'd then pay for your next exam. By getting this screen you knew you likely failed and wouldn't pay for another attempt until later.

The new (and current) process required that you input your credit card information up front. Then you would attempt to pay for a new exam and the system would check to see if a pass/fail flag had been set and if your result was "pass" then the payment processing was interrupted and you'd get the "good pop-up" text that was seen so many times before. If you failed, then payment processing would occur and you'd end up being charged $200 for your next try.

Here's the problem... since the NCLEX is scored twice, and the 2nd scoring is definitive, you could easily have a fail result with the first scoring and a pass at the second and therefore pass the exam. With this revised system, if you attempt to pay for a new exam after the 1st but before the 2nd scoring, you would be charged $200 for another exam attempt you would not need because you had actually passed.

As far as how long it takes for your license to show up on the BreEZe system, mine showed up less than 48 hours later. I had an IP issued. Most of my classmates that had an IP had their RN license within a week. Many of those that didn't get the IP had wait times ranging between about a week and three weeks.

If you took the exam and submitted exam for scoring more than 24 hours ago, and you have $200 in your pocket to burn, an attempt at the new PVT should be relatively definitive. As there's a small chance that the 2nd scoring might not occur until well into the 2nd day after the exam, you might want to wait 48 hours before you attempt to lose $200.

I'm just not a fan of California's non-participation in the Quick Results system... Try to relax. Anything you do right now won't change the outcome and since Pearson Vue changed things on their end, you have to decide if it's worth risking/paying $200 right now to find out.

glenlorie · Dec 2, 2014

I have heard from others that the Pearson Vue trick no longer works either. I don't have any 100% proof as I took my NCLEX back in June 2013 and it worked then. However, I know it didn't take long to show up on the BON website. In fact, I believe it was exactly 46 hours later. I know that isn't much comfort, but you may try checking your state BON website. Good luck!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Dec 2, 2014

I have heard from others that the Pearson Vue trick no longer works either. I don't have any 100% proof as I took my NCLEX back in June 2013 and it worked then. However, I know it didn't take long to show up on the BON website. In fact, I believe it was exactly 46 hours later. I know that isn't much comfort, but you may try checking your state BON website. Good luck!

Please read akulahawk's post directly above yours. He explains it very well, and should leave you with a much better understanding than you currently have.

Goodluck.

xtina213 · Dec 2, 2014

Thanks, another piece of information i read is that if you had anything in your backgroud at all it would take longer to show your license in the BON due to fingerprints and DOJ, so the waiting game is horrible!!

nurseratchet99 · Dec 3, 2014

Ok I was desperate. I took my RN boards today and I have been beyond stressed all day. Got the full 265 questions. I wanted to do the PVT but I can not afford to pay to take the exam yet if I failed. I read that a old credit card would not work, but then I got another idea! I used a prepaid/valid debit went to the very end and hit submit as if I was going to be charged. According to my searching I got the good pop up. I pray they are correct because I may not sleep the next 2 days!!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Dec 3, 2014

Ok I was desperate. I took my RN boards today and I have been beyond stressed all day. Got the full 265 questions. I wanted to do the PVT but I can not afford to pay to take the exam yet if I failed. I read that a old credit card would not work, but then I got another idea! I used a prepaid/valid debit went to the very end and hit submit as if I was going to be charged. According to my searching I got the good pop up. I pray they are correct because I may not sleep the next 2 days!!

Your exam is scored TWICE in the 24 hours after you complete the exam. Any guesses you have prior to the final scoring doesn't mean anything, unfortunately, because it ISN'T final yet. You took it today (although time stamp says 12:30 am, so maybe you meant yesterday?) so PVT not appropriate yet.

Since it didn't take out $200 from your debit card (which it would take regardless of debit or credit, money is money!) then you passed on the first scoring of your exam. Good so far.....and if your SECOND score matches your first, you will have passed. If it does not, you will have failed.

It's not recommended to do the PVT prior to 24 hours simply because if your first score had been a fail, you'd have had your debit card charged $200, even if your final score was a 'pass'. And it's completely NON-refundable. And most people don't have a couple hundred bucks to toss out the window.

Personally, I'd pay the eight bucks after 48rs for the official Quick Results, rather than guessing.

nurseratchet99 · Dec 3, 2014

I plan to pay for the 8$ at 48 hours but this trick does give a little peace of mind till them. I also understand it is scored twice and that is why I used a prepaid/ valid credit card that had less that 5$ on it. I did not want to risk being out 200$.I am a LPN bridging to my RN, and this trick did work for me then as well, if I remember correctly I did it with in a few hours.

Mostly, I was sharing the idea of using a prepaid card if you have one. If you pass you still get the good pop up and if you fail it would try and charge and decline.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Dec 3, 2014

I plan to pay for the 8$ at 48 hours but this trick does give a little peace of mind till them. I also understand it is scored twice and that is why I used a prepaid/ valid credit card that had less that 5$ on it. I did not want to risk being out 200$.I am a LPN bridging to my RN, and this trick did work for me then as well, if I remember correctly I did it with in a few hours.
Mostly, I was sharing the idea of using a prepaid card if you have one. If you pass you still get the good pop up and if you fail it would try and charge and decline.

Yes.....BUT what I was also trying to get across was that the 'good pop up' only means you passed on the FIRST scoring, and you can still fail the SECOND scoring, unless you have waited the full 24 hours. You did not, so I was cautioning you (and others, actually) against putting any stock in the PVT until both sets of scores are completed.

Unfortunately, people have come here to shout their joy at passing, only to find out the next day they had actually failed. And it's also been posted that people accepted jobs based on that first score, only to have to call the employer back to decline.

Also, there are those who are crushed that they failed (based on the scenario you did) only to find out that they DID pass! For those people, the huge disappointment they carried until they got the news they did, in fact, pass, was horrible. PLUS being out $200....ouch.

Most of the time, thankfully, the scores both match, and the first result IS the second result as well. In which case, the applicant is none the wiser, and believes 'it just worked a few hours later', not realizing the risk they took!

So that's what I was getting at: the PVT is as valid as it ever was, but NOT the way you have done it, as it's too early to tell anything.

I do hope that you ultimately pass, of course.....Good luck!! :)