Adventures with Dr. Lady Cutie Troublemaker

I’m conconcting a potential plan in my head. Despite a relatively unproductive day today, yesterday was insanely productive. I got a lot of details worked out. I can apply for licensure in North Carolina right now, and the application form isn’t that big of a deal (at least I don’t think so). The materials should be here tomorrow, and I’m hoping to get the application submitted right away. Once it is submitted, they have to review and approve it, and then I can practice in NC with supervision.

The only things that will remain in order for me to practice without supervision are the national and state licensure exams. I’ve heard the state ones aren’t a big deal, but the national one is a huge deal. These exams are offered at centers all over the country 6 days a week. There’s one in Brookline!

Most people tend to set aside a summer or cut back their schedules considerably when studying for this exam (called the EPPP or “E triple-P” by most). It’s a biggie, like the medical board exams or the bar. Yesterday, I started thinking about just taking the plunge and studying now. Once my application is accepted, I have to take the exams within 4 months, so why would I start working, only to cut back a few months later so I can take this exam?

Anyway, so I’ve joined the EPPP Yahoo group and have started checking things out. My big present last Christmas was the study materials for this exam. They cost a hell of a lot, but mom and I located a good price for a set on eBay. They are right here in my lap.

The other thing in my lap is a printout of October and November calendars. I’m making a plan. On the Yahoo group, there are polls. When asked the question, “How many hours did you study for the EPPP exam before you took the exam AND passed?” the majority of respondents (there were approximately 200 of them) reported “More than 200 hours, Less than 250 hours”. Hmm… Looking at the schedule, I could allow 5 weeks to study and get it over with before my birthday. Yes, that does mean I’m only studying for (let’s see… 5 days a week and about 4 hours a day) 100 hours… But I’m REALLY good at test-taking. Always have been. If I could get in 5 hours a day, I could bump that number up to 125 hours.

Is this an insane plan? Would there still be enough time to make calls about jobs? My gut says yes. I like having a plan.

You might think that once again my intellectual plans are being driven by my heart, and that would be a problem if this weren’t a great plan, but it’s a great plan! It means that I could conceivably hang out my very own unsupervised shingle as early as the beginning of 2007. Can you even imagine?

As with all plans, this one could be scrapped at any time, and as I gather more information, that may, in fact, occur. For now, it seems logical to me. I’m sick of hoops. I want these flipping hoops behind me. 

Post-script – Looks like yesterday was the productive day, and today was a day of marinating thoughts and hatching plans. Oh, and waking up at 11am and never changing out of my jammies. That, and buying Jon Stewart tickets from a person online, only for her to contact me later saying that her boyfriend had given them away to a friend at work.