CSC cardiac subspecialty certification – study timeline for ICU nurses without fellowship training

I'm an ICU nurse with seven years of experience, three of those specifically in a cardiac surgery unit, and I'm planning to sit for the CSC exam in about four months. I don't have formal fellowship training and I'm a little uncertain whether my bedside experience is sufficient background for some of the more advanced content, particularly the IABP, LVAD, and ECMO sections where my unit uses the devices but I haven't always been the primary nurse managing them day to day.

My current plan is to start with the AACN core curriculum and work through it over the first six weeks, then shift to question-focused review for the last ten weeks. I'm planning about 90 minutes on weekday evenings and four hours on Sundays. I scored 72% on an initial diagnostic practice test, which suggests I have a reasonable base but real gaps in hemodynamic monitoring and mechanical circulatory support specifically.

I've talked to two colleagues who passed the CSC in the past two years and they gave completely different advice about prep resources, which wasn't that helpful. One said the Laura Gasparis review course was essential, the other said it was overrated and question banks matter more. I'd appreciate hearing from people who passed without fellowship experience whether four months is actually enough time given where I'm starting right now.