There is no formal testing for Second Degree. It is obvious when one becomes worthy of a Second. What Initiation is NOT Initiation is not a right. Initiation is not an attendance award. You get initiated because you qualify for the degree.
Initiation can happen in less than a year and a day, or more.
We do not follow the year and a day rule in determining whether someone is ready for initiation. Initiations do not necessarily equate between covens. If you come to us from another group, and you had such and such training there, it is not guaranteed that we will accept this work or training as counting toward our own Degree requirements, or that we will recognize any degree equivalences. As a rule, we tend to recognize degrees from other groups only when we know the other groups very well, and they are local. Unfortunately it is difficult usually to verify training outside of the Chicago area, or check on the reputation of groups elsewhere in the country.