Hoodwink,
A quote from 'the guide to getting a Commercial Pilot Licence' by Clive Hughes (PS a very good book for anyone trying to understand what they need to do to get CPL/IR/ATPL etc....)
[quote] A pass in the JAA ATPL written exams will be accepted for the issue of the CPL or IR during the 36 months from the date of the final pass in these exams and provided that an IR is obtained during this perios=d, the ATPL theory credit will remain valid for a period of 7 years from the ;ast validity date of the IR entered in the CPL.
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Also
[quote] All the exams must be completed within a period of 18 months from the end of the calenda month when the applicant first attempted an exam. <hr></blockquote>