Following that is one year postulancy and three years of novitiate. The formation begins with a nine-month postulancy followed by a two-year novitiate. There are three formal stages of formation&colon; Postulancy, Novitiate, and Juniorate. The postulancy lasts between six months and two years. A nine-month postulancy is followed by an eleven-month novitiate. Often one must complete a postulancy before officially entering the novitiate. Prior to 1921, aspiring young women made their postulancy in France. The Postulancy is a young woman's gradual immersion into the religious life.