@Crimson Eye said
"I understand from reading thelema.org that a Student phase is required before initiation into the Order, but I also read that the Student is to take up to two years to complete that with no other regard to time constraint. This to me seems like a long time before first initiation. Does it usually take someone the whole two years to complete Course 1? "
You're talking about C.O.T. Course 1 at the moment, right? It depends on the individual. I've seen people take as little as six months and as much as ten years.
"Out of curiosity, how long would it take one to reach even, say Zeletor status? much less Adeptus Minor."
Highly variable with the person. In my own case, getting to Zelator took four years, and from Probationer to Adeptus Minor was 13 years (about half of which was spent in one particular grade). Again, I emphasize this is only my own case.
"I can see how that could take a life time of study, but does it literally?"
Regardless of how long it takes to reach a particular grade, if one is serious then I think one must regard this as a lifetime undertaking - whether one only got to 1=10 or, for that matter, to 10=1. However far you get does take a lifetime. 😀
"I know that this can be completely subjective depending upon the person, but i'm thinking in terms of a dedicated student."
It may not be as mechanically efficient as you are thinking, because - besides the exact tasks to be met, there is also the issue of living life. The Angel, en route, will have side ventures - field trips, so to speak - that you'll be led through These vary enormously according to the individual, of course. It would be different in a monastic context, but I've never known anyone to do this particular path in a monastic context and I'm not sure how that prepares them for life. Nonetheless, to give you the numbers: If one did nothing but this, and moved from grade to grade in the minimum time allowed, it would take two and a half years to get from Probationer to Adeptus Minor.