I selected my exams last week early Wednesday morning.  Received the Payment Coupon on Friday, paid the same day for all four tests.  Received my NTS today and just finished scheduling all four exams.

I guess the long part was waiting for approval.

Good luck on your preparation as well!

If they received my application on Aug. 6, when do you guys think is the earliest I can take the exam?  This is my first time applying so I'm assuming it takes 8 weeks alone just to be able to sign up/pay for the tests....  Is it too late to shoot for a testing date of mid October or will all the seats be taken up at the Prometric testing center (I live near LA)?

You don't have to wait for the coupons to arrive by mail.  If you selected to receive information by email, that is how you should also get the payment coupons.  That is what I did.

My application was received 7/14/09 and I scheduled all four tests on 9/8/09.  When I scheduled, there were lots of times available on Monday, Friday, and Saturday.  Prometric said if one location doesn't have the dates or time you would like try another location. 

You would be more likely to be able to take the test in late October or November.