(Oh my, did I just wake a sleeping thread)
I was looking up this topic, and realized I didn't answer this, but maybe we can get a few more answers and update this.
I was offered my card for my second season at La Jolla Playhouse.
I was a PA on Jane Eyre - the musical (pre-Broadway run), and start the EMC program at that point (the theatre nicely paid the fee for me). I then did another PA on Sweet Bird of Youth, where I ran the deck, while the two AEA SMs took turns calling the show.
Four months later, I was often an entire season as AEA ASM, so I only made it to 18 weeks on the EMC program before I was offered my contract. So, I graduated grad school is March, 2000 - and I was an AEA SM by April, 2000.
AEA Member for over 13 years now. (SM for 25 years . . . )