A method and apparatus to perform persistence tests for a mobile station in a network are described. The apparatus includes a random number generator, a timer module, and a processor coupled to the random number generator and the timer module. A counter for the random number generator configured to count access slots is initialized. One or more random numbers are successively generated, until a value of a generated random number is lower than a first predetermined value. At the same time, the counter is successively incremented based on the number of generated random numbers. When the counter value is higher than or equal to a second predetermined value of successive iterations, or, in the alternative, when the value of the generated random number is lower than the first predetermined value, the mobile station is deactivated for a predetermined number of access slots equal to the counter value. A timer interrupt further runs subsequent to the expiration of the predetermined number of access slots. Finally, if an access probe needs to be transmitted to the network, the timer interrupt is disabled and a random access number is generated in preparation for transmission of the access probe to enable access to the network.