Achieving oncology certification is a significant professional milestone for registered nurses specializing in cancer care. This credential validates a nurse’s specialized knowledge and expertise, gained through clinical experience and focused study. Pursuing certification demonstrates a commitment to professional development. It often leads to enhanced career opportunities, recognition as a subject matter expert, and potential salary differentiation. This specialized knowledge contributes to a higher standard of patient care for individuals undergoing complex cancer treatments.
Defining Oncology Certification and the Certifying Body
Oncology certification signifies that a nurse has met predetermined standards of competency in cancer care. This process is managed by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC), a non-profit organization established in 1984. The ONCC works to promote public safety and improve patient outcomes by establishing and maintaining minimal competency standards for nurses. The purpose of certification is to ensure a standardized level of knowledge and skill across various practice settings. ONCC certification programs are nationally accredited, confirming they meet rigorous quality standards.
Primary Types of Oncology Certifications Available
The ONCC offers credentials designed to meet diverse roles and experience levels within oncology nursing. The most widely pursued certification is the Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN®). This is the basic-level certification for registered nurses providing direct care to adult cancer patients. The OCN® exam covers core areas such as the care continuum, treatment modalities, symptom management, and oncologic emergencies.
Beyond the OCN®, the ONCC provides specialized and advanced-practice certifications.
Specialized Certifications
Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON®)
Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON®)
Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN®)
Blood and Marrow Transplant Certified Nurse (BMTCN®)
Advanced Practice Certifications
Advanced practice nurses, such as those with a master’s or doctoral degree, may pursue the following:
Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP®)
Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS®)
Choosing the correct certification depends on the nurse’s current role, patient population, and long-term career goals.
Essential Prerequisites for Taking the Exam
Candidates must satisfy a strict set of eligibility criteria established by the ONCC before applying for the OCN® exam. The foundational requirement is holding a current, active, and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the United States, its territories, or Canada. This licensure must be valid at the time of both the application and the examination.
Experience in the field is a significant component of the eligibility requirements. Candidates must have at least two years of experience as an RN within the four years immediately preceding the application. They must also accumulate a minimum of 2,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within that same four-year period.
Educational prerequisites require the completion of a minimum of 10 contact hours of continuing nursing education in oncology. These contact hours must have been earned within the three years prior to the application date. The ONCC allows up to 50% of these hours to come from continuing medical education (CME) or continuing pharmacy education (CPE).
The Application and Examination Process
The certification process begins with an online application submitted through the ONCC website. Candidates must provide details such as their nursing license number and documentation of continuing education. After the application and fees are submitted, the ONCC sends an email confirmation, though this does not confirm eligibility.
Once approved, the candidate receives an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter via email. This ATT letter is valid for a strict 90-day period. The candidate must schedule and take the exam before the ATT expires to avoid forfeiting the application fees. The OCN exam is administered at official testing centers and is available year-round.
The examination is a computer-based, timed test that lasts three hours. It consists of 165 multiple-choice questions. Candidates typically receive their preliminary pass or fail results immediately upon completion of the exam.
Strategies for Successful Exam Preparation
Effective exam preparation should begin with a thorough review of the OCN Test Content Outline, also known as the test blueprint. This blueprint details the subject areas and the relative weight of each topic on the exam. Focusing on topics that carry the most weight, such as symptom management and oncologic emergencies, helps prioritize study efforts.
Candidates should create a structured study schedule over several weeks for comprehensive coverage. Many use comprehensive study guides, enroll in structured review courses, and utilize practice tests to assess their knowledge. Practice tests are valuable for familiarizing candidates with the style of multiple-choice questions and identifying areas requiring additional review.
Candidates who do not pass receive a performance summary outlining their scores in each content area. This summary guides a focused study plan for retesting. If the optional DoubleTake feature was purchased, a retake is allowed within 180 days without paying the full exam fee again.
Maintaining and Renewing Your Certification
Oncology certification is valid for a four-year period and must be actively maintained to remain current. The renewal process requires certified nurses to demonstrate continued competency in their specialty. The ONCC offers three primary renewal options that combine practice hours, professional development activities, or retesting.
The most common renewal method, Option 1, requires meeting practice hour requirements and accumulating Professional Development Points (PDPs). For OCN® renewal, nurses must have a minimum of one year of RN experience within the three years prior to application. They also need at least 1,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the two-and-a-half years prior.
The number of PDPs required is defined by an individual learning plan, generated either from initial exam results or by taking an Individual Learning Needs Assessment (ILNA). Nurses track and submit their PDPs through the ONCC’s online tool, LearningBuilder. The other two options involve either meeting practice hours and retesting (Option 2) or meeting the required PDPs and retesting (Option 3).