Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
The ONCC was incorporated in 1984 and develops, administers, and evaluates programs for certification in oncology nursing. The ONCC offers four credentials: Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN); Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON); Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP); and Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS). In January 2005, the AOCNP and AOCNS exams replaced the single AOCN exam. As of 2008, there were more than 25,000 oncology certified nurses.
The examination tests knowledge needed for the nurse to practice at the basic level, within the specialty of oncology nursing.
Documents/experience required to write the OCN exam:
- Current RN license.
- Minimum of one year of experience as a registered nurse, within the past three years.
- Minimum of 1,000 hours of oncology nursing practice within 30 months prior to application.
- Ten contact hours of CE in oncology nursing or an academic elective in oncology, within the past three years.
Documents/experience required to write the AOCNP exam:
- Current RN license.
- A Master’s degree (or higher) in nursing.
- Successful completion of an NP program.
- Minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical practice as an oncology nurse practitioner (these hours may be obtained within the applicant’s nurse practitioner program, or following graduation from the program).
Documents/experience required to write the AOCNS exam:
- Current RN license.
- A Master’s degree (or higher) in nursing.
- Minimum of 500 hours of supervised practice in an advanced practice role in oncology nursing (these hours may be obtained within the applicant’s graduate program, or following graduation from the program).
The examination tests knowledge needed for an oncology nurse to function in a pediatric practice role.
Documents/experience required to write the CPON exam:
- Current RN license.
- Minimum of one year of experience as a RN, within the past three years.
- Minimum of 1,000 hours of pediatric oncology nursing practice, within 30 months prior to application.
- Ten contact hours of CE in oncology nursing or an academic elective in oncology, within the past three years.
National Certification Corporation (NCC)
Since its inception in 1975, the NCC has awarded more than 83,000 certificates. The NCC specializes in the area of maternal child. All of the following seven types of nurses receive RNC certification: Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner; Neonatal Nurse Practitioner; Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (INPT); Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (NIC); Low Risk Neonatal Nursing (LRN); Maternal Newborn Nursing (MN).
Documents/experience required to write the exams for:
- Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
include ...
- Current RN license (from the US or Canada).
- For Women’s Health Care NP – completed a formal NP program that awards a Master’s or post-Master’s in the specialty. Applicants must be graduates of a program in 2005 or later.
- For Neonatal NP – completed a formal NP program that awards a Master’s degree or post-Master’s degree in the specialty. Applicants must be graduates of a program in 2005 or later.
Documents/experience required to write the exams for:
- Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (INPT)
- Maternal Newborn Nursing (MN)
- Low Risk Neonatal Nursing (LRN)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (NIC)
include ...
- Current RN license (from the US or Canada).
- 24 months of experience in the specialty (totaling at least 2,000 hours) in the US or Canada.
- Employment in the specialty within the last 24 months.
Exams: Offered in both computer and pencil-and-paper formats.
Exam Fee: US$250 to $US300, depending on format.
Recertification: The credentials must be renewed every three years, by reexamination or by completing 15 CE hours in your certificate’s area of specialty.
Exams for Certificate of Added Qualification
The NCC awards a Certificate of Added Qualification in the subspecialty area of Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM). The qualification is open to RNs and to physicians, physician assistants, and nurse-midwives.
Exam Fee: Tests for the added qualification are offered in both computer and pencil-and-paper formats and cost US$100 to US$185, depending on format and whether one holds an NCC certification.
Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN)
The ENA was founded in 1970. In the early 1980s, the ENA established the BCEN. The BCEN is responsible for certification of nurses with the ENA-recognized credentials: CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse); CFRN (Certified Flight Registered Nurse); and, new in March 2006, CTRN (Certified Transport Registered Nurse).
Documents/experience required to write the CEN exam:
- Current RN license.
- Two years experience in ER nursing is recommended but not required.
Exam: Computer-based and can be written year-round. The BCEN has released two practice exams, one of which has 50 questions (the actual exam has 150 questions) and one of which has 150 questions, and is designed to reflect the content and average difficulty level of the actual exam. The fee to write the 50-question practice exam is US$30 and to write the 150-question practice exam is US$75.Exam Fee: US$220 to US$360. Varies according to applicant’s location, membership status, etc.Recertification: The CEN credential is valid for a period of four years, and recertification is by taking the original exam, CE, or by internet-based test.
Documents/experience required to write the CFRN exam:
- Current RN license.
- Two years experience in flight nursing is recommended but not required.
Exam: Computer-based and can be written year-round.Exam Fee: US$230 to US$370. Varies according to applicant’s location, membership status, etc.Recertification: The CFRN credential is valid for a period of four years, and recertification is through reexamination or by CE.
Documents/experience required to write the CFRN exam:
- Current RN license.
- Two years experience in transport nursing is recommended but not required.
Exam: Computer-based and can be written year-round.Exam Fee: US$230 to US$370. Varies according to applicant’s location, membership status, etc.Recertification: The CTRN credential is valid for a period of four years, and recertification is through reexamination or by CE.
Additionally, the ENA offers the following courses, which are offered regularly at locations in the USA, Canada, and overseas:
- CATN-II (Course In Advanced Trauma Nursing-II), a 13-hour didactic/interactive program;
- TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course), a 16- to 20-hour course that provides the learner with core trauma knowledge and skill experience;
- ENPC (Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course), a 16-hour course designed to provide the learner with pediatric emergency nursing knowledge and skill experience.