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Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN®) — Requirements & Free Practice

US · License preparation

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Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN®)

ONCC certification for registered nurses who practice in adult oncology.

Licensing authority: Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation · Application information

Initial by examination
OCN® Test
Applicants
Initial candidates not currently OCN-certified, including those whose certification lapsed; this task covers US testing.
Continuing Education
Provider or approver must be acceptably accredited for CNE/NCPD. At most five of the ten contact hours may be CME/CPE; Joint Accreditation/IPCE hours must specify ANCC, ACCME or ACPE credit.
Eligibility
All criteria apply at application and examination: current active unencumbered RN license in the US, its territories or Canada; at least 24 months RN experience within the preceding 48 months; at least 2,000 hours adult oncology nursing practice within the preceding 48 months; at least 10 contact hours qualifying oncology nursing continuing education or an academic oncology nursing elective within the preceding 36 months. In addition, nurses educated and/or licensed outside the United States, its territories, or Canada must have their education and licensure evaluated for equivalency by a foreign credential evaluation service. Only those whose evaluation indicates U.S. equivalency are eligible to apply for certification. This conditional eligibility requirement applies alongside the OCN-specific criteria, including for such applicants testing in the United States; it is not limited to overseas test appointments and does not create another examination requirement.
Practice
Direct or indirect adult oncology nursing practice in clinical practice, administration, education, research or consultation; the role must require RN/APRN, including roles open to other licensed providers where RN/APRN is among the qualifying licenses. ONCC will request a job description when the position title does not clearly indicate a nursing role. The documentation must be an official copy from the employer, on employer letterhead, bearing the company logo or otherwise verified, and must state the position name and that the position requires an RN/APRN among other licensure types.
Testing
Pass the current OCN Test after eligibility approval, within the 90-day ATT. US centers offer year-round testing. RN licensure is an applicant qualification, not an additional examination newly investigated by this task.

OCN® Test

Provider
PSI
Format
Computer-based multiple-choice test; four answer options with one correct answer.
Exam questions
Total questions: 165; Scored questions: 145; Unscored questions: 20; The total includes the scored and unscored questions.
Time limit
Three-hour test session, including 15 minutes for the pre-exam computer tutorial and post-test survey.
Passing score
Scaled score of 55 on a 25–75 scale.
Examination outline
  • Care Continuum (14%)
    • Health promotion and disease prevention
    • Screening and early detection
    • Navigation and coordination of care
    • Palliative care considerations
    • Advance care planning
    • Epidemiology
    • Survivorship
    • End-of-Life Care
  • Oncology Nursing Practice (15%)
    • Scientific basis
    • Site-specific cancer considerations
    • Scope and standards of professional practice
  • Treatment Modalities (20%)
    • Surgical and procedural interventions
    • Blood and marrow transplant
    • Radiation therapy
    • Systemic therapy
    • Localized therapy
    • Targeted therapies
    • Oral therapies
  • Symptom Management and Supportive Care (25%)
    • Anatomical and surgical alterations
    • Vascular access devices (VADs)
    • Pharmacologic interventions
    • Complementary and integrative modalities
    • Alterations in system functioning
    • Nutrition
    • Pain management
  • Oncologic Emergencies (16%)
    • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
    • Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
    • Sepsis
    • Tumor lysis syndrome
    • Hypersensitivity
    • Anaphylaxis
    • Hypercalcemia
    • Cardiac tamponade
    • Spinal cord compression
    • Superior vena cava syndrome
    • Increased intracranial pressure
    • Obstructions
    • Pneumonitis
    • Extravasations
    • Immune-related adverse events
    • Venous thromboembolism
  • Psychosocial Dimensions of Care (10%)
    • Cultural, spiritual, and religious diversity
    • Altered body image
    • Learning preferences and barriers to learning
    • Social and family dynamics
    • Coping mechanisms and skills
    • Support
    • Psychsocial Distress
    • Sexuality
    • Financial Concerns
Examination sources