Certificate Programs
Radiation Oncology Nursing Certificate Program
ONCC and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) have developed a Radiation Oncology Nursing Certificate Program. This is a self-paced web course. If offers intermediate level content that is ideal for nurses who have at least two years of recent radiation oncology nursing experience. Participants who pass the post-course assessment and complete the course requirements will earn a Certificate of Added Qualification in Radiation Oncology Nursing. They also will earn 15 contact hours of accredited CNE. This certificate program is offered several times per year.
What's the difference between Certification, a Certificate Program, and CE?
The term "certification" doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. “Certification” programs offered by different providers may not represent the same level of achievement. For example, some providers label continuing education (CE) programs as "certification." They tell participants they may call themselves "certified" upon completing the program. Nurses who have passed a comprehensive, broad-based certification examination, such as the OCN® test, know that completing a weekend CE program does not represent the same level of achievement. Nurses, as consumers, need to understand what each type of program represents in order to make wise decisions about programs. Nurses often spend their own money to become certified or attend CE programs. Employers also pay for these programs. Both nurses and employers should assess programs so that they understand what the program provides. Nurses and employers should not misrepresent themselves or those they employ as "certified" when they are not.
Read this article by ONCC Executive Director Cyndi Miller Murphy, MSN, RN, CAE to understand the differences between certification programs, assessment-based certificate programs, and CE programs.