Preparing for the ONCC Certification Examinations
Before you begin to study for an ONCC examination, review the current Oncology Nursing Certification Test Bulletin to make sure you are eligible to take the test. The Test Bulletin contains information on eligibility requirements for each ONCC examination. You should also be aware of application deadline dates, test dates, test center locations, and related expenses. Once you have decided to pursue certification, consider the following tips to help you prepare for taking an ONCC examination.

Assess your learning needs.
Review the appropriate test blueprint in the Oncology Nursing Certification Test Bulletin to identify the content areas that will be on the test. Pay attention to how each area is weighted to determine the percentage of items that pertain to each area. When reviewing the test blueprint, identify which areas are your strengths and weaknesses.

Build a personal study plan.

• Establish learning objectives based on your assessment of your learning needs. It is important to develop a study plan that reflects your goals. You may want to concentrate more on the content that you are least familiar with, or study each area in relation to its weight on the examination.
• Create a study schedule. Most candidates allow several months to prepare for a certification examination. Develop a study schedule to meet your learning objectives and allocate time to review each of the examination content areas. Include time for review courses or seminars if you plan to attend them, and to obtain review materials. Don't leave all your preparation for one long study session the night before the test.
• Choose your study methods. There are a variety of methods to consider, such as individual study, pairing with a study partner, group study, participating in a review course, using computer assisted instruction, attending educational programs, etc. You may benefit by using a variety of study methods to learn different types of material. Some candidates may be hesitant to let others know they will be taking the exam and choose to study alone. However, there are advantages to utilizing a study partner or group. Reference materials can be shared, colleagues can provide support, and nurses with expertise in different areas can tutor each other.

The Test Blueprint.
The most valuable piece of information that you will have in preparing for an examination is the Test Blueprint in the Oncology Nursing Certification Test Bulletin. Each test blueprint describes the content areas and how they will be weighted. If the blueprint states that Symptom Management will be given the weight of 22%, you can determine how many scored items will represent that content area by multiplying the number of scored items by .22.

Collect your study materials.
Review the appropriate reference list in the Oncology Nursing Certification Test Bulletin for potential study materials. However, the best advice is to review a basic, widely used textbook or reference in your specialty. Reviewing journal articles published in your specialty over the past few years will also be helpful. If you will be working with a study partner or group, determine who will provide various materials. Keep in mind that any review of references cannot take the place of keeping up with reading in your current professional literature (ANCC, 1994).

Investigate review courses.

• If you are planning to take a review course, look for a course that meets your needs. Contact your local ONS or APHON chapter, or check at your worksite for information about review courses.
• Be aware that ONCC does not conduct certification review courses or recommend specific courses. When evaluating a potential review course, remember the quality of the course may be related to the ability and expertise of the individuals who conduct it. ONCC cannot be responsible for errors in the content of any review course.
•  Be cautious about courses that claim or imply direct knowledge of specific ONCC examination content. ONCC does not release test items, except for sample items published on the ONCC Web site and those on ONCC Practice Tests. Additionally, the individuals who develop ONCC tests are not permitted to conduct review courses while working on test development, and for three years after.

Carry out your plan.

• Plot your study plan on a calendar. Pace yourself according to your goals. Keep track of your progress. If you fall behind your timeline, revise your plan to meet your study goals.
• Allow a reasonable amount of time for each study session. Plan sessions at a time that's best for you, and for a length that meets your learning needs. For example, several sessions of a few hours each may be more beneficial than one long session. Try to find a quiet place to study, without distractions, and include a few breaks in your schedule.
• Use study methods that have worked well for you in the past. Depending on the material to be learned, you may find reciting, visualizing, or associating the information with its practical application helpful (Miller, 1993). Some candidates prefer to take notes, highlight a textbook, prepare quiz cards, read into a tape recorder and listen to the tapes, or have someone quiz them from sample tests. If you will be using practice tests, be sure to correct your answers. Look for patterns in the items you answer incorrectly (Rollant, 1994). For example, if most of your incorrect answers relate to a particular content area, revise your study plan to focus on that area. If most of the missed questions are at the beginning or end of a practice test, it may indicate times of anxiety or fatigue when you need to concentrate more intensely. If you find you know the answers to the items you miss on practice tests, you may have a tendency to misread the questions or the responses. Remember that practice items in review books or courses were written by the authors, and may not represent the style of questions or content topics that appear on ONCC examinations.

Reduce your anxiety.

• Prepare a checklist of items you need to take to the test. Remember to take two acceptable forms of identification (see your Authorization to Test), directions to the testing facility, money for parking, etc. If the test will be held in an unfamiliar location, reduce your anxiety by taking a trip to the site before the test day. If you will be driving, familiarize yourself with the route, traffic patterns, and parking facilities. Review the reporting time instructions in your Authorization to Test. Allow extra time to be sure you arrive on schedule.
• Complete your study plan before the test day. Instead of last-minute studying, plan to relax and get a good night's sleep so you will be well-rested on test day. A brief review of the material may be helpful, but a long study session can be counterproductive
• Make yourself comfortable on the test day. Remember that no food or drink will be allowed in the testing room, and it may be several hours before you can eat again. If possible, avoid substances that could make you feel anxious, drowsy, or create the need for frequent trips to the restroom. Candidates will be permitted to leave the testing room only with the supervisor's permission. Candidates will not be permitted to make up the time lost. Dress comfortably and be prepared for temperature fluctuations in the testing room. Do not bring study materials to the the test site.  Small lockers will be provided to secure valuables.

Take the test with confidence.
Your score is determined by the number of items you answer correctly. There is no penalty for incorrect answers, so it is to your advantage to answer every item rather than leave it blank. The examinations consist entirely of multiple-choice questions. Consider the following suggestions for taking multiple choice tests (Rollant, 1994).

• Look for words such as most, first, initially, immediately, usual. Look for absolutes such as always, never, every, none, all, all of the time. These words can help you choose the best answer.
• Read the question systematically. Read the question first and think of the answer. Do not assume information not given or go beyond what the item asks. Then read all of the responses.
• Try turning each multiple-choice option into a true and false statement. Use the process of elimination to select the optimal choice. If the item is difficult, mark it for review and move on to the next item. Avoid thinking about prior items while you are on a new question.
• When weighing options, look for those that embody good nursing judgment and that enhance communication, respect, and acceptance of patients' feelings. Choose options that are correct in all respects and that relate to common needs or to the population in general (Coleman, Stanley, Chenevey, Sullivan, and Cardin, 1988).
• Do not change an answer. Unless you have misread the question the first time or recall new information, it is unwise to change the answer you initially chose.
• Pace yourself during the test. Don't spend too much time on any one question. When you have completed all of the questions, review your test for incomplete items, or items you’ve marked for further review.

Reporting scores.
Test candidates will receive an official score report before leaving the test center.

References

American Nurses Credentialing Center. (1995). How to take an ANCC certification examination. (Publication No. AC-9 3M 8/94). Washington, DC: Author.

Coleman, B., Stanley, M., Chenevey, B., Sullivan, & Cardin, S. (1988). CCRN certification: Exclusive or expensive? Focus on Critical Care, 15(5), 23-27.

Miller, S.E. (1993). Tackling certification exams confidently. Nursing 93 Career Directory, 30-31.

Rollant, P.D. (1994). Acing multiple-choice tests. AJN Career Guide for 1994, 18-21, 36.