Emeritus Status

Emeritus status is designed to provide special recognition of the accomplishments of ONCC-certified nurses who are permanently retired from the nursing profession and who desire to retain their credential in an honorary capacity. Emeritus status provides retired nurses with a continued sense of career identity and professional connectedness. It acknowledges the nurse’s pride in and dedication to having been certified. It is ONCC’s hope that the awarding of Emeritus credentials will allow retired nurses to raise awareness of, champion the cause for, and inspire others to pursue professional certification in oncology nursing and other fields. 

To qualify for the Emeritus status of their credential, the ONCC certified nurse must: 

1. Be fully retired from active employment in nursing in any capacity
2. Have no plans to return to active nursing in any capacity
3. Hold a current ONCC certification that is not under sanction, or have held a credential in good standing within the past five years. Emeritus status is available in the year certification will expire and for five years following credential expiration. Nurses may apply for Emeritus status through December 31 five years following expiration of their credential.

To apply for Emeritus status, nurses must: 

1. Submit an application and one-time fee payment during the year of expiration and up until five years following their credential expiration
2. Sign a statement attesting that they are:
   1. Retired from active employment in nursing in any and all capacities, and have no plans to return to active nursing practice in any capacity
   2. Willing and able to abide by the limitation that the Emeritus status credential may NOT be used in any clinical setting or in the context of any clinically related interactions

Nurses granted Emeritus status must use the word “Emeritus” with the credential (e.g., OCN®-Emeritus).

If a nurse holding ONCC Emeritus status returns to active nursing practice, they must: 

1. Notify ONCC within 30 days of returning to active nursing practice in any capacity
2. Immediately discontinue use of the Emeritus credential in all forms and settings  
3. If desirous of holding the active credential, meet initial eligibility for the desired credential including practice, education, and testing.