Oncology Certified Nurse OCN®
Are you ready to enhance your professional credibility and enjoy the feeling of personal accomplishment that comes from being certified? If you meet the criteria listed below, take the test for an oncology certified nurse and become recognized for your specialty knowledge in oncology nursing.
Test Fees
| Non-member | $420 |
| ONS/APHON Member | $300 |
Determining if you are eligible
- Active License
A current, active, unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the US, its territories or Canada at the time of application and examination. - 2,000 Hours of Practice
A minimum of 2,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the four years (48 months) prior to application.
Nursing practice may be in clinical practice, nursing administration, education, research, or consultation.
- 2 years Experience
A minimum of two years (24 months) of experience as an RN within the four years (48 months) prior to application. - Minimum 10 Contact Hours
Completed a minimum of 10 contact hours of nursing continuing education in oncology or an academic elective in oncology nursing within the three years (36 months) prior to application.
The contact hours must have been provided or formally approved by an acceptable accredited provider or approver of continuing nursing education (CNE) or nursing continuing professional development (NCPD). A maximum of five of the 10 (50%) required contact hours in oncology may be continuing medical education (CME) or continuing pharmacy education (CPE). Continuing education accredited via Joint Accreditation/Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) must specify hours awarded by ANCC, ACCME, or ACPE, to be accepted by ONCC.
About the Exam
The certification test is a three-hour, 165 multiple-choice question test based on the OCN® Test Content Outline (Test Blueprint). The Test Content Outline was created after the results of a role delineation study of basic adult oncology nursing practice conducted in 2020.
The OCN® Test Content Outline includes six major subject areas, each with a percentage assigned to it. Many nurses who have passed the test tell us the Test Content Outline was essential in helping them know what areas to study. Remember, only generic drug names are used on ONCC tests. Once you pass the test, your certification is valid for four years.
Note: If you’re eligible to test, you’ll receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) within 2 weeks of applying. This ATT will open an almost-immediate 90-day testing window. You must take the test within that 90-day window.
Test Application Instructions
When you apply to test, ONCC will ask for a few pieces of information including your nursing license number, supervisor’s name and phone number, and CE documentation.
Beginning in January 2025, you’ll be asked for the last four digits of your social security number and your National Council of State Boards of Nursing, or NSCBN, ID number. ONCC will use the last four digits of your social security number and your NCSNB ID to confirm your licensure. Your social security digits will not be stored in our system.
To obtain your NSCBN ID:
- Go to https://nursys.com
- Use the QuickConfirm Option and click on Look Up License
- Agree to Disclaimers and Terms and Conditions
- Search for your NCSBN ID by License Number (preferred) or by Name
- Follow the instructions on screen
- Verify the information returned is you; the NCSBN ID appears on screen
- Make a note of this number so you can enter it during the application process.
How To Apply
Step 1: Gather the information/documentation you need to complete your application (listed above).
Step 2: Click “Apply Now” in the upper right-hand corner of the ONCC website. Log into your ONCC account or create an account if you do not already have one with us. If you are wishing to test outside the US, its territories, or Canada you must submit a paper application available here.
Step 3: Once logged in, select “Apply” for the certification you would like to test for.
Step 4: Provide all required information, documentation, and fees. Incomplete applications will not be processed until all materials are received. ONCC accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover for online payment. ONCC’s online registration system is a secure site. Your credit card payment information will be transmitted via an encrypted format.
Step 5: ONCC will send you an email confirmation that your application has been received. This only confirms your application has been received; it does not confirm you are eligible to test.
Step 6: Watch for your Authorization to Test (ATT) email, sent by no-reply@psiexams.com. You will receive your ATT within four weeks of application. If you do not receive your ATT within four weeks of applying to test, contact ONCC at oncc@oncc.org.
Related Resources
Check out these related resources to help you prepare for the OCN® exam.
DoubleTake Option
Don’t let test anxiety hold you back from taking a certification test. ONCC DoubleTake provides a retake option if you don’t pass the test on the first attempt – without paying the full test fee again.