Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria for renewal must be met at the time of application. Candidates must meet all criteria. To verify your oncology nursing position, ONCC may request you submit a job description from the institution(s) at which you are employed. The job description must be an official position description from your institution, not a job posting. It must include the company name/logo, position title, department, primary duties and responsibilities, and job specifications such as the education, skills, and qualifications that are required for the position.

Eligibility Criteria for Renewal of OCN® Certification

  • Current, active, unrestricted RN license at the time of application and examination, and
  • A minimum of one year (12 months) experience as an RN within the three years (36 months) prior to application, and
  • A minimum of 1,000 hours of oncology nursing practice (adult care) within the two-and-one-half years (30 months) prior to application.

Nursing practice may be in the areas of nursing administration, education, clinical practice, or research.

Eligibility Criteria for Renewal of CPON® Certification

  • Current RN license at the time of application and examination, and
  • A minimum of one year (12 months) experience as an RN within the three years (36 months) prior to application, and
  • A minimum of 1,000 hours of pediatric oncology nursing practice within the two-and-one-half years (30 months) prior to application.

Nursing practice may be in the areas of nursing administration, education, clinical practice, or research.

Eligibility Criteria for Renewal of AOCN® Certification

  • Current AOCN® certification in good standing
  • Current, active, unrestricted RN license
  • A minimum of 1,000 hours in an advanced practice nursing role in oncology (adult care) within the four years (48 months) prior to application

Nursing experience may be in the areas of nursing administration, clinical practice, education, or research. All eligibility criteria must be met at the time of application.

Eligibility Criteria for Renewal of AOCNP® Certification

  • Current AOCNP® certification in good standing
  • Current, active, unrestricted RN license
  • A minimum of 1,000 hours practice as an oncology nursing practitioner in oncology (adult care) within the four years (48 months) prior to application

Eligibility Criteria for Renewal of AOCNS® Certification

  • Current AOCNS® certification in good standing
  • Current, active, unrestricted RN license
  • A minimum of 1,000 hours of practice in a role or roles of the clinical nurse specialist in oncology (adult care) within the four years (48 months) prior to application

Eligibility Criteria for Renewal of CBCN® Certification

  • Current, active, unrestricted RN license at the time of application and examination, and
  • A minimum of one year (12 months) experience as an RN within the three years (36 months) prior to application, and
  • A minimum of 1,000 hours of breast care nursing practice within the two-and-one-half years (30 months) prior to application.

Renewal Options

There are three components to certification renewal: practice hours, professional development points (known as the Oncology Nursing Certification Points Renewal Option, or ONC-PRO), and successful retesting. Two of the three components are required to renew certification. The renewal options are based on the combinations of these three components:

Option 1: Practice Hours + ONC-PRO
Option 2:  Practice Hours + Successful Retesting
Option 3: ONC-PRO + Successful Retesting

AOCN® candidates please note: Option 1 is the only renewal option available to AOCN® candidates. Testing is not available for AOCN® candidates.

CPON® candidates please note: Beginning in 2010, Option 1 will be the only renewal method for CPON® certification. Because the Certified Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurse (CPHON) Examination will be implemented in 2010, the CPON® test will not be offered after 2009.  Beginning in 2010, nurses who wish to renew their CPON® credential may do so using Option 1 only.