What Is Nursing Certification?

Nursing certification is the process by which a nongovernmental agency validates, based upon predetermined standards, an individual registered nurse's qualification and knowledge of practice in a defined functional or clinical area of nursing. The purposes of nursing certification are to assure the public that the certified nurse has completed all eligibility criteria to earn a specific credential, and to promote the development of specialty areas of nursing by establishing minimal competency standards and recognizing those who have met those standards.

It is important for nurses to understand the differences between certification, assessment-based certificate programs, and continuing education programs, as well as what completion of each of these programs represents. The Institute for Credentialing Excellence has defined the differences between these types of programs.

The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) recognizes the benefits of certification to patients and society at large and encourages oncology nurses to become certified. Read the ONS position on support of oncology certification of nurses.

ONCC^® offers five certification examinations: OCN^® ( Oncology Certified Nurse), CPON^® (Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse), CBCN (Certified Breast Care Nurse), AOCNP^® (Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner), and AOCNS^® (Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist).

Learn more about ONCC’s philosophy on continued competency for certified nurses.

To learn more about any of these certifications, visit Certifications Available. In addition, ONCC offers renewal of AOCN^® (Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse) certification to nurses who currently hold the credential.