How to Get an Oncology Certification
Nurses have to complete an education requirement to become registered nurses, but must undergo additional requirements for various certifications. These certifications are intended to display their expertise in a particular area of medicine. Specializations can offer many advantages for the nurse as well.
Directions:
- Meet the minimum requirements prior to becoming certified as an oncology nurse. These include a year as a registered nurse and 1000 hours treating oncology patients.
- Determine an area of specialty. The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) recognizes four different specialties for oncology nurses: Certified Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurse, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Certified Breast Care Nurse.
- Prepare for the examination. The ONCC requires a nurse who meets the basic requirements (laid out in step one above) to take an exam. There are different examinations, depending on the area of specialty that you plan to pursue. You must take the examination for your specific area of specialty and pass it. The examinations are offered at certain times and are administered by the ONCC.
- Keep current with continued education programs. These are programs that are required to keep the nurse current in areas of oncology and medicine related.
- Renew the certification, as required. The ONCC requires that the certification must be renewed every four years. The renewal applications are due several months in advance of the date of the expiration of their certification. If they do not get the applications in on time, the certification will lapse and the nurse will have to go through the process over again.