Experience needed for Oncology certification?

[myownboss]

I am currently a nurse in a med/surg/tele unit. I have noticed that a fair a amount of patients are coming in for chemo treatments or side effects of cancer treatments. The unit manager is encouraging nurses to consider oncology certification. I went to the site concerning sitting for the Oncology certification test (given by, yes, Pearson Vue!!! THE NCLEX people!!!) Anyway, I am a med/surg-type nurse for almost two years. What type of experience or classroom time (in person or online) is necessary before I can apply? Do I or can I pair with an ONC certified nurse on my unit to get experience that can be 'signed off'?

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

Initial Certification

Is this what you're referencing? It is offered by Pearson Vue per their website.

Eligibility Criteria for Initial Certification

Any candidate who does not currently hold the desired certification is considered an initial candidate, including candidates whose certification has lapsed. Nursing experience may be in clinical practice, nursing administration, education, research, or consultation. The role must require that it be filled only by an RN to qualify as nursing practice. Hours or months worked in positions that can be filled by non-nurses will not qualify as nursing practice. (Learn why the ONCC Board of Directors has clarified nursing practice for the purpose of certification and recertification.)

Unsure if the topic of your CE applies to the CE requirement for initial certification? Look at the Test Blueprint for the desired credential. The topics listed on the credential's Test Blueprint are acceptable CE topics for initial certification. Be sure your CE has been approved for contact hours by an Acceptable CE Approver or Provider.

OCN^®

• A current, active, unrestricted RN license at the time of application and examination, and
  
• A minimum of one year (12 months) of experience as an RN within the three years (36 months) prior to application, and
  
• A minimum of 1,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the two-and-one-half years (30 months) prior to application, and
  
• Completed a minimum of 10 contact hours of continuing nursing 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 accredited provider or approver of continuing nursing education. A maximum of five of the 10 required contact hours in oncology may be continuing medical education (CME) in oncology.
  

Please note the bolded sections. In every specialty I know of, you need to have a minimum amount of hours working in that specialty before you're even eligible to test.

[myownboss]

Yes this information is very helpful! Thanks. Basically as I understand it, I would not be able to apply for certification at the moment because I have not taken any courses in oncology, etc. I have noticed CE courses in oncology in the Nurse.com magazine I receive monthly so maybe I'll see about taking a local course. Anyway, thanks again!

[OCNRN63, RN]

You would also not be eligible until you meet the clinical practice requirement. It's not just the CEU. If your unit is med-surg, with a mix of some oncology patients, you'll need to keep track of your hours working with the oncology patients to make sure you have enough hours to sit for the exam.

One nice thing is that you find out immediately after the test if you've passed or failed.

If I were you, I would start with obtaining your chemo provider card first. You'll get a lot of CEU for it, and learn a lot of information that can be helpful for the OCN exam.

It feels like yesterday that I got the OCN; now it's time to renew it again! The certification is good for 4 years.

[myownboss]

Thank you for that information! I will ask the 3 OCN nurses I know of on my unit about what it takes and see if I can shadow them during their chemo administration routine.