About This Certification

The Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN®) credential, awarded by the ONCC, validates the specialized knowledge and skills of registered nurses who care for adult oncology patients. OCN nurses provide evidence-based care across the cancer continuum, from prevention through survivorship and end-of-life.

Exam Overview

The OCN exam consists of 165 multiple-choice questions (150 scored) with a 3-hour time limit. Questions are scenario-based, drawn from the OCN Test Blueprint, and administered at Pearson VUE centers or via remote proctoring.

Exam Domains & Weighting

Domain	Description	Weight
Scientific Basis for Practice	Carcinogenesis, biology of cancer, epidemiology, genetics, immunology, and pharmacology	20.0%
Treatment Modalities	Chemotherapy, biotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, bone marrow transplant, and clinical trials	26.0%
Symptom Management & Palliative Care	Managing cancer-related symptoms, toxicities, pain, nausea, fatigue, and end-of-life care	25.0%
Oncologic Emergencies	Recognition and management of oncologic emergencies including SVC syndrome, tumor lysis, and sepsis	10.0%
Health Promotion & Disease Prevention	Cancer screening guidelines, primary prevention strategies, and survivorship care planning	9.0%
Professional Performance	Evidence-based practice, patient advocacy, ethics, professional development, and quality improvement	10.0%