What Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation does

Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) is a U.S. nonprofit certification organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that validates specialized knowledge for nurses practicing in oncology and related specialties. ONCC delivers a portfolio of nationally accredited nursing credentials — including OCN, CPHON, CBCN, TCTCN, AOCNP, and BMTCN — five of which hold National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accreditation; three additional credentials (ROCN, ACON, OCNN) are in development, and three retired credentials (AOCN, AOCNS, CPON) are maintained for renewal only. The organization operates on a four-year certification cycle supported by computer-based testing delivered globally through Pearson VUE, online renewal and practice-hour tracking via the LearningBuilder platform, and Credly-powered digital badges that nurses share on LinkedIn and other professional networks.

The business model centers on per-cycle certification and renewal fees, with member discounts offered to Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and APHON members, plus ancillary revenue from DoubleTake retake options ($100), reinstatement ($300 plus renewal fee), verification services, transfer/reschedule charges, and an e-commerce store for practice tests and study materials. ONCC reaches candidates through ONS and APHON partnerships, nursing-school and healthcare-employer channels, social media, and its website, where an AI chatbot (CeCe Virtual Assistant) handles eligibility and process queries. ONCC certifies more than 40,000 active nurses, applies Role Delineation Studies on a four-year cycle to refresh exam content, and operates with roughly 11-50 staff and a board populated by senior nursing practitioners.

The organization is affiliated with the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and Title IX, and has undergone a WCAG 2.1 Level A/AA accessibility audit conducted by Promet Source. ONCC is not venture-backed and reports no publicly disclosed financials.

Name

Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation

Legal name

Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation

Website

https://oncc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC), a 1984 nonprofit headquartered in Pittsburgh, certifies oncology nurses across eight credential programs through a four-year renewal cycle, supporting more than 40,000 active certified nurses globally with NCCA-accredited exams delivered via Pearson VUE.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nursing Certification Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications (EDAAANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nursing & Allied Health Certification Prep (CNA, EMT/Paramedic, Radiology, Sonography, PT/OT) (EDANAIAB), Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC), Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training (BPACANAJ), Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ)

Keywords

• Nursing certification services
• Oncology credentialing programs
• Professional certification exams
• Healthcare accreditation services
• Nursing continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Fees: ONCC charges fees for initial certification exams and renewals. Fees vary by credential type and include early-bird discounts. ONS/APHON members receive discounted rates.
2. Renewal Fees: Four-year renewal cycle with three options: Practice hours + Professional Development (Option 1), Practice hours + Testing (Option 2), or Points + Testing (Option 3). Additional credentials cost $100 each when renewing multiple simultaneously.
3. Reinstatement Fees: Candidates who miss renewal deadlines can reinstate for $300 plus the renewal application fee
4. Transfer and Processing Fees: Fees for transferring testing windows ($100 administrative fee), rescheduling tests, and other processing services
5. Verification Services: ONCC provides online verification of certified nurses' credentials for employers and the public, with fees for written verification reports

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ONCC develops, administers, and renews nationally accredited certification credentials for registered nurses in oncology and related specialties, including adult oncology (OCN), pediatric hematology/oncology (CPHON), breast care (CBCN), blood and marrow transplantation (BMTCN), transplantation and cellular therapy (TCTCN), and advanced oncology nurse practitioner (AOCNP) roles. Certifications are delivered through computer-based testing at Pearson VUE centers, with four-year renewal cycles supported by the LearningBuilder platform and Credly digital badges.

Product overview

ONCC offers a portfolio of nationally accredited nursing certifications in oncology and related specialties. The core certification offerings include OCN®, CPHON®, CBCN®, TCTCN™, AOCNP®, and BMTCN® credentials, all accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Three additional credentials (AOCNS®, CPON®, AOCN®) have retired examinations and are available only for renewal. Three new certifications (ROCN™, ACON™, OCNN™) are announced as coming soon. Supporting services include the FreeTake program for free retakes, DoubleTake retake option, Runway® preparation program, AI-powered CeCe virtual assistant, digital badges, and practice tests. The organization serves over 40,000 currently certified nurses across eight credential programs, with certification valid for four years and renewable through practice hours, professional development points, or testing options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ONCC Runway®: A runway program for oncology nursing certification
• DoubleTake
• FreeTake
• CeCe Virtual Assistant

Products and services

• Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) Certification Nationally accredited certification for registered nurses in adult oncology practice, validated through computer-based testing and renewable every four years. Recognized by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program and Commission on Cancer.
• Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON) Certification Nationally accredited specialty certification for registered nurses practicing in pediatric hematology/oncology settings, supporting credentialed care for children with cancer and blood disorders.
• Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN) Certification Nationally accredited certification for registered nurses covering the continuum of breast care nursing from screening and diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and supportive care.
• Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Certified Nurse (TCTCN) Certification Specialty certification for registered nurses providing nursing care in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy, covering both adult and pediatric patient populations.
• Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) Certification Advanced practice NCCA-accredited certification for nurse practitioners with a graduate degree and 1,000 hours of oncology practice, validating specialized adult oncology NP competencies.
• Blood & Marrow Transplant Certified Nurse (BMTCN) Certification Nationally accredited specialty certification for registered nurses specializing in blood and marrow transplantation nursing practice.
• Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS) Renewal Renewal-only credential for advanced clinical nurse specialists in oncology whose certification was earned when the program was accredited; new candidates cannot sit for the exam.
• Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON) Renewal Renewal-only credential for pediatric oncology nurses whose certification was earned when the program was accredited; new candidates cannot sit for the exam.
• Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse (AOCN) Renewal Renewal-only credential for experienced oncology nurses whose certification was earned when the program was accredited; new candidates cannot sit for the exam.
• ONCC Practice Tests Standalone online practice test product sold through the ONCC store, helping certification candidates prepare for ONCC examinations across credential programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of certified nurses say certification enhances their breadth and depth of knowledge in cancer care

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oncology Nursing Society (ONS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONS is ONCC's affiliated organization. ONCC is described as 'an affiliated organization of the Oncology Nursing Society.' ONS and ONCC collaborate on review courses, educational materials, certification programs, and the Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Certificate program. ONS members receive discounted certification fees.
• Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses (APHON)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPHON members receive discounted ONCC certification fees. APHON is one of two professional nursing organizations (alongside ONS) whose members qualify for member pricing on ONCC certifications.
• Pearson VUEcoreTechnology or IntegrationPearson VUE administers ONCC's computer-based certification examinations at testing centers worldwide. ONCC uses Pearson VUE's testing infrastructure for secure, standardized exam delivery.
• LearningBuildercoreTechnology or IntegrationLearningBuilder is the platform used by ONCC for candidates to track and manage their renewal points, professional development activities, and submit renewal applications.
• Promet SourceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerONCC contracted Promet Source in 2020 for an independent third-party accessibility audit and review of the ONCC website according to WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA guidelines.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Credly: Credly is ONCC's digital credentialing partner powering ONCC's issued badges. As a major digital credential infrastructure provider for nursing and other certifications, Credly is an enabling technology peer rather than a direct competitor.
• Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC): ABSNC is the accreditor of specialty nursing certification programs (including several prior ONCC credentials). It is a regulatory layer above ONCC rather than a competitor, but the relationship is structurally important for ONCC's accreditation strategy.

Direct peers

• Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC): HPCC issues CHPN, ACHPN, and CHPPN certifications for hospice and palliative nurses through an analogous NCCA-accredited model. It is a parallel specialty credentialing organization serving an adjacent end-of-life nursing segment.
• Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN): BCEN certifies emergency nurses (CEN, CFRN, CPEN, TCRN) via NCCA-accredited exams and is affiliated with the Emergency Nurses Association. It shares ONCC's specialty nursing certification, four-year renewal, and Pearson VUE delivery model.
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): ANCC is the most prominent U.S. nursing certification body, offering Magnet-aligned credentials such as RN-BC and NP specialties. As the Magnet Program administrator, ANCC both partners with and competes against ONCC for oncology nurse certification relevance.
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB): PNCB certifies pediatric nurses (CPN, CPNP) using NCCA-accredited exams and Pearson VUE delivery — directly mirroring ONCC's model, audience adjacency (pediatric), and infrastructure choices.
• National Certification Corporation (NCC): NCC certifies obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nurses (RNC, NNP) through NCCA-accredited exams. It is a closely comparable specialty nursing certification body with overlapping clinical specialization.
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB): AANPCB certifies nurse practitioners (FNP, AGNP) and competes with ANCC at the advanced-practice level. ONCC's AOCNP credential competes in this advanced practice space, making AANPCB a direct competitor in oncology NP certification.
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC): NBRC provides CRT and RRT credentialing using NCCA-accredited exams and a similar specialty-certification-for-allied-clinicians model. It serves as a structural peer for nonprofit specialty clinical credentialing organizations.
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation: AACN's CCRN, PCCN, and specialty certifications follow the same NCCA-accredited, four-year renewal model as ONCC. Both organizations run specialty nursing certification bodies with comparable fee structures and Magnet-aligned positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ONCC
• Facebookfacebook.com/oncologycertification
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oncc

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation