ONC - Orthopaedic Nurse Certified (ONCB)

The Orthopaedic Nurse Certified (ONC) certification is a specialized credential for registered nurses (RNs) in orthopaedic nursing. This certification, administered by the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB), validates a nurse's specialized knowledge and skills in orthopaedic nursing. It's designed for RNs who provide care to patients with musculoskeletal conditions. The ONC certification demonstrates a commitment to a higher standard of professional competence in the orthopaedic nursing field and is widely recognized in the healthcare community.

Eligibility

Candidates aren’t required to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), but they must:

• Have a current, unencumbered RN license

• Have 2 full years of experience practicing as an RN

• Have at least 1,000 hours of RN practice in orthopaedic nursing within the past 3 years

Completion Time: 3 hours

Cost:

• $300: NAON/AANP/NOVA/CONA members

• $425: nonmembers

Exam Format

Meazure Learning is ONCB’s test vendor. The ONC exam contains 150 questions, with 135 scored and 15 unscored pilot items. Scored questions are broken down into the following categories:

• Degenerative Disorders: 51

• Orthopaedic Trauma: 26

• Sports Injuries: 15

• Metabolic Bone Disorders: 12

• Inflammatory Disorders: 11

• Congenital/Pediatric: 7

• Musculoskeletal Tumors: 7

• Neuromuscular: 6

Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam. A raw score of 97 correctly answered questions is needed to pass.

Application Process

1. Review the Candidate Handbook and attest to having read it.

2. Download the appropriate Supervisor Verification Form for the ONC exam.

3. Complete and upload either the:

   1. ONC (RN Exam) Supervisor Verification Form

   2. ONP-C (Nurse Practitioner Exam) Supervisor Verification Form

4. Apply for the exam.

5. Receive a confirmation email from Meazure Learning, once approved for testing, with your eligibility window to schedule your exam.

6. Schedule your exam at an in-person testing site or use online LRP.

Renewal must occur every 5 years. Recertification requirements include:

• Current, unrestricted RN licensure

• 1,000 hours practice during the previous 5 years

• Continuing education (CE)

Renewal Fees

• $250 NAON members, $375 nonmembers with LearningBuilder submission

• $300 NAON members, $425 nonmembers with paper submission

• 75 contact hours of education (at least 50 hours in clinical orthopaedics, up to 25 hours in general nursing)

• Candidate Handbook

• Exam Study Resources

• Additional Study Resources

• Practice Exams and Flashcards (Exams cost $40 each and flashcards $25)

• Test Taking Strategies

The ONCB also offers the following:

• Orthopaedic Nurses Certification - Advanced Certification (ONC-A)

• Orthopaedic Nurse Practitioner-Certified (ONP-C)