ODS-C

NCRA states it demonstrates the knowledge and professional competence needed within the cancer registry. It establishes a standard of knowledge and experience for registry practice, promotes professional growth through study, and helps employers, allied-health professions, and the public assess cancer registrars. It is recognized internationally in recruitment and retention of registry personnel.

Cancer registrars who collect and curate complete history, diagnosis, treatment, and health status data for cancer patients. It also suits those targeting CoC-accredited facilities, since NCRA states those facilities require an ODS-certified registrar on the cancer committee (Standard 2.1) and require case abstracting by an ODS-certified registrar (Standard 4.3).

This page cannot confirm the item count, time limit, or delivery format, because those details live in NCRA's ODS Exam Handbook and eligibility information rather than the source used here. Consult those NCRA documents directly before scheduling. Treat any third-party claim about question counts or timing as unverified until you confirm it at the source.

The passing score and exam fee are not stated in the source material used for this page, so no figure is given here rather than an outdated guess. NCRA's exam and eligibility information page is the authoritative place to confirm current fees, scoring, and any application deadlines before you register.

Start with NCRA's published content outline, then weight study toward your weaker areas rather than splitting time evenly. Diagnosis, staging, and treatment usually rewards the most repetition because staging rules are detailed. Pair abstracting practice with standards and compliance review, then finish with data analysis and public health reporting concepts.

NCRA requires a minimum of 20 CE credits within each 2-year CE cycle and 8 CEIP credits within each 4-year CEIP cycle. Both cycles end on December 31, and credits must be earned within the cycle dates. Plan submissions early rather than in December, and keep documentation for every credit you claim.

NCRA maintains a dedicated resource addressing situations where a certified professional is unable to meet CE requirements, linked from its certification maintenance pages. Read that guidance before your cycle ends rather than after. Do not assume an automatic extension; the cycle end date of December 31 is firm in the source material.

NCRA's Salary and Compensation Considerations for Cancer Registrars reports that ODS-certified cancer registrars earn $25,000 more than non-credentialed registrars. NCRA also states the credential is nationally recognized in recruitment and retention of registry personnel, which matters when employers screen applicants for registry openings.

Studying without NCRA's content outline, memorizing staging rules without practicing abstraction on full cases, and ignoring the compliance and data-use domains because they feel less clinical. Another frequent error is postponing CE or CEIP credits until the cycle closes on December 31, when credits must already have been earned within the cycle dates.

No. This is independent study material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Cancer Registrars Association. All credential facts here are drawn from NCRA's public certification page and quoted where possible. Always confirm eligibility, exam logistics, and maintenance rules directly with NCRA before acting.