What is NCRA?

NCRA is a non-profit organization that represents over 7,000 cancer registry professionals and ODS-certified registrars. The mission of NCRA is to empower and advance registry professionals through innovations in education, advocacy, credentialing, and strategic partnerships. NCRA provides ongoing training through various mediums including annual conferences, workshops, publications, and their continuing education credit program.

Cancer registrars are data information specialists that capture a complete history, diagnosis, treatment, and health status for every cancer patient in the U.S. The data provide essential information to researchers, healthcare providers, and public health officials to better monitor and advance cancer treatments, conduct research, and improve cancer prevention and screening programs.

The National Tumor Registrars Association (NTRA) was chartered on May 14, 1974, in 1993, the NTRA became the National Cancer Registrars Association. The original by-laws state the purpose of our organization was to promote research and education in Tumor Registration administration so that we may be of greater service to the cancer patient; establish standards of education for tumor registrars; provide a regulated systematic course of study for tumor registrars; raise the level of knowledge and performance of tumor registrars through continuing education; disseminate information to members of this Association regarding current activities, research, and trends the cancer field; and initiate and/or participate in programs to improve and standardize the compiling tumor registry information.

The National Cancer Registrars Association continues this work as outlined for the cancer registry profession though education, advocacy, professional development and more. NCRA's certification board - the Council on Certification - oversees the Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR®) exam administration and credential maintenance. This credential sets the standard for professional excellence in the cancer registry field. It is nationally recognized in the recruitment and retention of registry personnel.