ODS Exam Eligibility Requirements

Exam eligibility determination is the first step of the ODS Exam application process.
Complete the ODS Exam Eligibility Determination Form and submit it along with your required documentation to ce@ncra-usa.org. Be sure to include your transcripts, course completion certificates (if earning the certificate through AHIMA), and practicum assessment certificates for Route 1 and Route 2. Route 3 candidates must provide an official job description  listing the duties related to their Cancer Registry experience.

Candidates must meet education and experience requirements to be eligible to take the ODS exam. Routes 1, 2, 3 are detailed below and outlined in the ODS Exam Eligibility Chart. 

Route 1

Education: Successful completion of an NCRA-Accredited Associate Degree Program.
AND
Experience: Successful completion of the NCRA-Accredited Formal Education Program’s practicum activities and competency assessments. 

Route 2

Education: Successful completion of an Associate’s degree or the equivalent (60 college credits) PLUS successful completion of an NCRA-Accredited Certificate Program. 
AND
Experience: Successful completion of the NCRA-Accredited Formal Education Program’s practicum activities and competency assessments.

Route 3

Education: Successful completion of any Associate’s degree or the equivalent (60 college credits). The coursework must include two semesters (six total credit hours) in Human Anatomy and Human Physiology. (Grade of C or better is required).
AND
Experience: 1,950 hours (equal to one year full-time) experience in the cancer registry. 

A Route 3 candidate's experience within the last five years must include experience with all basic aspects of a cancer registry, including, but not limited to, 

• Case finding 
• Abstracting (in accordance with NAACCR, SEER, CoC guidelines)
• Follow-up
• Data reporting
• Cancer committee
• Cancer conference
• State and/or NCDB submissions
   

Cancer Registry Definition

The Council on Certification defines the cancer registry as the collection, management, and analysis of cancer incidence data for all the following purposes:

•    research
•    quality management/improvement
•    cancer program development
•    cancer prevention and surveillance
•    survival and outcome data
•    compliance of reporting standards
•    development of accreditation standards for cancer registration

Eligibility Review Requests

Need your individual eligibility reviewed? Complete the ODS Exam Eligibility Request Form. Complete the form in its entirety and allow 3 weeks to process. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Eligibility History

ODS EXAM CANDIDATE'S HANDBOOK

Eligibility Explainer Videos