Credential

Over 9,000 cancer registry professionals have earned the ODS credential since it was first offered in 1983. Today, there are over 5,700 ODS-certified professionals worldwide.

Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) Credential

The ODS credential demonstrates a requisite knowledge and professional competence needed within the cancer registry. It promotes excellence in the cancer registry field by: 

• Establishing a standard of knowledge and experience required for professional registry practice.
• Promoting professional growth and individual study by cancer registrars to attain and maintain the ODS credential.
• Assisting employers, members of allied-health professions, and the public in the assessment of cancer registrars.

 Value of the ODS Credential

• Recognized internationally in the recruitment and retention of cancer registry personnel.
• Validates competence to practice in the cancer registry.
• Demonstrates commitment to the cancer registry profession.
• Required continuing education ensures ODS-certified registrars are current with changes in cancer screening, diagnosis, staging, and treatment.
• Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited facilities require an ODS-certified registrar be a member of the cancer committee (Standard 2.1).
• CoC-accredited facilities require case abstracting be performed by an ODS-certified registrar (Standard 4.3).
• NCRA’s Salary and Compensation Considerations for Cancer Registrars reports ODS-certified cancer registrars earn $25,000 more than non-credentialed cancer registrars. 

 How to Earn/Maintain the ODS Credential

• Earned by successfully completing the ODS exam with a passing score.
• Maintained through the accumulation of 20 continuing education hours every two years. 
• Pay a maintenance fee annually

Learn more about earning the ODS credential.
Details on maintaining the ODS credential. 

Eligibility

ODS Exam Prep

Accredited Education Programs