CPON Test

The Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse has achieved the recognition of meeting criteria necessary to be specialized in the field of Pediatric Oncology. This indicates a level of excellence in treating pediatric cancer patients, and frequently their families, in all aspects of cancer care.

In order to take the Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse exam, the applicant must be a licensed Registered Nurse who has been working at least 1 year within the past 3 years. At least 1,000 hours should have been spent in Pediatric Oncology Nursing within the past 2 ½ years. In addition, at least 10 continuing education hours in the field of Pediatric Oncology Nursing should have been completed over the past 3 years.

The Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse exam is offered as a computer-based exam during a 2-week window in January, April, July, and October. It is only offered once a year in paper and pencil format. The fee to take the exam is $260 for members of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) or Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses (APON) or $38 for non-members.

The exam consists of 165 multiple-choice questions with 20 of those questions used for pretesting purposes for possible use on future exams. Over one-third of the exam consists of questions testing the RN’s knowledge in quality of life issues. The remainder of the exam consists of questions pertaining to specific disease processes and nursing interventions to treat potential complications.

The Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse certification is valid for 3 years. At the end of that time period, the licensed RN should have work at least 1 year as an RN within the past 3 years. At least 1,000 hours of these employment hours should be in providing care to pediatric oncology patients over the past 2 ½ years. In addition, at least 100 continuing education hours should have been completed over the past 3 years with at least 65 of those hours in Pediatric Oncology Nursing.

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