If you need help studying for the Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) exam or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free AOCNP practice test!
Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the AOCNP exam, you’ll need a current RN license and at least 30 hours of oncology continuing education within the last five years.
You’ll also need to meet the degree and practice hour requirements of ONE of the following pathways:
- Pathway 1: You need at least 500 hours of adult oncology NP practice within the last five years and a graduate degree with concentration in oncology.
- Pathway 2: You need at least 1,000 hours of adult oncology NP practice within the last five years and a graduate degree with concentration in adult, family, gerontology, or women’s health.
If you meet the requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 165 multiple-choice questions total, but only 125 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 40 unscored questions on the exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 3 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed.
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the AOCNP exam.
1. Cancer Continuum
28% of the exam
- Screening and prevention
- Assessment and diagnosis
- Plan of care across the cancer continuum
2. Cancer Treatment and Supportive Care
45% of the exam
- Clinical trials and research studies
- Systemic therapy
- Localized therapy
- Surgical interventions
- Radiation therapy
- Blood and marrow transplantation
- Multimodal therapy
- Complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies
- Etiology, incidence, and patterns for treatment-related symptoms
- Response to therapy
- Palliative care
- Pharmacologic interventions for symptom management
- Nonpharmacologic interventions for symptom management
- Interrelationship between disease, treatment, and comorbid conditions
- Controlled substance safety
3. Oncologic Emergencies
12% of the exam
- Etiology, risk factors, and prevention strategies
- Assessment strategies
- Interventions for treatment
4. Psychosocial Issues
10% of the exam
- Psychosocial assessment instruments, tools, and questionnaires
- Risk factors and at-risk populations
- Psychosocial and emotional sequelae of disease and treatment
- Psychiatric and psychosocial comorbidities
- Community resources
5. Professional Practice and Roles of the APRN
5% of the exam
- Cultural competence and implicit bias
- Legal and regulatory requirements
- Accreditation standards
- Ethical/legal issues
- Advanced practice standards of care
- Outcomes of APRN interventions and evidence-based care on individuals, groups, and systems
- Quality improvement strategies
- Competency evaluation of self and others
- Peer education and support
How to Register
Once you’ve ensured that you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can register for the exam.
To get started, you’ll need to submit an application on ONCC’s website. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
When you submit the application, you’ll also need to submit the testing fee, which is $420. If you’re an ONS/APHON member, you will only have to pay $300.
AOCNP Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score will range somewhere between 25 and 75.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test after a 90-day waiting period.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the full testing fee every time you retake the test.
FAQs
How many questions are on the AOCNP exam?
The exam contains 165 questions.
What is the time limit for the AOCNP exam?
The exam is timed at 3 hours.
What is the passing score for the AOCNP exam?
You’ll need to get a final scaled score of at least 55 to pass.
How much does the AOCNP exam cost?
The testing fee is $420 ($300 for ONS/APHON members).