Exam Eligibility Advance practice nurses who plan to take the OCNS-CŪ or ONP-CŪ examination
must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Hold a current, full and unrestricted license as a
registered nurse (RN) in the United States, or its possessions, or
Hold a current, full and unrestricted license to
practice as a first-level, general nurse in the country in which the
candidate's general nursing education was completed, and meet the
eligibility criteria for licensure as a registered nurse (RN) in the
United States in accordance with requirements of any of the following
agencies:
The foreign-educated nurse who holds active certification
from the following may submit a copy of his or her certificate in lieu of
additional education verification:
Have three (3) full years of experience practicing as
an RN, or with an equivalent license as described above
Have graduated from a nursing program at an accredited
institution offering graduate-level credit for all of the coursework, and
which includes both didactic and clinical components
Hold a Master's Degree or higher in
nursing from an advanced practice (APRN) nursing program as a clinical nurse
specialist (CNS) or nurse practitioner (NP)
Have
a minimum of 1,500 hours of advance practice nursing work experience within the
past three (3) years if a current ONCŪ and presently be functioning as a CNS or
NP in orthopaedic nursing. If the candidate does not currently hold the ONC
credential, he or she must have a minimum of 2500 hours of work experience as a
CNS or NP in orthopaedic nursing practice within the past three (3) years, and
presently be functioning as a CNS or NP in orthopaedic nursing.