ONCB offers certificant resource

How can you get the most out of your new credential?  Demonstrate your pride in earning orthopaedic nursing certification?  Share the benefits of certification with your employer?  ONCB can help!

Use the new publication Certification Makes a Difference: Getting the Most out of Your Credential for ideas on credential promotion and ways to serve as a certification leader in your practice setting. A sample letter and press release are included to help you share the good news of certification with your employer and colleagues.  ONCB also offers certification brochures for special events, such as Orthopaedic Nurses Day (October 30) or Certified Nurses Day (March 19). Call ONCB (888-561-6622) with any questions about how you can promote certification. . .and yourself as a Board-certified orthopaedic nurse.

ONC® Recertification Requirement

NAON Member $200
Non-Member $315

With your initial certification, you may accrue contact hours from the date of testing. If the certification examination is offered in conjunction with an educational program such as NAON Congress, the continuing education credit offered after the exam has been taken may be used toward recertification.
Forms A and B (available on “Forms” page of this web site) should be completed and submitted with all recertification applications.  Questions about CE categorization?  Contact ONCB (888-561-6622 or oncb@oncb.org) to discuss your continuing education with Executive Director Dottie Roberts.  All offerings must be transcribed from personal or hospital CE records to Forms A and B, and submitted with CE certificates as part of the audit process; portfolio listings are not accepted.

Accrual of continuing education credit for the next 5-year recertification cycle begins after January 1, with certification expiring on June 30. If the ONC® has more than the required 100 contact hours for recertification, the credits obtained earlier in the 5-year period should be used for recertification and hours received after January 1 saved for the next recertification cycle. If a nurse plans to do this, however, he or she must also provide a copy of Forms A and B recorded for the prior recertification cycle so ONCB can verify that those credits were not used for earlier recertification. Contact hours for any one offering may not be split between one certification period and another certification period.

A candidate for recertification by continuing education must meet all eligibility requirements for recertification, including the 1000 hours of work experience, and pay all recertification fees. Fees for recertification through continuing education are nonrefundable and must accompany the completed application. Incomplete or inaccurate applications will be returned with a letter describing the deficiencies; incomplete or inaccurate applications are subject to audit. Corrected applications may be resubmitted with a $30 administrative fee.

Recertification through continuing education will be denied for any of the
following reasons:

• Misrepresentation
• Failure to meet criteria for 100 contact hours, or provide evidence of
  contact hours in the event of an audit
• Lack of current RN license
• Failure to apply by deadline

Recertification will be based solely on the submitted materials. Anyone who is denied recertification may appeal by written request to the Recertification Committee. The applicant may also apply for recertification by examination.

Click here for more information.

LearningBuilder is live!

ONCB launched the new LearningBuilder program in mid-November 2011 to assist certificants with online continuing education maintenance, recertification application submission, and audits.  Establishing a LearningBuilder account is FREE for all certificants.  You can even upload certificates to maintain a complete record for recertification and make the audit process easier. Access the program through the LearningBuilder link or put this web address in your Favorites (https://oncb.learningbuilder.com). It’s easy to set up your account and begin maintaining a log of your CE activities…get started today and be prepared for your next recertification cycle.  Call ONCB (888-561-6622) with any questions about LearningBuilder.

Certificants update addresses, emails online

ONCB now offers certificants the opportunity to update addresses and emails electronically.  Go to http://oncbcert.goamp.com.  Using the “Log In” function, enter your first and last initials and zip code; the initials are case sensitive (e.g., DR29073).  Default password for the first access is “oncb2012.”  If you have moved since your original certification and are uncertain if ONCB has your current address in the data base, be sure to use the zip code you had at the time of testing.

ONCB members encourage you to update your address, telephone number, and email address as well as changing your password from the default as soon as possible. When you select “Reset Password,” you will receive an email at the address you have provided.  Please be sure to access the ONCB data base to make these changes so communication about your certification can reach you without delay.

Questions or problems with access?  Please contact the ONCB staff (888-561-6622).