ONC Online Self-Assessment Examinations
Online self-assessment examinations (SAEs; sample test questions) are a great way to prepare for the ONC examination. Five modules are available, each with 50 questions: general exam content, metabolic and inflammatory diseases,/peds/neuromuscular/congenital content, degenerative disease and sports injuries/trauma. SAEs are offered only as a self-assessment and examination preparation aid; their completion is not required to be eligible to take the ONC examination, and does not guarantee successful performance on the examination. Questions on the SAEs do not appear on the examination. SAEs are only available through LXR and ONCB’s test vendor AMP. PLEASE NOTE: You will be asked to pay for the SAE separately from examination fees or other ONCB products.
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Prepare for the ONC Exam
A list of representative study resources is available to prepare for the ONC exam. Click here to download the study reference list.
Follow these additional tips to help you prepare for the ONC® exam.
Form a Study Group
A study group offers an excellent, interactive opportunity for learning. You may also find that preparing with colleagues reduces any test anxiety. Your study group can be of any size, as small as two and as large as seems manageable. With advances in technology, your group members don’t even have to be close to each other geographically. Email and conference calls can offer great study opportunities.
The first step in forming a group is to identify colleagues who plan to sit for the examination. Talk with NAON chapter members or other orthopaedic nurses in your practice area. You can also post a message on the NAON Member Forum.
Make the Most of Independent Study
- Identify a list of topics you need to cover during your course of study.
- Collect professional resources to use as study aids. Suggested content is available from ONCB’s Exam Study Resource List.
- Use ONCB’s online self-assessment examinations (SAEs) to test your knowledge and experience the computer environment for the certification examination.
- Establish your timeline for review of these topics. You may find it beneficial to set aside a specific time and day to study each week.
- Find an area to study where you will not be disturbed or distracted easily. You may want to keep a pad of paper nearby to jot down some brief notes, but copious note taking should not be needed.
About Examination Preparation Products
ONCB endorses the examination preparation products offered by the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON). ONCB has no association with other commercial vendors of examination preparation products and does not endorse those products; any vendors’ claims to knowledge of the examinations are false. A commercial vendor’s use of ONCB’s registered marks (ONC and ONP-C) does not indicate ONCB endorsement of its products.
Interested in a Review Course?
NAON offers review courses for all exams. Review courses are offered at the Annual Congress and can be scheduled for other locations/dates. Information about review courses can be obtained through the NAON web site; click on the “Education” tab to locate a listing of orthopaedic review courses.
ONCB Offers Re-Test Discount
Any nurse who fails an orthopaedic certification exam is now able to re-test with a $50 discount. The majority of re-testing candidates do pass on their second attempt, but ONCB members are glad to offer this discount for all re-test attempts. Candidates who fail their examination will receive a re-test invitation from AMP, the test vendor. To receive the re-test discount, the nurse must submit the appropriate fee, along with the completed invitation form, to AMP. Discounts are not available through online application or submission of the paper application available in the Candidate Handbook.