A certification is a voluntary, nongovernmental process by which an individual is determined by a certification body to have successfully completed the requirements of a certification program and may be identified to the public and other stakeholders as a certificant. Some regulatory bodies use voluntary certification programs to meet licensure or registration requirements. Examples of oncology certifications include the OCN®, CPHON®, CBCN®, AOCNP®, or BMTCN® offered by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation.
A certificate is a non-degree-granting program that provides instruction and training to aid participants in acquiring specific knowledge, skills, and/or competencies associated with intended outcomes. When the certificate program includes an assessment of learning, it is known as an assessment-based certificate program. Examples of oncology-related certificate programs offered by ONS include the ONS/ONCC Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Certificate, ONS Fundamentals of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Administration, and the ONS/ONCC Radiation Therapy Certificate.
Links:
ONCC: Is It Certification, a Certificate Program, or a Certificate of Completion?
Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE): Certificate vs. Certification
References:
Oncology Nursing Society. (2022). Oncology certification for nurses. Oncology Nursing Socety https://www.ons.org/make-difference/ons-center-advocacy-and-health-policy/position-statements/oncology-certification
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