Center for Nursing Education and Testing (C-NET®)

To become a Board Certified Orthopaedic Nurse (ONC), candidates shall meet all eligibility criteria at the time of application, complete the application form, submit all fees, and successfully pass the the certification examination. To be eligible to participate in the examination, candidates must meet the following requirements:

Hold a current, full and unrestricted license as a registed nurse (RN) in the United States or its poessions, - OR -
Hold a current, full and unrestricted license to practice as a first-level, general nurse in the country in which one'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 the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
Have 2 full years of experience practicing as an RN, or with an equivalent license as described above.
Have a minimum of 1000 hours of work experience as an RN in orthopaedic nursing practice within the last 3 years. The ONCB accepts, but does not limit the practioner to orthopaedic experience in the areas of administration, adult care, clinic, critical care, education, emergency room, home health care, long- term care, medical-surgical nursing, office practice, oncology, operating room, and pediatrics.