Certified nurses are well respected.
The American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) Inc. provides certification for those interested in pursuing careers in occupational health nursing. Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, the ABOHN's Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) credential is well respected throughout the nursing industry and can help significantly advance your nursing career.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the COHN credential, you must first have a license as a registered nurse. Registered nurses have completed an associate degree or higher in nursing and have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also, you must have 3,000 hours in occupational work. If not, you must complete an occupational health nursing certificate program.
Fees
The COHN credential requires several fees. The general application fee is $125 as of May 2010. The cost of the examination is $350. If you do not schedule your exam within 90 days of being approved to take it, you must pay an additional $50 for a 60-day extension, according to the ABOHN. The last fee associated with initial certification is $320 for certification maintenance. This amount is charged after you pass the certification exam.
Examination
You must pass an examination to receive the COHN credential. As of May 2010, the three-hour, computer-based test has 150 multiple-choice questions, according to the ABOHN. The COHN exam covers the clinician's role, the coordinator's role, the adviser's role and the case manager's role. Approximately a third of the test deals with the clinician's role in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating. Approximately another third covers the coordinator's role in occupational health nursing.
Examination Preparation
The ABOHN offers a potential way to prepare for the examination. According to the ABOHN, individuals who passed their test studied an average of 20 weeks prior to the exam for about 10 hours a week. Generally, individuals who have passed the test used the following books: "AAOHN Core Curriculum Study Guide" by the AAOHN, "Occupational Health Nursing" by Bonnie Rogers and "AAOHN Core Curriculum for Occupational Health Nursing" by Mary K. Salazar.
Recertification
After you have received your COHN credential, you are allowed to use the title up to five years. At this point, you must apply for recertification to continue using the title. To be eligible for recertification, you must maintain your registered nurse license as well as have 3,000 hours of occupational health nursing experience. You also must complete 50 hours of continuing education credits in occupational health nursing.
Tags: COHN credential, occupational health nursing, health nursing, occupational health, Occupational Health
