AOCNP Practice Test
Updated October 2026Facts verified Oct 28, 2026 against Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
AOCNP: upcoming dates and official changes
- Jan 1, 2027: ONCC expects applications for 2027 international testing for the AOCNP and other ONCC exams to open January 1, 2027.[3]
The AOCNP takes about 3 hours and costs $420[1] (Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation, verified Oct 25, 2026).
- The AOCNP test session lasts three hours, including a 15-minute tutorial and a post-test survey.[1]
- The ONCC test fee for the AOCNP exam is $420 for nonmembers and $300 for ONS/APHON members.[1]
- ONCC's DoubleTake retake option for the AOCNP exam costs an additional $100 and must be purchased at the time of initial application.[1]
- AOCNP certification is valid for four years after passing the test.[2]
- The AOCNP exam is delivered by computer-based testing at more than 1,500 PSI test centers worldwide.[1]
- AOCNP candidates see on-screen results immediately after the exam and receive an email with printable results within one hour.[1]
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
AOCNP Exam at a Glance
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Time limit | 3 hours (includes 15-minute tutorial and post-test survey)[1] | Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $420 non-member / $300 ONS/APHON member[1] | Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Retake fee | $100 DoubleTake option (bought at initial application)[1] | Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Validity | 4 years[2] | Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Delivery | Computer-based at 1,500+ PSI test centers[1] | Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Score release | Immediately on screen; emailed results within 1 hour[1] | Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Registration opens (International (outside US/territories/Canada)) | Expected January 1, 2027[3] | Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation · Oct 26, 2026 |
What changed for AOCNP in 2026
- Oct 25, 2026: Time limit changed to 3 hours (includes 15-minute tutorial and post-test survey) (previously 3 hours (includes 15-minute tutorial and survey)).[1]
- Oct 25, 2026: Score release changed to Immediately on screen; emailed results within 1 hour (previously Immediately on screen; emailed report within 1 hour).[1]
- Oct 21, 2026: Delivery changed to Computer-based at 1,500+ PSI test centers (previously Computer-based at PSI test centers).[1]
What the AOCNP is and how it works
According to Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation, “ONCC examinations are offered by computer-based testing at more than 1,500 PSI test centers worldwide, including hundreds of test centers in the United States.”[1]
The Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) exam is the ONCC certification test for nurse practitioners in oncology care. If you pass, your certification is valid for 4 years.
Delivery and timing: ONCC exams are computer-based and offered at more than 1,500 PSI test centers worldwide. A test session lasts 3 hours. That time includes a 15-minute computer-based testing tutorial before the exam and a post-test survey, so you have a little less than the full session for the questions.
Fees and retakes: The fee is $420 for nonmembers and $300 for ONS/APHON members. There is also an optional $100 DoubleTake fee that covers a retake. You can only buy it at the time of your initial application, so decide before you apply. Check ONCC for the full DoubleTake terms.
Results: You see your result on screen as soon as you finish the exam. An email with printable results arrives within 1 hour of testing. The passing standard and how scores are reported are explained in the ONCC Test Registration Manual.
Eligibility and location: ONCC sets the eligibility requirements, and this page does not repeat them. Confirm them on the official AOCNP page at oncc.org before you apply. Candidates outside the United States, its territories and Canada follow a separate international process. ONCC expects applications for 2027 international testing to open January 1, 2027.
AOCNP content outline and where to practise each area
The content areas below are copied from the official AOCNP content outline published by Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Weight | Practice on this site |
|---|---|---|
| Cancer Continuum[4] | 28% | AOCNP Cancer Diagnosis, Staging, and Workup Practise prevention, screening choices, diagnostic workup and staging, and survivorship follow-up across the course of the disease. |
| Cancer Treatment and Supportive Care[4] | 45% | AOCNP Cancer Pharmacology and Chemotherapy Drill drug mechanisms, toxicities and dose-limiting effects for chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and radiation, and how to manage symptoms. |
| Oncologic Emergencies[4] | 12% | AOCNP Oncologic Emergencies For each emergency, know the warning signs, the confirming test and the first treatment step, including tumor lysis, spinal cord compression, hypercalcemia and neutropenic fever. |
| Professional Practice and Roles of the APRN[4] | 5% | AOCNP Professional Role, Ethics, and Legal... Practise ethics, legal duties, reporting channels, scope of practice and evidence-based practice questions where you choose the right order of actions. |
| Psychosocial Issues[4] | 10% | AOCNP Psychosocial Oncology and Mental Hea... Practise screening for distress, depression and anxiety, communication with patients and families, and when to refer to supportive services. |
AOCNP Practice Test Questions
Prepare for the AOCNP - Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
AOCNP Cancer Pharmacology and Chemotherapy
AOCNP Questions and Answers on Cancer Pharmacology and Chemotherapy. Free AOCNP practice for exam readiness.
AOCNP Cancer Screening and Early Detection
AOCNP Mock Test covering Cancer Screening and Early Detection. Online AOCNP Test practice with instant feedback.
AOCNP Cancer Screening and Prevention
Free AOCNP Quiz on Cancer Screening and Prevention. AOCNP Exam prep questions with detailed explanations.
AOCNP Clinical Trials and Evidence-Based O...
AOCNP Practice Questions for Clinical Trials and Evidence-Based Oncology Practice. Build confidence for your AOCNP certification exam.
AOCNP Hematologic Malignancies
AOCNP Study Material on Hematologic Malignancies. Prepare effectively with real exam-style questions.
AOCNP Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
Free AOCNP Test covering Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy. Practice and track your AOCNP exam readiness.
AOCNP Oncologic Emergencies
Free AOCNP Practice Test featuring Oncologic Emergencies. Improve your AOCNP Exam score with mock test prep.
AOCNP Palliative Care and Symptom Management
AOCNP Mock Exam on Palliative Care and Symptom Management. AOCNP Study Guide questions to pass on your first try.
AOCNP Radiation Oncology Nursing
AOCNP Mock Test covering Radiation Oncology Nursing. Online AOCNP Test practice with instant feedback.
AOCNP Radiation Therapy Principles and Sid...
Free AOCNP Quiz on Radiation Therapy Principles and Side Effects. AOCNP Exam prep questions with detailed explanations.
Worked examples: how to reason through AOCNP questions
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Example 1
Question: Which validated screening tool is most widely recommended for identifying nutritional risk in hospitalized oncology patients?
- BMI calculation alone
- NRS-2002 (Nutritional Risk Screening 2002) or MUST (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool)
- Serum albumin level as a sole indicator
- 24-hour dietary recall interview
Answer: B. NRS-2002 (Nutritional Risk Screening 2002) or MUST (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool)
Explanation:
B is correct. NRS-2002 and MUST are validated screening tools built for exactly this job: finding which patients are at nutritional risk. They combine weight status, recent unintended weight loss, reduced intake and illness severity, so they catch patients that any lone measure would miss.
- A: BMI alone misses patients who have lost a lot of weight but still have a normal or high BMI, which is common in cancer.
- C: Inflammation and fluid shifts lower serum albumin, so it reflects illness as much as nutrition and is not a reliable stand-alone marker.
- D: A 24-hour dietary recall belongs to a fuller assessment after screening. It is not a validated screening instrument.
Rule: screen with a validated multi-factor tool, then assess. Never rely on a lone lab value or body measure.
Example 2
Question: A patient is diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL, AML-M3). Which agent is a cornerstone of induction therapy that induces differentiation of malignant promyelocytes?
- Cytarabine (ara-C)
- Daunorubicin
- All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)
- Hydroxyurea
Answer: C. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)
Explanation:
C is correct. APL is driven by the PML-RARA fusion protein, which stops promyelocytes from maturing. ATRA acts on this abnormal retinoic acid receptor and lets the cells differentiate. That is why it is a cornerstone of induction, given with arsenic trioxide or an anthracycline.
- A: Cytarabine is a cytotoxic agent used widely in other AML subtypes. It kills dividing cells but does not make them differentiate.
- B: Daunorubicin can be part of APL induction alongside ATRA, but it is cytotoxic, not a differentiating agent, so it does not answer the question.
- D: Hydroxyurea lowers very high white counts but does not treat the underlying defect.
Rule: in APL, think differentiation therapy first, and watch for differentiation syndrome after ATRA starts.
Example 3
Question: An oncology NP suspects a colleague is documenting chemotherapy administration that was not actually performed. Which action represents the NP's primary professional and legal obligation?
- Confront the colleague privately and give them the opportunity to self-report
- Report the concern through the institution's established reporting chain or compliance office
- Document personal observations carefully and wait for more evidence before acting
- Contact the patient's family to alert them to potential care discrepancies
Answer: B. Report the concern through the institution's established reporting chain or compliance office
Explanation:
B is correct. Documenting chemotherapy that was not given is falsification of the medical record. It can be healthcare fraud, and it puts patients at risk. The NP's duty is to report the concern without delay through the institution's established channels, such as a manager, the compliance office, a hotline or risk management.
- A: A private confrontation delays protection and can let the misconduct continue or be hidden.
- C: Waiting for more evidence leaves patients exposed. Reporting a good-faith concern does not require proof.
- D: Contacting the family goes around the proper process and can breach confidentiality.
Rule: when patient safety or record integrity is at stake, report through formal institutional channels. Do not investigate or settle it informally on your own.
How to use these practice tests
Start with the official ONCC content outline. Cancer Treatment and Supportive Care is the largest area, so give it the most time. Cancer Continuum is the next priority.
- Baseline: take the AOCNP mixed practice set without studying first, and note which content areas you miss.
- Treatment block: work through Cancer Pharmacology and Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy, Radiation Therapy Principles and Side Effects and Hematologic Malignancies. For every miss, write down the rule in your own words, not just the correct letter.
- Continuum and emergencies: use Cancer Screening and Early Detection, Survivorship and Long-Term Follow-Up and Oncologic Emergencies. For each emergency, be able to state how you recognize it, your first action and the test or drug involved.
- Smaller areas: finish with the psychosocial and professional role sets. These questions often turn on the right order of actions or the right reporting channel.
- Final check: read the ONCC Test Registration Manual for test-day rules and policies. Then retake the mixed set in a timed sitting and compare it with your baseline.
AOCNP Exam Flashcards
Tap a card to flip it. Facts are taken from the ONCC AOCNP page, Test Content Outline and Test Registration Manual.
📝 How many questions are on the AOCNP exam?
The AOCNP exam has 165 four-option multiple-choice questions and a 3-hour time limit. Only 125 are scored; the other 40 are unmarked pretest items, so treat every question as if it counts.
START AOCNP PRACTICE TEST📊 What score do you need to pass the AOCNP exam?
ONCC reports a scaled score from 25 to 75, and the passing score is a scaled 55. You see an official pass/fail result on screen before leaving the test center, followed by an emailed results report.
START AOCNP PRACTICE TEST💊 Which AOCNP exam domain has the most questions?
Cancer Treatment and Supportive Care is 45% of the test, roughly 56 of the 125 scored questions. It covers systemic, radiation and surgical therapy, transplant, clinical trials and symptom management.
START AOCNP PRACTICE TEST🔬 How much of the AOCNP exam is the cancer continuum?
The Cancer Continuum domain is 28% of the test, about 35 scored questions. It spans screening and prevention, hereditary risk, diagnosis and staging, survivorship and end-of-life planning.
START AOCNP PRACTICE TEST🚨 How many oncologic emergency questions are on the AOCNP?
Oncologic Emergencies make up 12% of the test, about 15 scored questions, on risk factors, assessment and interventions. Psychosocial Issues add 10% and Professional Practice and APRN Roles 5%.
START AOCNP PRACTICE TEST💲 How much does it cost to take the AOCNP exam?
ONCC lists the AOCNP test fee as $300 for ONS or APHON members and $420 for non-members. Testing outside the US, its territories or Canada adds a $75 international fee.
START AOCNP PRACTICE TEST🔁 What happens if you fail the AOCNP exam?
If you bought ONCC DoubleTake ($100, added at initial application), you can retake without paying the full fee again. You must apply for the second attempt within 180 days of the first.
START AOCNP PRACTICE TEST📅 How long do you have to take the AOCNP after applying?
Once ONCC confirms eligibility, PSI emails an Authorization to Test within about 6 weeks. The ATT is valid for 90 days, and you must schedule and sit the exam at a PSI center within that window.
START AOCNP PRACTICE TEST🩺 How many clinical hours do you need to sit for the AOCNP?
Pathway 1 needs 500 supervised hours as an adult oncology NP after an oncology-focused NP degree. Pathway 2 needs 1,000 hours with an adult, family, gerontology or women’s health NP degree, within the past 5 years.
START AOCNP PRACTICE TEST🧮 Can you bring a calculator to the AOCNP exam?
No. Personal calculators are not allowed, but a 4-function calculator is built into the test platform. You need two forms of ID, and ONCC tests use generic drug names only.
START AOCNP PRACTICE TESTSources & last verified
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation — time limit, exam fee, retake fee, delivery (official source). “ONCC test sessions are three hours, including 15 minutes for a computer-based testing tutorial before the exam and a post-test survey.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation — validity (official source). “Once you pass the test, your certification is valid for four years.” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation — registration opens (official source). “Applications for 2027 international testing are expected to open January 1, 2027.” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation — other (official source). “cancer continuum - 28%” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.
AOCNP FAQ
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- oncc.org — Score validity, registration, test delivery, fees, retake fee, score release, time limit, exam information · verified Oct 2026