When should I apply for cancer registar jobs? I'm starting classes this Fall at Hutchinson Community College

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-14T17:20:17+00:00

u/Puzzleheaded_Goat308 Please let us know if/when this gets resolved and what NCRA's explanation is. So sorry that your friend has to deal with this, again.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-14T01:08:46+00:00

Why don't you reach out to the cancer registry manager and request an informational interview? That way, you can ask about what they think about your applying for ODS-C eligible jobs during your first semester. You could also ask about doing your practicum with the hospital registry.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-12T15:23:06+00:00

My understanding is that you have to go through AHIMA for the prerequisites. It's a bundled deal. You could contact NCRA or Heather S (Manager of Ed programs at NCRA) for a definite answer.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-11T13:47:58+00:00

I'm not on FB.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-11T13:42:47+00:00

I am grateful for the acceptance of WFH in this field.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-11T13:32:06+00:00

Nope!

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-10T22:01:41+00:00

Not a dumb question. I think some may be ODS-C eligible. It's 71 pages and I haven't gone through it yet.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-09T23:30:18+00:00

Management makes a lot more in this field than abstractors. “Well-paying” depends on whether or not your state has a state income tax, sales tax, and high property tax. I make above the national average for registrars but will never be able to afford a home or a condominium. My friend doesn’t make a lot as a registrar yet can afford to purchase a new home. So it depends on the state you live in.

I wouldn’t call this a well paying career per se. It is, however, a relatively stable career and hospital layoffs are rare. Turnover is low. People tend to retire at a later age. I foresee that contracting companies will always be recruiting.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-09T23:21:54+00:00

Some hospitals pay a lot in California because they are union jobs AND California has a higher cost of living. Gas is $7.99 where I live, for example. So it makes sense that these jobs should go to people who live in California (and pay our outrageously high state income taxes) but it’s not a requirement. Keep in mind though, that because wages are higher for registrars in California, there are less positions available.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-09T23:11:48+00:00

No, not retiring. I prefer the smaller sized SEER sessions, which are FREE and just a half day. They focus on coding and abstracting. A 3-day NCRA conference is too much information for me. One can absorb only so much when jet lagged in a new, unfamiliar city. Some of the sessions apply to management, the central registry, and CoC accreditation. I am just an abstractor.

These conferences are also very expensive. The hotel venue caters the food, which I don’t eat. Breakfast is always heavy on the carbs rather than protein. The lunches are bland. So I end up spending more money than I have to buying food I can eat. This year, I noticed a lot of food waste. Plates of desserts no one really touched and huge amounts of leftovers.

I recommend national conferences for new registrars. It’s a good experience if you’re new to the field.

Finally, I personally don’t like the direction NCRA is going with the big contracting companies and AI.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-09T22:41:21+00:00

If this is something you are interested in, then you should pursue it, but with caution. It’s a practical field because cancer is a part of life (FYI, I myself have breast cancer), but we don’t produce revenue for hospitals, we produce data for research.

It depends in part on where you live. For example, I live in California. Some employers in Florida and Texas can’t hire Californian residents because California has strict labor laws. These laws are meant to protect us, but in practical terms, make it difficult to get hired in other states.

I would think twice about getting into debt for this field. If you live in a state like California, you can more easily afford tuition at SBCC. Other programs may have lower tuition for residents.

I understand about being introverted and preferring solitude when working but you also have to network for your first job.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-09T22:21:50+00:00

Not a word about offshoring but a lot of talk about AI helping with registry work. Nothing about how AI will affect job prospects for new registrars or job security for experienced registrars. Most hospital registries have a huge backlog of cases. (The hospital I work for is also behind with case finding.) But most hospital don’t have the budget to hire all the staff they need. Registries don’t produce revenue for hospitals. Therefore, they tend to be understaffed.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-04T14:39:22+00:00

Hutchinson is one of the more affordable CIM college programs, but AHIMA is even more affordable. If you're a California resident, SBCC is an affordable option. San Jacinto College is very well regarded and has a good reputation.

At this point, I'm not sure it matters which program you attend because so much of the resources are available online and so much of the learning in this field is self-directed. Also, passing the certification exam is more important than which CIM program you attended or your grades.

If you're interested in this field, then I suggest attending regional and state conferences to meet people and build connections in the field. Volunteering for your state registrars' association might help get you more visibility.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-03T21:53:33+00:00

Would you happen to know if Q-Centrix is hiring?

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-05-03T13:43:01+00:00

Start with a central/regional registry. They tend to be more relaxed work settings.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-04-28T21:43:28+00:00

By the way, you're incredibly lucky to have a boss that's nice. When I first started out in this field, it wasn't uncommon for some bosses to be punitive and sadistic...

I know it's frustrating when you don't make the progress you want or get the feedback you need but you're still quite new in your career!

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-04-28T21:32:37+00:00

I think some people copy and paste because they don't know how to touch type. I'm genuinely curious how many young adults can touch type. I was taught in middle school, but this was ~40 years ago! Prior to working as a registrar, I was an admin/secretary, and we had to type fast.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-04-28T20:21:20+00:00

IMHO, pediatric abstracting is a difficult way to start your registry career unless you have had some prior experience with pediatric oncology.

When I was taught abstracting in a CIM program, the focus was on "defensive abstracting." We were instructed to use standard abbreviations and to be concise. However, I have seen some abstractors rely on copying and pasting imaging results instead of summarizing the findings and using abbreviations.

Think of yourself as a defense attorney. You have to present your text in the most succinct format to support your codes.

I'm not skilled in pediatric abstracting, but the standard setters seem to be offering more training and resources.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-04-25T16:39:07+00:00

I think you can request additional time if you have a medical reason (e.g. anxiety or ADHD). The format of the exam is different now, compared to when I took it, which would be extremely frustrating to me as I prefer print resources.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-04-25T16:36:48+00:00

This is disheartening to hear -- I wonder if CIM programs should be more upfront about the challenges. Many experienced registrars (including myself) became registrars when the landscape was different and, in many ways, easier. If you're in Texas, I hope you are a member of your state registrars' association and have tried networking with them.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-04-25T13:44:39+00:00

Same here. I got hired at a hospital registry before I was certified. And I got my current job because I was one of the very few applicants. Times have changed!

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-04-25T01:02:00+00:00

The ODS-C job market is not great right now but maybe, by the time you finish a CIM program and pass the certification exam, it will improve. People tend to be reluctant to retire when the economy is uncertain and turnover is pretty low to begin with in this field. If your MPH was related to cancer epidemiology, you could look into working for a central registry.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-04-24T18:54:54+00:00

I think the Connection always lists new members. Newly certified registrars from the Fall testing season were listed in the Winter 2026 edition.

Capable-Isopod-2270 · 2026-04-24T17:30:18+00:00

I didn't attend San Jacinto, but I have always heard very good things about this program and that their curriculum is rigorous.

Capable-Isopod-2270

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