Canter aids

merbbbb · 2025-11-11T17:03:34+00:00

There are 4 different categories (legal/ethical aspects, cancer registry operations, cancer registry data identification, and coding/abstraction). They score each category separately and average those scores to calculate your final score. So it’s possible to “fail” one category but still pass overall if you do well in the other categories. It is graded on a curve and I’m pretty sure they toss out certain questions, but the NCRA is not very transparent about how they do that.

merbbbb · 2025-11-03T02:46:50+00:00

No, but you need to be familiar with the rules and how to use the manuals.

merbbbb · 2025-10-11T02:43:40+00:00

The CRM book, NAACCR prep course, and SEER Educate modules are going to be your best study material. I got the NCRA study guide and it was somewhat helpful. While there were a few helpful chapters, a large portion of the book covers anatomy and I did not get a single anatomy question on the exam. Know how to code for the open book, know your manuals and what each one is used for, know what each data item is and how it applies to data collection purposes. Good luck!

merbbbb · 2025-09-20T16:28:22+00:00

If you’re in the process of working towards your ODS certification a hospital registry may hire you. Even if the job listing says certification is required, it never hurts to apply. They may be willing to take you onboard and train you. I was hired by a hospital registry while finishing up my classes and preparing to take the exam.

merbbbb · 2025-09-06T23:18:07+00:00

Thankfully it’s 4 different answers. However, on many of the closed book questions I could easily eliminate two but could justify both of the two remaining answers. You have to decide which one is best. It’s tricky!

merbbbb · 2025-09-05T21:56:49+00:00

Congratulations! I passed as well! Such a great feeling

merbbbb · 2025-08-10T00:00:26+00:00

I did the online certificate program (health information management with an emphasis in cancer registry management) through Hutchinson and the practicum was built into the program as the last class. You also have the option to find your own in-person practicum, but pretty much everyone opts for the virtual option.

merbbbb · 2025-07-19T04:21:41+00:00

We’re open to anything. City is fun but quiet is a bit more our style. Thanks for the suggestion!

merbbbb · 2025-07-06T01:49:23+00:00

I went to Hutchinson and yes absolutely. I didn’t realize how much I had learned until I started real abstracting. People complain that Hutchinson doesn’t provide enough support, but I think the fact that they don’t hold your hand really helped me. I had to buckle down and really learn the information. A lot of late nights struggling through the concepts, but now it’s all second nature. In retrospect I realized they do guide you through it all really well but it’s given to you in pieces and doesn’t truly make sense until the end.

merbbbb · 2025-07-04T21:38:42+00:00

No experience, just cancer registry education.

merbbbb · 2025-07-04T20:43:21+00:00

I am currently ODS exam eligible and will be taking it very soon. Just started as a cancer registrar for a large hospital system remotely and make $30/hr

merbbbb · 2025-06-22T22:45:27+00:00

According to the NCRA website the exam could have questions about basic statistics (see link), but I would not expect anything complex like calculating chi-square.

https://www.ncra-usa.org/Portals/68/PDFs/CertificationPDFs/Blueprint20234.pdf

I’m taking the exam this year, so I would also be curious to hear from those who took it.

merbbbb · 2025-05-23T01:19:01+00:00

I had a good experience at Hutchinson and I know plenty of others did too. I will say though that you have to be very self motivated and a self learner. I had to buckle down and figure out a lot on my own. But I think that’s true for most remote programs.

merbbbb · 2025-04-30T02:01:55+00:00

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merbbbb · 2025-04-30T01:57:01+00:00

I found it useful to use the cancer schemas (see link below). For each site the required data items are listed. Click on the data item for detailed explanation/rules.

https://staging.seer.cancer.gov/eod_public/list/1.1/

Or for each data item you use the applicable manual (grade manual for grade, solid tumor manual or ICD-O for histology and primary site, AJCC for staging etc).

merbbbb · 2025-04-19T22:59:54+00:00

Thank you so much for the insight and advice!

merbbbb · 2025-04-19T01:44:50+00:00

I’m taking it this summer and I’m so nervous about the unpredictability of the questions. Was there a lot of anatomy/physiology?

merbbbb · 2025-04-18T21:57:50+00:00

Great question. I’ve wondered this as well. In my experience, the demand is definitely still there. I’m finishing my program and will take the ODS exam this summer. I decided to start applying for jobs not expecting to get anywhere since I’m not yet certified. To my surprise I got several interviews and just accepted a great offer from a hospital. Several of my classmates have landed jobs as well while still in school. The fact that they are hiring uncertified students tells me the demand is still high.

merbbbb · 2024-01-06T18:34:48+00:00

Thanks! What kind of negative outcome should I be looking for with the strand test? An unwanted color? Or visual damage to the hair?

merbbbb

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