Eligibility Routes and Requirements
Eligibility Routes Checklist
Cancer Registry Definition
Eligibility Requests
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to take the CTR exam, candidates must meet education and experience requirements. The routes (A1, A2 and B) are detailed below.
Route A. Experience:
Successful completion of 160 hours of work practicum in
a CTR-staffed Cancer Registry (may be part of a NCRA-approved program
curriculum).
AND
Education Path 1a): Successful completion of an NCRA-Accredited any Associate Degree Program
OR
Education Path 2a): Successful completion of an NCRA-Accredited Certificate Program
PLUS
successful completion of a minimum of an Associate’s degree or equivalent
(60 college-level credits).
Route B. Experience:
1,950 hours (equal to one year full-time) experience in the Cancer Registry field
AND Education: Successful completion of a minimum of any Associate
degree or equivalent [60 college-level credits] INCLUDING or IN ADDITION
TO SPECIFIC COURSEWORK:
Two semesters of 'Human Anatomy and Human Physiology' (PDF) or equivalent. (Grade of C or better is required).

Eligibility Routes (checklist)
Via Route A – Path A1: |
 |
Education minimum (any Associate Degree or equivalent – 60 college-level credits) |
 | Completion of an NCRA-Accredited Formal Education DEGREE Program |
 | 160-hour practicum in a CTR-staffed cancer registry
|
Via Route A – Path A2: |
 | Education minimum (any Associate Degree or equivalent – 60 college-level credits) |
 | Completion of an NCRA-Accredited Formal Education CERTIFICATE Program |
 | 160-hour practicum in a CTR-staffed cancer registry |
Via Route B |
 | Education minimum (any Associate Degree or equivalent – 60 college-level credits) |
 |
Coursework of 2 semesters of ‘Human Anatomy & Physiology’ or equivalent |
 | 1950 hours (equivalent to one year full-time) experience in the Cancer Registry field |
Cancer Registry Definition
For eligibility purposes, the Council on Certification-approved definition
is: the cancer registry field consists of individuals working in or
supervising cancer registry and organizations or companies that actively
support cancer registration. Cancer registration involves collection, management and analysis of cancer
incidence data for all of the following purposes:
- research,
- quality management/improvement,
- cancer program development,
- cancer prevention and surveillance,
- survival and outcome data,
- compliance of reporting standards,
- development of accreditation standards for Cancer Registration
A well-prepared candidate's experience within the last five years should include all basic aspects of a Cancer Registry, including but not limited to casefinding, abstracting, follow-up, reporting, cancer committee, cancer conference, state and/or NCDB submissions.

Eligibility Review Requests
Need your individual eligibility to be reviewed? Complete
this request form (PDF 164KB). Please complete this form in its entirety
to submit your eligibility request. Please allow 6-8 weeks to process.
View the Eligibility Route Flowchart (PDF).

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