New Cancer Registry Management Certificate Available at Oakton

Oakton Community College is offering a cancer registry management certificate starting this spring. Oakton is the only college in the state – and only of 11 in the U.S. – to offer this program.

The 26-credit-hour cancer registry management certificate is an advanced certificate for individuals who have at least 60 college credits hours, an associate degree or higher, a Registered Health Information Technical (RHIT) credential, and/or a Register Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential for a career in cancer registry management.

Quality data is crucial to combat cancer and cancer registrars are the first link in obtaining this information. Cancer registrars serve as data information specialists and most often work in state or local cancer registries and hospitals. Professionals in this field are responsible for capturing a complete history, diagnosis, treatment and health status for cancer patients in the U.S. This data offers pertinent information to health care providers, research staff and public health officials to better monitor and advance cancer treatment, conduct research and enhance cancer screening and prevention programs. Graduates of this limited enrollment program qualify to take the national Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) exam given by the National Cancer Registrar Association (NCRA).

According to the NCRA, cancer registrars with a CTR can earn more than $26.00 per hour.

“Right now there are not enough people to fill these jobs,” Oakton Health Information Technology Chair Hanna Wierzchowski notes. “This certificate includes seven courses, it’s a rigorous program that supports cancer research.”

For more information, contact Wierzchowski at 847-635-1695 or hwierzchowski@oakton.edu.