The American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) administers the Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) examination, which is given to nursing candidates who wish to be qualified as occupational health nurses.
Click “Start Test” above to take a free COHN practice test, and check out our premium-quality COHN test prep resources by clicking the links below!
Exam Eligibility
To be eligible for the COHN exam, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must hold a current, active RN license in the US
- You must have accrued at least 3,000 hours of occupational health nursing practice within the last five years
COHN Exam Outline
The Certified Occupational Health Nurse exam contains 160 multiple-choice questions, 25 of which are unscored, and you will be given a time limit of 3 hours. The unscored questions are used to evaluate questions on future versions of the exam, and you will not know which questions are score or unscored when taking the exam.
The test material uses the Occupational Health Nurse’s (OHN’s) four process steps or methods used in the care of a patient that must be applied.
- Assessment is the process of collecting data, verifying the data, and communicating the data gathered to the patient in a way that they understand.
- Planning involves the process of establishing the desired outcome for the patient by designing strategies that will achieve those outcomes upon completion.
- Implementation is the process of initiating the correct nursing actions to accomplish a specific outcome.
- Evaluation is the process of measuring the way a patient responds to treatments, including medications they are taking and other nursing actions.
Exam Contents
The contents of the exam cover OHN roles as they pertain to the following three major categories:
Clinical Practice (42 scored questions)
- Work-related injuries and illnesses
- Non-work-related injuries and illnesses
- Nursing standards of care
- Nurse practice laws and regulations
- Clinical care counseling and education
- Infection control standards of care protocols
- Cultural competence and considerations
- Medical documentation
Case Management (30 scored questions)
- Fit for duty
- Case management counselling and education
- Disability case management
- Workers compensation
- Return to work
- Restricted/modified duties and accommodations
- Referrals and resources
2. Risk and Compliance (40 scored questions)
Risk Management and Prevention (20 scored questions)
- Worker, worker population, and workplace settings assessments
- Worker job requirements
- Ergonomics and work design
- Environmental health and industrial hygiene
- Disaster panning and emerging health issues
Compliance (20 scored questions)
- Ethical, legal, and regulatory compliance
- Occupational health surveillance programs
- Drug and alcohol programs
3. Program Management and Quality Assurance (23 scored questions)
- Health, safety, and workplace education and training programs
- Worker/Employee assistance programs
- Wellness and health promotion programs
- Surveillance/Regulatory compliance testing programs
- Stakeholder education and collaboration
Check Out Mometrix's COHN Study Guide
Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons
Get Your Study Guide
Registration
To register for the exam, you must submit an application via the ABOHN website. Your application must include any necessary eligibility documentation and the nonrefundable $150 application fee.
Once your application is approved, you must schedule your examination appointment and pay the nonrefundable $400 examination fee within 90 days.
If you cannot take your examination within 120 days of paying your examination fee, you can apply for an extension, which costs $50. If approved, the extension will be for 60 days. You can only apply for an extension one time.
Test Day
On the day of your exam, you should arrive at the PSI testing center about 15-30 minutes early. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will not be admitted, and your test will be canceled. Refunds are not provided for individuals who do not make their scheduled exam appointment.
Before the exam begins, you must secure any personal items in a provided locker. A pencil and a sheet of paper are provided, so there is no need to bring those items with you to the testing center.
During the exam, you can take a break whenever you need to, but the timer will keep going during your break.
How the Exam is Scored
The passing score does vary, but generally, you will need to get 71% of the questions correct to earn a passing score for the examination. That means you need to answer at least 96 questions correctly.
If you do not know an answer, you are allowed to skip the question and come back to it at the end of the test. If an answer is left blank, that question is considered to be answered incorrectly.
Receiving Your Score
The score you earn will be mailed to you within 8 to 12 weeks following the examination. Scores will NOT be reported in any way other than a written examination delivered by mail.
Retaking the Exam
If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, you can apply to retake the examination as soon as you would like. You must submit a new application and pay the applicable fees for each retake.
Check Out Mometrix's COHN Flashcards
Get complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts
Get Your Flashcards
FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the COHN exam?
A
There are 160 multiple-choice questions on the exam.
Q
How long is the COHN exam?
A
The time limit for the exam is 3 hours.
Q
What is the passing score for the COHN exam?
A
There is not set passing score, but you should aim to answer at least 71% of the questions correctly.
Q
How much does the COHN exam cost?
A
The application fee is $150, and, the examination fee is $400.
