Additional Information
The National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) says there is no one
clear educational pathway for this career. According to Medhuters.com, many
cancer registrars come from a background of health information science.
Although there is no specific degree required, people applying for certification
must have taken anatomy and physiology courses. The NCRA intends to implement
a minimal degree requirement for entry into the field by 2010. At that time,
anyone applying for certification will have to have a two-year associate of
science degree. The degree must include anatomy, physiology and medical terminology.
People with nursing degrees can take a certificate class to be eligible.
The American Health Information Management Association offers distance
education in this field.
The National Cancer Institute and the American College of Surgeons offer
cancer registry training. Also, some colleges and universities offer training
programs for entry-level registrars. The NCRA and state registrar associations
provide continuing education and training through seminars and conferences.
The NCRA offers voluntary certification as a Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR).
"Certification is becoming more of a requirement, though," says Mulvihill.
For example, two states require that a CTR must collect the data. In all
states, a CTR must supervise all hospital cancer registries.
"A lot of employers recognize the credential and have it as a requirement
for positions," she adds. Some employers will require the employee to be "CTR
eligible." This means they expect you to take the certification examination
as soon as possible.