The ONC Self-Assessment Examination (SAE) is a 50-item multiple choice practice examination (with 3 bonus items) developed to be parallel in content and difficulty to the actual orthopaedic nursing certification examination. The SAE should be regarded as a diagnostic tool to assess strengths and weaknesses, rather than a study guide for the examination. A score of 72% is considered passing on the ONC examination. A passing score on the SAE does not in any way guarantee a passing score on the ONC certification examination, and the utilization of this tool is not a requirement for eligibility or for success in passing the certification examination.

Questions are based on the ONCB role delineation study, a regularly updated survey of orthopaedic nurses to determine the knowledge, skills, and abilities consistently used to treat patients. The SAE and the actual ONC examination both represent a comparable sampling of questions from a pool of potential topics for the ONC examination.

The time allotted for completion of the actual 150-item examination is 3 hours; consider completing the SAE in 1 hour since it contains 1/3 of the questions.  Your individual score will remain confidential, but aggregate scores may be reviewed by the ONCB to evaluate the SAE process.

The SAE will be available online to you for a period of 48 hours from the date the order is placed.

This web test requires:

• An HTML 4.0 compatible browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator with "cookies enabled".
• An HTML capable e-mail account for delivery of instructions and feedback reports.

After you have successfully placed your web test order, you will be sent a confirming e-mail with specific instructions on where and how to take the exam.