High School
A high school diploma or equivalent is required for all positions. High school studies should include sciences, specifically focusing on biology and health sciences, as well as classes in English, communications, and computer skills.
Postsecondary Education
Applicants with associate's or bachelor’s degrees are preferred in the hiring of cancer registrars. Postsecondary education should focus on data processing, medical terminology and coding, biology, physiology, and anatomy. Certification as a Certified Tumor Registrar requires an Associate's Degree.
Certification
The National Cancer Registrars Association provides accreditation for educational programs which prepare individuals to test for the Certified Oncology Data Specialist (formerly known as Certified Tumor Registrar) credential and maintains a list of accredited programs at its Web site at http://www.cancerregistryeducation.org.
Among the programs are certificate and associate degree programs and several Web-based programs, including one sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Other Education Or Training
On-the-job training, as well as attendance at national and state conferences and conventions, is the most common way to obtain continuing education and to stay current in the field.
- Adult Day Care Coordinators
- Business Managers
- Cardiologists
- Clinic Managers
- Clinical Data Managers
- Clinical Research Coordinators
- Community Health Program Coordinators
- Contact Tracers
- Directors of Telehealth
- Futurists
- Geriatric Care Managers
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Health Advocates
- Health Care Consultants
- Health Care Insurance Navigators
- Health Care Managers
- Health Data Analysts
- HIV/AIDS Counselors and Case Managers
- Hospitalists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Medical Ethicists
- Medical Record Technicians
- Medical Secretaries
- Medical Transcriptionists
- Nurse Managers
- Nursing Home Administrators
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Social Workers
- Transplant Coordinators