Cancer Registry

Cancer registry involves studying how to collect, manage, and analyze data on cancer cases. This includes tracking patient demographics, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes to identify trends and improve healthcare. Students in this field learn about data management, public health, epidemiology, and cancer research. Cancer registry professionals support cancer prevention, clinical trials, and healthcare policy, playing a key role in improving cancer care and guiding healthcare decisions.

NCRA-CAHIIM Press Release

Cancer Registry Accreditation

ODS Eligibility Routes

Students graduating from a CAHIIM-accredited Cancer Registry Management certificate program may qualify for the Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) credential via Route A – Path 2.

Step 1: Education

Students are required to hold, at minimum, an Associate’s Degree in any field or equivalent (60 college-level credits) and to have completed the CAHIIM-accredited certificate program in Cancer Registry Management.

Step 2: Practicum

Upon completion of their coursework, students are eligible to participate in the NCRA-Accredited practicum. Successful completion of the practicum requires passing all core competency assessments.

Step 3: ODS exam

Successful completion of steps 1 and 2 renders students eligible for the ODS credential application. Upon achieving a passing score on the examination, they will be awarded the ODS credential.

Initial Accreditation

Introduction

Prior to the application process, a sponsoring institution must develop a program that meets the professional curriculum content and quality of the program as measured by the Cancer Registry Accreditation Standards and Program administrators must ensure that the program is sustainable per its resource and needs assessment. The program must be developed to ensure stability professionally and financially.

Candidacy Status Application Process

Conditions for Pre-Application

Note: Programs applying for initial accreditation do not have to wait until they have a graduating class to apply.

Timing: Program assesses readiness for application for accreditation.

The following requirements must be met or completed during this stage in development and when submitting an application:

Program Director: Have hired a permanent Program Director that meets the minimum qualifications in the Standards for a Program Director. The position must be full time throughout the application process.

Applicant Program Campus: The program and campus applying for accreditation must award the degree which includes online applicant campuses.

Other campus institutional requirements: The sponsoring institution is accredited by a regional or national accrediting institutional organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) to offer a degree or the sponsoring institution accredited by a national accreditor with USDE provisions their Grant for Accreditation for establishing eligibility to participate in Title IV programs. Upon request, the applying campus program must provide the OPEID number assigned by the U.S. Department of Education as proof of participation for financial aid. State Board of Education approvals must also be completed.

Step 1. Letter of Intent & Credentialing Disclaimer

Once the program verifies that it meets the minimum requirements for application and has begun enrollments, the program’s President / CEO submits the letter of intent describing its readiness to pursue accreditation.

Content Description:

Describe support for the program.
State reasons for the program inception or program need.
Confirm state and institutional authority to provide the degree granting program.
Indicate the month and year of the program launch.
Indicate projected month and year of first graduation class.

Credentialing Disclaimer

In addition to the Letter of Intent, programs must sign the Credentialing Disclaimer statement found here. The document must be signed by someone with signing authority at the institution.

Letters of Intent and the signed credentialing disclaimer can be submitted by selecting the button below.

Complete Step 1

Step 2: Program Submits Application

Programs will be invoiced an application fee when submitting their application for accreditation, prior to acceptance into candidacy. Please refer to the Fee Schedule for up-to-date information about fees. When applying for CAHIIM accreditation, there are six (6) required documents that must be completed prior to the submission to CAHIIM:

1. CAHIIM Curriculum Mapping Document
– Complete and upload the CAHIIM Curriculum Mapping document found here.

2. Syllabi (2)
– Submit a sample syllabus for a core Health Science course from the final phase of the program.
– Submit the syllabus for their required applied experiential learning.

4. Curriculum Vitae (CV) for the Program Director
– Submitted CV must be up-to-date.

5. Curriculum Vitae for the Faculty Members
– Faculty member(s) must be teaching in the program. Submitted CVs must be up-to-date.

6. Profile Page
– The profile page is a document which provides CAHIIM with all contact information for the program.
– The blank, fillable document can be downloaded here.

Step 3: Application Reviewed for Candidacy Eligibility

The application will be reviewed upon receipt of all application requirements by CAHIIM staff. An assessment will be provided within 90 days of receipt of application. Program may be requested to provide additional information or clarification.

CAHIIM senior staff reserves the right to make final administrative decisions of a program’s application status with CAHIIM.

Step 4: Candidacy Status Granted

Denied: An application may be rejected if it does not meet the conditions for application or there are documented issues of non compliance with the Standards at anytime.

Accepted: If program is accepted into Candidacy Status, an EPC code & Self-Assessment due date is assigned and the Candidacy status fee is invoiced.

CAHIIM Candidacy Status Description – An application stage while the Candidate program is allowed to complete the Self Assessment information and documentation in the online system.

An applicant program allowed into Candidacy Status is:

1. Assigned a CAHIIM Educational Program Code (EPC)

2. Assigned a Self Assessment Due Date (1 year from date of when Candidacy Status was achieved)

3. Assigned a Candidacy Status expiration date (2 years from date of when Candidacy Status was achieved)

4. Sent Invoice for the Candidacy Status Fee

Expiration of Candidacy Status

This status will be terminated if it is found that the Requirements for Candidacy have not been maintained at any time or the maximum 2-year period has elapsed. If the program has been informed of this action, the program must reapply by submitting a new Application for Candidacy.

Step 5: Program Submits Self-Assessment

The program’s Self-Assessment is due by the date provided in the Candidacy Status notification letter or a late fee is assessed. We encourage early Self-Assessment submissions.

Step 6: Self-Assessment Reviewed

A formal staff review and assessment of the information submitted. CAHIIM’s preliminary assessment will be provided within 90 days. A request for clarification or additional information may be requested and is reviewed by CAHIIM quality education staff in the order received. The program’s site visit date is coordinated during this time.

Step 7: Site Visit Conducted

The site visit of the program verifies the accuracy of documentation submitted by the program. The site visit team will meet with program officials to seek conformity with the CAHIIM Accreditation Standards. After the site visit is concluded the site visit team will complete a Site Visit Report that is generated within 10 days of the conclusion of the visit.

The program is invoiced the Site Visit Fee once the program approves the site visit team.

The following documents will be provided for this stage:
1. Site Visit Checklist
2. Site Visit Itinerary Template

Step 8: Program’s Response to Site Visit Report

A formal response to the site visit results is requested from the program director within 30 days.

Step 9: Accreditation Council Review

The CAHIIM accreditation council reviews program’s response to the site visit report to verify compliance with the CAHIIM Accreditation Standards. The Council makes a recommendation motion for the program’s accreditation status. Any program may be awarded a six (6) month Progress Report to be submitted if there exists Standard deficiencies that remain that require time for implementation. This information will be required to be completed in the CAHIIM Accreditation System by the CAHIIM specified due date.

Step 10: Board of Directors Review

The CAHIIM Board of Directors reviews the recommendation motion presented by the Council and makes the final vote on the program’s accreditation status. The program is notified of decision within 10 days.

Step 11: Progress Report

In order to maintain accreditation status the program must submit a six (6) month progress report that satisfies the remaining Standard deficiencies that resulted from the review process.

The Board Report will reflect the current Not Met or Partial Met Standard deficiencies that require the institution’s attention and provides guidelines for resolution and evidence of implementation in order to achieve full compliance for the program.

Failure to submit this report by the due date may place the program on Administrative Probationary Accreditation. An unsatisfactory progress report or a Substantive Change in Program Director during the progress report process may result in a Focused Review and site visit of the program.

Situations that Adversely Affect the Application Process

Change in Program Director: A change in program director is prohibited during the application process and will lead to removal of Candidate Status and application rejected if the Self Assessment stage has already been submitted.

A stable program with no deficiencies may appoint a new permanent program director that is a full time faculty person that meets the qualifications of Program Director in the Standards. The new program director candidate must have been employed and have had involvement in the program for a minimum of 12 months.

Curriculum Requirements

Cancer Registry Curriculum

Programs will be evaluated against the NCRA curriculum requirements.

Standards

Cancer Registry Accreditation Standards

Website Requirements

Website Publication Requirements

Public Disclosure Policy (see CAHIIM Accreditation Manual)

CAHIIM Accreditation Standards require that all accredited programs make available to the public

Their location and accreditation status.
Admissions policies and procedures.
Policies on advanced placement, transfer of credits, and credits for experiential learning.
Number of credits required for completion of the program.
Tuition/fees and other costs required to complete the program.
Policies and procedures for withdrawal and for refunds of tuition/fees.
Academic calendar.
Student grievance procedure.
Criteria for successful completion of each segment of the curriculum and graduation.

The program and its sponsoring educational institution must accurately represent this information and ensure that the information is published and accessible to all applicants and enrolled students.

Programs accredited by CAHIIM must also use the prescribed CAHIIM Accreditation Statement in all materials and online resources that refer to the program’s accreditation status:

The (HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT/HEALTH INFORMATICS) accreditor of [COLLEGE NAME] is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for [ASSOCIATE/BACCALAUREATE/MASTER] degree in (HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT/HEALTH INFORMATICS) has been reaffirmed through [YEAR OF NEXT ACCREDITATON CYCLE]. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org. The Accreditation Statement must also include the CAHIIM Seal graphic in the form provided by CAHIIM.

The CAHIIM Seal is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The Seal is for accredited program use only and is to be used for announcements and published statements of accredited status. Use by programs in Candidacy status or non-accredited status is prohibited. It must be used in its entirety and not modified other than in size. Use of any other CAHIIM logo is prohibited. Use of the seal must be in conjunction with the required Accreditation Statement for Maintaining Accreditation. Accredited programs must document the specific recognized campus in all published media. The Seal is available for all accredited programs in the “Resources” tab of the Annual Program Assessment Report (APAR) system. The login permission for the program director in the system allows the Program Directors to access the information. For CAHIIM-accredited programs, the Seal is available in the following formats: png, tif, eps, jpg.

Program and Student Outcome Data

On an annual basis, the program must post the previous year’s program graduation and employment rate, as well as at least one (1) of the following:
i. retention rate
ii. academic transfer
iii. graduate school entry
iv. 4-year undergraduate program entry/ Academic progression rate
v. student satisfaction rate
vi. certification exam pass rate (if applicable)

Outcome data must be as recent as the academic year reported in the most recent Annual Performance and Accountability Report (APAR). The data must specify the year it represents and be posted within one click of the program’s landing page.

Noncompliance

Yearly, CAHIIM conducts a review of all active accredited programs to confirm compliance with the Public Disclosure policy. If the program is noncompliant with the policy, it is granted 14 days to come into compliance without incurring an administrative fee. If the program remains noncompliant after 14 days, an administrative fee will be charged in accordance with the fee schedule.

If, after 65 days, the program’s website remains noncompliant or incomplete, the program is referred to the programmatic Council for deliberation, who may recommend a written report demonstrating corrective actions, or place the program on show cause for pending accreditation actions.

Definitions

CAHIIM does not require programs to use the following definitions, as these will not be applicable to all programs. If a program’s institution defines a particular rate in a different way, the program may use their institutional definition. The following definitions serve as examples.

Graduation rate – the percentage of a school’s first-time, first-year undergraduate students who complete their program within 150% of the published time for the program. For example, for a four-year degree program, entering students who complete within six years are counted as graduates (Definition from FAFSA). This cannot simply be a total number of graduates; it must be a rate.

Employment rate – the percentage of graduates from a program who are employed within a specified time frame. Program must specify the time frame (Ex. Within 6 months of graduation). Generally, graduates pursuing further education are not included in the total. For example: A program with 4 graduates, where 2 gained employment and 2 entered a graduate program would report a 100% (2/2) employment rate. Programs may choose to differentiate employment rate within a related field (healthcare) from the overall employment rate.

Retention rate – the percentage of a school’s first-time, first-year undergraduate students who continue at that school the next year. For example, a student who studies full-time in the fall semester and keeps on studying in the program in the next fall semester is counted in this rate (Definition from FAFSA).

Academic transfer – the percentage of a school’s first-time, first-year undergraduate students who transfer to another college within 150% of the published time for the program. For example, a student who is in a four-year degree program is counted as a transfer if the student goes to another college within six years (Definition from FAFSA).

Graduate school entry rate/4-yr undergraduate program entry – the percentage of a school’s graduates who enter a graduate program upon completion of the program.

4-year undergraduate program entry rate/Academic progression rate – the percentage of a school’s graduates who progress to a 4-year undergraduate program upon completion.

Student satisfaction rate – the percentage of students who have acknowledged satisfaction with their educational experience in the program, based on a student satisfaction survey.

Certification exam pass rate – the percentage of students who tested and passed the applicable certification exam for the program. For example, the pass rate for RHIT (Associate HIM programs) or RHIA (Baccalaureate HIM programs). NOTE: There is currently no applicable certification exam for Health Informatics programs.

Development & Consultation Service

CAHIIM offers assistance and advising service for programs who are in various stages of development and implementation. Paid services are available in developing accreditation and compliance activities toward program improvement.

Schedule a Consultation

Learn more

two well-dressed men sitting outside; one is consulting the other one and showing them something on a tablet computer or smartphone

CAHIIM Accreditation Manual

For more information about CAHIIM’s Standards revision process, refer to CAHIIM Accreditation Manual.

CAHIIM Accreditation Manual

Credentialing Disclaimer

CAHIIM accredits programs in Health Information Management, Health Informatics, Health Sciences, Digital Health, and various other disciplines. Once granted, CAHIIM accreditation will not guarantee or otherwise ensure student eligibility for credentialing examinations. All such matters are determined solely by credential-granting organizations. Consequently, any detrimental or other reliance to the contrary shall not be the responsibility of CAHIIM or its representatives, and it therefore will not owe any resulting liability to the School or its students.