Understanding Category A vs. B
Questions about Category A and B designations? Wondering if some of your educational activities are appropriate for Category A (clinical orthopaedics) credit? ONCB provides two documents to help you with category designation. The first document provides examples of typical activities for Category A credit based on the examination content. The second document provides some tips on activities that are frequently “gray areas” in recertification, such as rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, and trauma.
Sources of Category A Content
ONCB endorses all continuing education content provided by the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON). Continuing education articles appearing in NAON’s official journal Orthopaedic Nursing carry a categorization statement on the CE page so you can determine if Category A or B credit has been approved by ONCB.
NAON Online Education
Orthopaedic Nursing Journal
Other ANCC-approved providers also offer online/home study continuing education that may be appropriate for Category A credit. Please be advised that, although ONCB does not endorse specific courses or commercial CE vendors, CE promotions may be provided periodically to certificants through ONCB’s partnership with specific vendors. Any certificant’s decision to take part in any promotion is based entirely on that individual’s perceived benefit.
Also, provider designation of any content as “orthopaedic” does not mean the activity automatically qualifies for Category A credit from ONCB. ONCB staff are happy to verify categorization and appropriateness of any program content (oncb@oncb.org, 888-561-6622).
BONEafide FREE Ortho CE
ONCB proudly offers this unique compilation of free continuing education appropriate for Category A credit toward recertification! Please download a copy for your colleagues, or share a link to this page, so they can get cost-effective help in maintaining their valued orthopaedic nursing certification.
ONCB does not have partnerships with all the approved providers included on our BONE-afide Free CE list. Thus an ONCB categorization statement will not appear on the CE certificate. However, these activities have been vetted by ONCB staff based on requirements for Category A designation. In addition, their titles all indicate clear Category A content. These activities thus will not be denied if used in Category A for recertification.
Provider |
Website |
Search Terms(to help you locate CE activities) |
| Lippincott Williams & Wilkins | http://www.nursingcenter.com/lnc/ceconnection | orthopaedics; musculoskeletal; pain management |
| Relias | https://www.nurse.com/ce/oncb-category-a-approved-for-recertification | orthopedic; pain management |
| Medscape Education | http://www.medscape.org/nurses | orthopaedic; pain management |
| MyFreeCE | http://www.myfreece.com/ | pain management; sports |
| NetCE | https://www.netce.com/ | arthritis; pain |
| Foundation for Orthopaedic Research & Education | https://foreonline.org/education/ | All live and internet courses approved for Category A credit. Content is CME (physician continuing education) |
Western Schools is a popular vendor of CE activities used by recertifying orthopaedic nurses. Courses from this vendor are accepted by ONCB, but board members caution certificants that all courses may not be eligible for complete credit in Category A. Western Schools has listed several trauma activities on its web site under “Orthopedic Courses.” The objectives for these courses have been evaluated by ONCB members, who determined partial credit in Category A could be given for any Western Schools trauma courses because they do not deal solely with musculoskeletal trauma. Remaining credit can be applied to Category B.
Through Relias, owner of Nurse.com, CE Direct (through employers), and PearlsReview.com, all ONCB-approved courses for Category A credit toward recertification are now identified in a unique list as “ONCB Category A Approved for Recertification.” This includes multiple nursing CE courses in Nurse.com as well as some chapters in Textbook Topics in PearlsReview.com. The same category exists in the CE Direct platform in several libraries,including the Nursing CE, Textbook Topics, Certification Review, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Pharmacy. Please see the CE requirements grid for more information on the accepted number of hours in allied health continuing education.
Other commercial vendors may list multiple activities under “Orthopedic Courses.” However, many meet general education requirements and are appropriate for Category B credit toward ONCB recertification.