| OHN Certificate: Frequently Asked Questions |
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How do I get technical assistance? Technical assistance is available through the University’s ATN department at 919-962-HELP or go to help.unc.edu to use live chat support or to submit a support request on-line. You can also go through the course faculty and teaching assistants.
We require students to take at
least one course a semester. However,
you may elect to take two or more courses a semester based on your own schedule
and availability. However, these are
demanding graduate level courses. This
program is designed for working professionals with full-time jobs and family
responsibilities, and most courses take 10-12 hours of course work per week,
per course.
All together you must take 4 courses (11-12 credit hours) to complete the OHN Certificate Program. Only 1 course is required, PHNU 781 Occupational Health Nursing I which is taught on-campus for one week, typically in August. You then select three other courses from this list that best meet your needs: Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene, Interdisciplinary Approaches to Occupational Health, Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, Occupational Toxicology, and Principles of Epidemiology.
This varies from student to student. These are demanding graduate level courses. The average number of hours per week per course is 10-12. For some courses it is more, others less.
No, as long as you remain a
continuing study student. If you choose
to take either the spring or fall semester off, you will need to submit a new
form Partial tuition and travel support may be available. Do I have to take all four courses to complete the OHN Certificate Program if I have already taken courses in the same subject, such as Industrial Hygiene? Yes. To complete the OHN Certificate Program, you
must complete four courses; at this time no courses from other sources can be
transferred into the program How long do I have to complete the OHN Certificate Program? Most people would be able to complete the program in one year. However, you have up to three years to complete it.
Each course consists of a mix of readings, group assignments through a discussion forum, individual assignments, and audio/visual tutorials (lectures). You have the flexibility to listen to lectures and do course work at your convenience as long as deadlines for course assignments are met. You do not have to be on-line at a certain time. Some courses may have a chat session held “live.” Will I be able to ask questions? All courses have faculty and/or
teaching assistants who are very accessible via email or phone Do students have access to on-line library materials? The UNC-Chapel Hill Libraries license
and provide access to many electronic databases and journals for the use of
UNC-Chapel Hill faculty, staff, and students.
Most electronic resources are accessible both on-campus and from
off-campus locations. The resources are
accessible from on-campus computers without a login and password Will the OHN Certificate be listed on my transcript? Yes. After you complete the program, your
transcript will indicate not just your completed course work, but also that you
have earned this Certificate. Completing
the OHN Certificate represents a significant amount of work and 11 or 12 hours
of graduate credit. It is an impressive
accomplishment of which you should be very proud. We are pleased that UNC will similarly
acknowledge your accomplishment on your transcripts What if I want to apply for the MPH degree offered by the Occupational Health Nursing Program after I finish the OHN Certificate Program? What do I need to do? By completing the OHN Certificate Program, you have already received 11 or 12 credits hours which are part of the requirements for the OHN Concentration MPH degree. You would need to apply to the Graduate School by completing the Graduate School Application ONLINE. Please contact Judy Ostendorf (judy_ostendorf@unc.edu) or Bonnie Rogers (rogersb@email.unc.edu) with any questions, or check the Student Handbook.
For further information from the Graduate School regarding applications, click here. The Graduate School also has information regarding North Carolina Residency. If you have specific questions regarding residency, you can email Trish Bunn (tbunn@unc.edu). How does the OHN Certificate Program relate to certification in occupational health nursing? The OHN Certificate Program and
OHN Certification (COHN or COHN-S) through the American Board for Occupational
Health Nursing (ABOHN) are separate. They
are not the same. The OHN Certificate
Program gives you academic credit for graduate level courses. The Certificate results from an educational
process awarded by an educational program or institution. After completing the certificate program, the
individual demonstrates knowledge of course content in occupational health
nursing. After you complete the
coursework, you receive a certificate of completion which can be proudly
displayed. Certification, granted by ABOHN, indicates that you have successfully passed a challenging national examination, after meeting eligibility criteria, designed to test for advanced knowledge in clinical care, management, employee education, case management, and safety. Certification refers to an earned credential that demonstrates specialized knowledge, skills, and experience, awarded by a standard setting organization. Ongoing requirements, such as continuing education credits, experience, etc. are necessary to maintain the credential. You would be able to use the credits earned in the OHN Certificate Program to help meet the continuing education requirements as part of the qualification process for ABOHN certification. I completed the OHN Certificate Program. Can I put some credentials (initials) after my name indicating the training? The short answer is no. UNC does not confer a degree on graduates from Certificate Programs, but rather a Certificate in Occupational Health Nursing. You should put this on your resume/CV as part of your education and training, since it is a program you have completed and training/expertise you’ve developed. In general, credentials or initials after one’s name are reserved for nationally recognized and standardized academic programs. Nationally, certificate programs vary widely in the type of training, number of credit hours, whether graduate credit is offered, etc. Therefore, there are no universally recognized and acceptable initials which are appropriate to signify the completion of a certificate program, at this time. I’m already certified as an occupational health nurse (COHN or COHN-S). What are the advantages of completing the OHN Certificate Program? You would obtain formal academic credit and advanced knowledge at the graduate level in occupational health nursing. If you were considering obtaining a MPH degree in occupational health nursing at UNC, the credits earned through the OHN Certificate Program would apply to the total number of required credits for the degree. In addition, other universities will most likely accept some or all of these credits. Why aren’t all the courses offered on-line? I’m concerned about the required course offered on-campus and the related cost. Students in the OHN Certificate Program take PHNU 781 in conjunction with students enrolled in the MPH and MS degree programs in Occupational Health Nursing. Faculty have condensed everything into one week in August (starting and ending mid-week), including worksite tours which cannot be done on-line. While some assignments are completed while on campus, other coursework extends throughout the Fall Semester as this is a semester long course. Faculty identify housing arrangements at a reasonable cost so students can select an option that best meets their needs and budget depending on where you stay. In addition, travel assistance may be available. A car may be necessary for travel to class and worksite tours. |
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| Last updated March 06, 2008 |
