Abstract

Objective

Integrating cancer genetics, genomics and cancer risk assessment is increasingly relevant to the care of patients and there is a need for clinicians across practice disciplines to acquire and demonstrate knowledge and clinical competency in cancer genetics and cancer risk assessment. National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC’s) certification program in Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment (CGRA) is a voluntary nationally (NCCA) accredited, examination-based certification program created to provide the assurance that healthcare providers with certification in CGRA possess the knowledge, skills and competency to provide cancer risk assessment services to patients and families. The certification has achieved recognition by national accrediting organizations (National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers/Commission on Cancer) and payor policies. NCBC’s CGRA certification was developed by a multidisciplinary committee of dedicated breast care, oncology, and cancer genetics professionals and approved by NCBC’s board of trustees. Testing first became available in May 2020 with testing opportunities provided throughout the year. Testing options include both remote and in-person examination. The target audiences for certification are physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses and other skilled health care practitioners who care for at-risk unaffected and affected patients and their families. Here we describe demographics and outcomes from the first six years of certification examination availability.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective cohort of CGRA examination takers was collected from May 2020 (initial examination availability) through December 2025. Analyzed data includes total number of examination takers, pass/fail rates, and professional background and practice setting of the passing cohort. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

Results

2020−2025

Total number of CGRA examination takers: 235

Total number (percent) passed: 207/235 (88.1%); failed: 28/235 (11.9%)

Professional background of CGRA certificants

APRN - 109/207 (52.7%)

RN - 37/207 (17.9%)

PA - 30/207 (14.5%)

MD - 26/207 (12.6%)

RT - 5/207 (2.4%)

Practice focus of CGRA certificants

Oncology - 132/207 (63.8%)

Surgery - 26/207 (12.6%)

High Risk/Genetics - 16/207 (7.7%)

Gynecology - 14/207 (6.8%)

Breast Center - 12/207 (5.8%)

Radiology - 4/207 (1.9%)

Primary Care - 1/207 (0.5%)

Other - 2/207 (<1%)

Conclusion

During the first 6 years of CGRA certification eligibility, a notable number of healthcare providers and other healthcare professionals have sought and obtained certification in CGRA through NCBC’s CGRA certification program. Seventy percent of all certificant holders have a professional background in nursing. Two-thirds of all certificant holders are advanced practice providers, including advanced practice nurses/nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Twelve percent of certificant holders are physicians and two percent comprise radiologic technologists. The most prominent practice setting for certificant holders is oncology comprising approximately two-thirds of all represented specialties, followed by surgery at approximately twelve percent. Many other specialty practice settings are represented, including the screening and preventive care spaces. ln conclusion, the CGRA certification is a sought-after credential appealing to a broad range of healthcare providers/professionals across practice disciplines allowing for a diverse patient population, both affected and unaffected, to obtain competent cancer genetic and cancer risk assessment-related care.