Occupational Health Nurse
Occupational Health Nurse Role
Occupational health nurses (OHN) engage in case management, counseling and crisis intervention, health promotion and risk reduction, legal and regulatory compliance, and worker and workplace hazard detection, according to the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN). Registered nurses and nurse practitioners within an OHN role earn certifications from the American Board for Occupational Health Nursing (ABOHN).
OHNs may embody a number of roles:
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Earn an MSN online from Simmons University. The programs combine live classes, engaging coursework, and hands-on clinical experiences to help you advance your career as an NP. Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP — and prepare to raise the standard of patient care. Explore Nursing@Simmons programs for RNs who hold a BSN or bachelor’s degree.
- Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP
- Complete in as few as 24 months
- Full-time and part-time tracks available
Master of Science in Nursing
Nursing@Georgetown enables RNs to earn their MS in Nursing online from Georgetown University. Through a research-based curriculum and hands-on clinical experiences, the program prepares students to pursue certification in an APRN specialty area and provide specialized care for patients in their communities. BSN required.
- Earn your MS in Nursing in as few as 23 months
- Choose from one of four APRN specialty areas: AG-ACNP, FNP, NM/WHNP, or WHNP
- Gain hands-on clinical experience in evidence-based practice
Master of Science in Nursing
Earn an M.S. in Nursing online at the Wegmans School of Nursing. Bachelor’s in nursing and RN license-required. The online pathway combines live classes, 600 hours of clinical rotations, and on-campus immersions to prepare you to pursue NP licensure in one of four specialties: PCFNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, or AGPCNP.
- Part-time and accelerated tracks available
- Four program options: PCFNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP
- Clinician
- Manager
- Case Manager
- Coordinator
- Corporate Director
- Consultant
- Educator
- Health Promotion Specialist
- Nurse Practitioner
Occupational health nurses are competent in the following areas, as defined by the ABOHN’s Occupational Health Nursing Professional publication:
- Clinical Practice
- Work Force, Workplace, and the Environment
- Health and Safety Education and Training
- Case Management
- Management, Business and Leadership
- Research
- Regulator/Legislative
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Professionalism
Occupational Health Nurse Scope of Practice
According to the ABOHN’s Occupational Health Nursing Professional publication, registered nurses in occupational health may work to observe and assess a worker’s health status with respect to their job role. From this, occupational health nurses can recognize and prevent health effects from hazardous exposure. OHN nurse practitioners treat physical and mental conditions as well as provide diagnoses and recommendations for chronic diseases within their scope.
OHNs may engage in evaluation of interactions between employees and their workplace, provide treatment for work-related injuries, maintain Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-required logs, manage worker’s compensation cases, and conduct health surveillance of employees for specific hazards.
Here is a step-by-step guide to becoming a Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) or Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist (COHN-S).
All occupational health nurses are at least a registered nurse. Be sure to check with your state of practice to review requirements for RN licensure. These typically include the passing score of the NCLEX-RN exam.
In order to apply for a certification in occupational health nursing from the ABOHN, RNs must have earned clinical hours of experience.
The ABOHN offers two pathways for certification. Learn more below.
Occupational Health Nurse Certification
American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN)
Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) / Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S)
COHN Eligibility: Current and active RN license with 3,000 hours in occupational health nursing earned within the last five years. OR time in a graduate program related to occupational health or a completed bachelor degree in a program related to occupational health.
Exam Fee: $400
COHN-S Eligibility: Current and active RN license with 3,000 hours in occupational health nursing earned within the last five years and a bachelor degree or higher [does not have to be in nursing]. OR time in a graduate program related to occupational health or a completed bachelor degree in a program related to occupational health.
Exam Fee: $400
Information about the ABOHN certifications was last retrieved on March 2020. For the most up-to-date information, visit the ABOHN’s website.
State Nursing Certification Information
Select your state
- Alabama (AL)
- Alaska (AK)
- Arizona (AZ)
- Arkansas (AR)
- California (CA)
- Colorado (CO)
- Connecticut (CT)
- Delaware (DE)
- Florida (FL)
- Georgia (GA)
- Hawaii (HI)
- Idaho (ID)
- Illinois (IL)
- Indiana (IN)
- Iowa (IA)
- Kansas (KS)
- Kentucky (KY)
- Louisiana (LA)
- Maine (ME)
- Maryland (MD)
- Massachusetts (MA)
- Michigan (MI)
- Minnesota (MN)
- Mississippi (MS)
- Missouri (MO)
- Montana (MT)
- Nebraska (NE)
- Nevada (NV)
- New Hampshire (NH)
- New Jersey (NJ)
- New Mexico (NM)
- New York (NY)
- North Carolina (NC)
- North Dakota (ND)
- Ohio (OH)
- Oklahoma (OK)
- Oregon (OR)
- Pennsylvania (PA)
- Rhode Island (RI)
- South Carolina (SC)
- South Dakota (SD)
- Tennessee (TN)
- Texas (TX)
- Utah (UT)
- Vermont (VT)
- Virginia (VA)
- Washington (WA)
- Washington, DC (DC)
- West Virginia (WV)
- Wisconsin (WI)
- Wyoming (WY)
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Earn an MSN online from Simmons University. The programs combine live classes, engaging coursework, and hands-on clinical experiences to help you advance your career as an NP. Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP — and prepare to raise the standard of patient care. Explore Nursing@Simmons programs for RNs who hold a BSN or bachelor’s degree.
- Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP
- Complete in as few as 24 months
- Full-time and part-time tracks available
Master of Science in Nursing
Nursing@Georgetown enables RNs to earn their MS in Nursing online from Georgetown University. Through a research-based curriculum and hands-on clinical experiences, the program prepares students to pursue certification in an APRN specialty area and provide specialized care for patients in their communities. BSN required.
- Earn your MS in Nursing in as few as 23 months
- Choose from one of four APRN specialty areas: AG-ACNP, FNP, NM/WHNP, or WHNP
- Gain hands-on clinical experience in evidence-based practice
Master of Science in Nursing
Earn an M.S. in Nursing online at the Wegmans School of Nursing. Bachelor’s in nursing and RN license-required. The online pathway combines live classes, 600 hours of clinical rotations, and on-campus immersions to prepare you to pursue NP licensure in one of four specialties: PCFNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, or AGPCNP.
- Part-time and accelerated tracks available
- Four program options: PCFNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP
Information last updated: August 2026