The American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) is an independent nursing specialty certification board and was founded in 1972 as an independent not-for-profit organization to set professional standards and conduct occupational health nursing specialty certification. ABOHN is the sole certifying body for occupational health nurses in the United States and awards three credentials:
- Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN)
- Certified Occupational Health Nurse - Specialist (COHN-S)
- Case Management (CM)
ABOHN has certified over 16,000 and currently has 3,500 estimated active certificants. We use predetermined standards of nursing practice to validate an individual registered nurse's qualifications, knowledge and practice in specific areas of occupational health nursing.
Vision ABOHN certification is recognized and valued as the standard to maximize the health, safety and well being of workers worldwide.
Mission ABOHN's mission is to promote a standard of excellence in occupational health nursing through credentialing.
Principles and Values:
To accomplish its mission and vision, and elevate the quality the quality of occupational health nursing practice ABOHN commits its resources to achieving the following principles and values:
- Develop and promote credentialing standards for professional occupational health nurses.
- Establish a standard for occupational health nursing programs.
- Empower occupational health nurses to continue professional education.
- Create value for employers, workers and occupational health professionals through certification.
- Publicly recognize individuals who have met credentialing standards.
- Optimize partnerships with organizations that share the ABOHN mission and values.
- Perform the above unrestricted by consideration of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or other legally protected category.