Welcome to the official MedicoExam syllabus guide for the NCC Obstetric and Neonatal Quality and Safety certification. This page delivers a clear, structured overview of the NCC C-ONQS exam, including key exam details, syllabus topics, and preparation references to support effective study planning. The NCC Certified Obstetric and Neonatal Quality and Safety (C-ONQS) is intended for professionals pursuing roles aligned with Subspecialty Certification, with assessment centered on applied competencies such as quality improvement analysis, patient safety evaluation, healthcare performance measurement within real-world settings like hospitals and health systems, obstetric and neonatal clinical units, healthcare quality improvement and patient safety programs and related settings.
The syllabus outline below reflects the core domains and expectations defined by the official NCC certification framework and aligns with the cognitive and professional standards assessed in the NCC C-ONQS exam. Candidates can use this guide alongside official vendor resources and structured practice to align their preparation with current exam standards and professional expectations for maternal–neonatal healthcare professionals, nursing and clinical specialists, quality and patient safety professionals and related roles
NCC C-ONQS Exam Summary and Key Details
| Exam Name | NCC Obstetric and Neonatal Quality and Safety |
| Credential | NCC Certified Obstetric and Neonatal Quality and Safety (C-ONQS) |
| Vendor | National Certification Corporation (NCC) |
| Exam Code | C-ONQS » NCC C-ONQS Certification Practice Exam |
| Exam Delivery Mode | computer-based examination delivered at testing centers or through live remote proctoring |
| Exam Duration | 120 mins |
| Number of Questions | 125 (100 Scored Items / 25 Pretest Items) |
| Passing Score | Pass/fail (Approximately 72%) |
| Exam Price | $210 which is composed of a $50 non-refundable application submission cost and a $160 testing fee. |
| Scheduling Window | typically scheduled after eligibility approval within the testing provider availability window |
| Schedule Exam | National Certification Corporation (NCC) |
| Trainings/Resources |
- AAP Committee & ACOG on Obstetrics, 8th edition, Guidelines for Perinatal Care, ACOG, 2017 - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2025 - Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Safety Bundles 2025 - American Nurses Association Code of Ethics 2025 - American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program 2025 - Bissinger, et al., Golden Hours, NCC, 2019 - California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative 2025 - Chestnut, et al., Chestnut’s Obstetric Anesthesia, Elsevier, 2020 - Fanaroff and Martin, Neonatal Perinatal Medicine, 12th edition, 2025 - Gardner, et al., Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care, 2021 - Gropper, et al., Miller’s Anesthesia, 10th edition, Elsevier, 2025 - Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Science of Improvement: Establishing Measures, IHI, 2023 - Kelly, et al., Introduction to Quality and Safety Education for Nurses, Springer, 2022 - Klause, K. Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement in the Labor and Delivery Setting, Anesthesiol Clin, 2021 - LoBiondo-Wood, et al., Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement, Elsevier, 2019 - Lockwood, et al., Creasy and Resnik’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 9th edition, Elsevier, 2024 - Simpson, et al., AWHONN Perinatal Nursing, 5th edition, Wolters Kluwer, 2025 - Shah, et al., Patient Safety and Quality Improvement in Healthcare, Springer, 2021 - The Joint Commission, New Perinatal Care Performance Measure, 2023. - Varkley B., Principles of Clinical Ethics and Their Application to Practice, Med Princ Pract, 2021 |
| Sample Questions | NCC C-ONQS Exam Sample Questions |
| Recommended Practice | NCC C-ONQS Certification Practice Exam |
NCC C-ONQS Exam Syllabus Topics and Weighting
| Topic Areas | Topic Details, Courses, Books | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Quality and Safety Assessment and Gap Analysis |
- Methods to assess organizational, institutional and environmental culture, standards and clinical guidelines and patient experience - National Quality and Safety standards and clinical guidelines - Adverse events, disclosure, transparency, patient trust, and mitigation |
25% |
| Integrate Quality and Safety in Practice |
- Quality and Safety aims, tools, checklists, disseminating outcomes and communication strategies - Team function, training and simulation, leadership, empowerment and learning principles - Determine and advocate for ongoing resources, risk assessment |
23% |
| Develop and Implement Quality and Safety into Practice |
- Selecting and monitoring key quality metrics - Identify population, measures and data collection - Integration into workflow, error prevention strategies |
26% |
| Evaluation and Measures of Effectiveness |
- Evaluation Tools - Evaluate the balance between quality, outcomes and cost - Strategies for sustainment and positive change |
22% |
| Professional and Ethical Issues | - Professionalism and ethical principles | 4% |
The NCC C-ONQS certification exam is designed to assess both theoretical knowledge and applied professional judgment in Subspecialty Certification. The exam evaluates competencies such as quality improvement analysis, patient safety evaluation, healthcare performance measurement, ensuring candidates are prepared for real-world responsibilities as maternal–neonatal healthcare professionals, nursing and clinical specialists, quality and patient safety professionals and related roles working in settings such as hospitals and health systems, obstetric and neonatal clinical units, healthcare quality improvement and patient safety programs and related settings.
To prepare effectively for the NCC Obstetric and Neonatal Quality and Safety exam, candidates are encouraged to review official vendor materials, complete structured practice assessments, and gain hands-on experience relevant to their professional role.
