AOCNP Exam Study Guide 2026 – 300+
Review Questions & Terms for Advanced
Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
Board Exam Prep (PDF)
AOCNP Exam Study Guide 2026 – 300+
Review Questions & Terms for Advanced
Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
Board Exam Prep (PDF)
Section 1: Cancer Continuum (35% of Exam)
Question 1
A 52-year-old female with no family history of breast cancer asks about breast
cancer screening. According to current guidelines, which of the following is the
recommended screening approach?
, • A) Annual mammography starting at age 40
• B) Mammography every 2 years starting at age 50
• C) Annual mammography starting at age 45 with option to begin at 40
• D) Clinical breast examination only until age 50
Rationale: Current NCCN and USPSTF guidelines recommend initiating annual
mammography at age 45 for average-risk women, with the option to begin at age 40.
Screening every 2 years at age 50 was a previous recommendation that has been
updated. Clinical breast examination alone is insufficient for screening purposes.
Question 2
According to current USPSTF guidelines, at what age should average-risk
individuals begin colorectal cancer screening?
• A) Age 40
• B) Age 45
• C) Age 50
• D) Age 55
Rationale: The USPSTF and NCCN recommend initiating colorectal cancer screening at
age 45 for average-risk individuals. This was updated from age 50 in 2021. Options
include colonoscopy, FIT, or stool DNA testing.
Question 3
Which of the following is considered the gold standard for colorectal cancer
screening?
, • A) Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
• B) Colonoscopy
• C) Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) blood test
• D) CT colonography
Rationale: Colonoscopy is the gold standard because it allows for direct visualization
and biopsy/polypectomy of lesions throughout the entire colon. CEA is used for
monitoring, not screening. FIT and CT colonography are alternatives but not the gold
standard.
Question 4
A 55-year-old male with a 30-pack-year smoking history presents for lung cancer
screening. Which screening modality is recommended for high-risk individuals?
• A) Chest X-ray
• B) Low-dose CT (LDCT)
• C) PET/CT
• D) Sputum cytology
Rationale: The USPSTF recommends annual low-dose CT screening for adults aged 50-
80 with a 20+ pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the last 15
years. Chest X-ray and sputum cytology have not been shown to reduce mortality.
Question 5
Which HPV types are most strongly associated with cervical cancer?
, • A) HPV 6 and 11
• B) HPV 16 and 18
• C) HPV 31 and 33
• D) HPV 45 and 52
Rationale: High-risk HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for approximately 70% of
cervical cancers worldwide. Types 6 and 11 are associated with genital warts (low-risk
types). The HPV vaccine covers high-risk types 16 and 18.
Question 6
The BRCA1 gene is located on which chromosome?
• A) Chromosome 13
• B) Chromosome 17
• C) Chromosome 11
• D) Chromosome 9
Rationale: BRCA1 is located on chromosome 17q21. BRCA2 is on chromosome 13q12.3.
BRCA1 mutations are associated with increased risk of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and
prostate cancers. The lifetime breast cancer risk with BRCA1 mutation is approximately
60-70%.
Question 7
A 68-year-old male with a history of non-small cell lung cancer treated with
definitive chemoradiation 2 years ago presents with new-onset seizures. A brain
MRI shows multiple enhancing lesions. What is the MOST likely diagnosis?
Review Questions & Terms for Advanced
Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
Board Exam Prep (PDF)
AOCNP Exam Study Guide 2026 – 300+
Review Questions & Terms for Advanced
Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
Board Exam Prep (PDF)
Section 1: Cancer Continuum (35% of Exam)
Question 1
A 52-year-old female with no family history of breast cancer asks about breast
cancer screening. According to current guidelines, which of the following is the
recommended screening approach?
, • A) Annual mammography starting at age 40
• B) Mammography every 2 years starting at age 50
• C) Annual mammography starting at age 45 with option to begin at 40
• D) Clinical breast examination only until age 50
Rationale: Current NCCN and USPSTF guidelines recommend initiating annual
mammography at age 45 for average-risk women, with the option to begin at age 40.
Screening every 2 years at age 50 was a previous recommendation that has been
updated. Clinical breast examination alone is insufficient for screening purposes.
Question 2
According to current USPSTF guidelines, at what age should average-risk
individuals begin colorectal cancer screening?
• A) Age 40
• B) Age 45
• C) Age 50
• D) Age 55
Rationale: The USPSTF and NCCN recommend initiating colorectal cancer screening at
age 45 for average-risk individuals. This was updated from age 50 in 2021. Options
include colonoscopy, FIT, or stool DNA testing.
Question 3
Which of the following is considered the gold standard for colorectal cancer
screening?
, • A) Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
• B) Colonoscopy
• C) Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) blood test
• D) CT colonography
Rationale: Colonoscopy is the gold standard because it allows for direct visualization
and biopsy/polypectomy of lesions throughout the entire colon. CEA is used for
monitoring, not screening. FIT and CT colonography are alternatives but not the gold
standard.
Question 4
A 55-year-old male with a 30-pack-year smoking history presents for lung cancer
screening. Which screening modality is recommended for high-risk individuals?
• A) Chest X-ray
• B) Low-dose CT (LDCT)
• C) PET/CT
• D) Sputum cytology
Rationale: The USPSTF recommends annual low-dose CT screening for adults aged 50-
80 with a 20+ pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the last 15
years. Chest X-ray and sputum cytology have not been shown to reduce mortality.
Question 5
Which HPV types are most strongly associated with cervical cancer?
, • A) HPV 6 and 11
• B) HPV 16 and 18
• C) HPV 31 and 33
• D) HPV 45 and 52
Rationale: High-risk HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for approximately 70% of
cervical cancers worldwide. Types 6 and 11 are associated with genital warts (low-risk
types). The HPV vaccine covers high-risk types 16 and 18.
Question 6
The BRCA1 gene is located on which chromosome?
• A) Chromosome 13
• B) Chromosome 17
• C) Chromosome 11
• D) Chromosome 9
Rationale: BRCA1 is located on chromosome 17q21. BRCA2 is on chromosome 13q12.3.
BRCA1 mutations are associated with increased risk of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and
prostate cancers. The lifetime breast cancer risk with BRCA1 mutation is approximately
60-70%.
Question 7
A 68-year-old male with a history of non-small cell lung cancer treated with
definitive chemoradiation 2 years ago presents with new-onset seizures. A brain
MRI shows multiple enhancing lesions. What is the MOST likely diagnosis?
