08-15-2025
Reminder: Update Terminology in All Documentation
It’s been over a year since the transition away from the term CTR, yet we are still seeing it appear on various forms, policies, and procedures.
- Cancer Registry Professional = the broad professional role
- ODS = a credential that signifies specialized knowledge and achievement within that role. Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) is the name of the credential, not the name of the profession.
Please take a moment to:
- Review and update any existing documents that still reference “CTR.”
- Policy & Procedures
- Email Signature
- Email templates
- Resume/CV
- Business Cards
- LinkedIn/ Other Professional Websites
- Ensure new materials do not include “CTR” unless absolutely necessary for historical or regulatory context.
- Use “Oncology Data Specialist (ODS)” only when referring to the credentialed role—not as a blanket replacement for CTR.
- When referring to the profession broadly, use Cancer Registry Professional.
- Consistency in our terminology reinforces our professional identity and helps others understand the evolving scope of our work.
| Instead of: | Use this instead: |
| CTR or ODSs Do not refer to cancer registrars as Oncology Data Specialists or ODSs. There is no correct plural for ODS. | Cancer Registry Professionals ODS-Certified Professionals ODS-Certified Cancer Registrars ODS-certified {job title] Auditor, Abstractor, Case Finder, etc. |
For further information please refer to NCRA’s ODS Toolkit, Credential Name Change FAQs
