The American Cancer Society Leadership in Oncology Navigation (ACS LION™) is a standardized training and credentialing program that empowers patient navigators to provide critical nonclinical support to individuals, caregivers, and families facing cancer.
This certification is designed for a broad range of professionals, including patient navigators, oncology patient navigators, social workers, nurse navigators, health system leaders, and advanced practice providers.
It helps to ensure that all navigators possess a fundamental skill set to improve patient outcomes, reduce barriers to care, and address health disparities.
Importantly, the ACS LION mastery course meets the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) training requirements for "Principal Illness Navigation" (PIN) reimbursement.
The ACS LION program is delivered through a self-paced, online mastery course consisting of 10 modules.
The course typically takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete, depending on an individual's prior knowledge and experience.
It covers a comprehensive syllabus including the history and principles of navigation, health equity, foundational cancer concepts, person-centered assessments, and key oncology terms.
Participants will also learn about the diverse healthcare team members, essential communication strategies, and how to connect patients with necessary community-based health and social services.
Additional topics include navigating health insurance and the costs of care, ethical conduct, and strategies to facilitate patient self-advocacy and professional development.
The culmination of the ACS LION mastery course is a final, summative assessment that evaluates your understanding of all course content.
This exam is available once you have successfully completed all 10 learning modules.
The final assessment is administered entirely online and must be finished in a single session.
It is a closed-book exam, meaning you are not permitted to use any notes, the course modules, or outside resources while taking the test.
Specific details regarding the number of multiple-choice questions or precise passing score are not publicly shared by the American Cancer Society, as is typical with summative professional assessments.
Preparation for the ACS LION final assessment is built directly into the program.
The key to success is a thorough, active review of all 10 mastery modules within the Canvas learning management system.
Take detailed notes, summarize key definitions, and practice applying the communication strategies and ethical principles outlined in the text.
Although a full practice test is not a native part of the program, reviewing sample questions from other oncology navigation resources can help solidify your understanding of core concepts like health equity and navigation domains.
The ACS LION certification does not require a physical testing center; all coursework and the final assessment are completed online, giving you the flexibility to study and get certified anywhere.
Earning the ACS LION credential demonstrates to employers that you have met a standardized national benchmark for oncology navigation.
This certification is highly valued across the healthcare landscape, creating clear career paths for both clinical and nonclinical navigation roles.
Common job titles and careers that benefit from this credential include:
Oncology Patient Navigator
Patient Navigator
Professional Navigator
Oncology Nurse Navigator
Social Worker, specialized in oncology
Financial Navigator for cancer care
Cancer Screening Navigator
Advanced Practice Providers with navigation roles
Administration and Health System Leaders managing navigation programs
By proving your competence and dedication to evidence-based, person-centered support, the ACS LION credential positions you as an essential contributor to high-quality cancer care teams.
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