Current Wound Care Certification Programs

Wound care has become a greater issue in the past several years, as more patients are living longer with conditions that predispose to wound formation. The government has become involved in this area by identifying pressure ulcers as a preventable condition, spurring on the growth of healthcare professionals as specialists in wound care. As a result, several wound care certification programs have come into being. The sheer number of certification programs available makes it difficult for you, the healthcare professional, to make a decision regarding which certification program to pursue. The acronyms alone may be overwhelming! In the following article, we will examine various certification programs and their characteristics. 

Certified Wound Specialist (CWS)

To become a certified wound specialist, you must meet the following criteria:

• you must have a Bachelor’s degree

• you must hold a current license as an MD, DO, DPM, PA, DMD, VDM, RN, PT, or OT

• you must be able to provide documentation of three (3) years of clinical experience in wound care, including direct patient care

The CWS exam requires self-preparation. Exams are held every April and October at selected testing centers nationwide. You must maintain a minimum of six (6) contact hours of continuing education in wound management to be eligible for re-certification, and must be re-certified by exam every 10 years. 

Certified Wound Care Associate (CWCA) 

To become a certified wound care associate, you must meet the following criteria:

• you do not have to have a Bachelor’s degree

• you must have 3 years of clinical wound care-related experience, including direct patient care

The CWCA exam is given electronically twice a year (August and February) at selected testing centers nationwide. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. Successful candidates are required to re-register annually, and must have 6 hours of continuing education in wound care yearly. Certification is valid for 10 years, and re-certification by self-assessment examination is required. 

 

The American Academy of Wound Management (AAWM) is the certifying board for healthcare professionals who become a CWS or CWCA. The AAWM is multidisciplinary, and operates independently of any membership or education association. 

Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN)

To become a certified wound care nurse, you must be currently licensed as an RN and hold a baccalaureate degree. Additionally, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• you must complete a WOC (wound, ostomy, and continence) nursing education program accredited by the WOCN

• you must complete a graduate-level program in nursing with documentation of graduate clinical course work equivalent to two semester hours OR

• you must have 50 contact hours (CEU) over the last five years in wound care and 1500 clinical experience hours over the past five years (at least 375 of those hours must be completed within the year prior to certification application.

The certification exam is offered four times a year at testing centers across the US and Canada. Credentials are awarded for a five-year period. After five years you may re-certify by exam or through the Professional Growth Program, which involves submitting a portfolio outlining your continuing education, teaching, academic education, or other proof of specialization. 

The WOCNCB (Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing certification Board is the only organization that provides wound care certification strictly to nurses. 

Wound Care Certified (WCC)

Applicants for the NAWC WCC Certification Examination must meet all of the following criteria:

1.   Active unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Physician or Physician’s Assistant.

2.    Must meet one of the following:

A. Education Option
1.  Successful graduate of NAWC approved “Wound Management Certification Training Course”. 

2.  Documentation of active involvement in the care of wound care patients, or in management, education or research directly related to wound care while actively licensed for at least two (2) years full-time/four (4) years part-time within the past five (5) years.

B. Certification Option
1.  Current active certification with Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) as a “CWCN”, “CWON”, “CWOCN” or Current active certification with American Academy of Wound Management (AAWM) as a “CWS”.

2.  Documentation of active involvement in the care of wound care patients, or in management, education or research directly related to wound care while actively licensed for at least two (2) years full-time/four (4) years part-time within the past five (5) years.

C. Experiential Option
1.  Documentation of active involvement in the care of wound care patients, or in management, education or research directly related to wound care while actively licensed for at least four (4) years full-time within the past five(5) years.

2.  Completion of sixty (60) contact hours in skin and wound care within the past five (5) years. To receive credit for the contact hours, the educational program must be approved/accredited by either the state board governing your primary license (or any state board governing the professional license type under which you practice), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Physical Therapy Association, (APTA), National Alliance of Wound Care (NAWC®), Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), or Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME).

D. Preceptor Option
1.  Successful graduate of NAWC® approved “Wound Management Certification Training Course”.

2.  Complete a minimum of 120 hours of hands on clinical training with an NAWC® approved clinical preceptor after completion of “Wound Management Certification Training Course”.

3.    Completion of application and required supporting documentation.
The WoundEducators.com “Basic Wound Management Certification Course” which provides 50 CE hours,will help to prepare you for the WCC certification via the experiential pathway.

4.    Payment of required fees.

5.    Receive passing score on the NAWC WCC Examination.

  physician-only wound certifications

**Two new physician-only wound certifications are now available.  For more information on these certifications, and for additional information on the above certifications, see our interactive certification chart.

Certification is not the same as accreditation! 

Certification infers that you have met certain criteria that demonstrates an advanced level of specialty in a field. Certification sets you apart from others in your field who are not certified. There are a growing number of credentialing associations which creates much confusion, as many people equate certification with accreditation.

 

When choosing a wound care certification program, it is important to ensure that certification is also accredited. Because virtually anyone can create a course and offer certification in the legal sense, more “certifications” are likely to appear in the coming years.

 

So how do you decide which certification to choose? The next article in our series will explore accreditation and the measurement of the quality of certifications. We want to help you choose the certification that will set you on the path to a more exciting and enriching career.

 

Register for our comprehensive wound management course that will prepare you to achieve the career-changing and esteemed wound care certification credential.