Wound Care Specialist
Becoming a Wound Care Specialist
Becoming a Wound Care Specialist Why become a wound care specialist? Most health care professionals, no matter their area of focus, are required to manage wounds in some capacity. For some, wound care becomes a passion- there is great personal and professional satisfaction in seeing a wound (and the client) through to complete healing. If you enjoy the challenge of working with clients with a wide variety of wound types, you may want to consider becoming a wound care specialist.
What is a Wound Care Specialist?
A wound care specialist is a professional who has additional education in wound care management and has written and passed an examination to become certified as a wound care professional with an accredited wound care body.
The term “wound care specialist” incorporates a variety of certified specialists with various titles and academic degrees. For example, any professional from any background can earn the WCC designation (Wound Care Certified) through the National Alliance of Wound Care (NAWC), while Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) and certified wound care nurse (CWCN) are designations reserved for licensed professionals holding a bachelor’s, masters or doctoral degree who have passed the necessary exam from either the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM) or the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCN board). If you are confused after reading this, view our wound care certification chart, which clearly and succinctly explains all of the different certifications and the requirements of each.
Why Become a Wound Care Specialist?
There are many advantages to becoming certified as a wound care specialist. Becoming certified allows you to:
- Stand out from your colleagues
- Stand out from other job candidates
- Improve your career prospects
- Increase your salary (in many cases)
- Demonstrate your commitment to wound management
Evidence-Based Wound Care
As professionals, we are obligated to use evidence-based practices. Wound care is evolving at such a rapid pace that taking a day-long seminar is never enough- these seminars only scratch the surface of modern wound care practices due to time constraints. Any professional who works with wounds on a regular basis should be educated in regards to current practice and should obtain wound certification as visible proof of their dedication to wound care education. If you dedicate your time learning how to properly care for wounds and patients with wounds, wound care certification is the ultimate reward for your dedication.
Wound Care Certification Courses Available
To learn more about becoming a wound care specialist and the options available for your professional designation, read up on our wound care certification courses.
What would be the best route to become wound certified? I am currently an LPN and have been for 2 years but I LOVE wound care! I originally wanted to be a PA and work in surgery but I don’t want to go to school for that long with little kids at home.
Stephanie,
We suggest going the CWCA certification route. http://www.abwmcertified.org/abwm-certified/certification-eligibility/
You can use our LPN course to prepare for certification: https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/lpn/
You must have 3 years of wound-related experience (even if it isn’t consecutive) to take the final certification test through ABWM.
For more info on eligibility, see our wound care certification for nurses blog: https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-for-nurses/
If you need more information, contact us! We love to help healthcare professionals work their way to certification.
hi my name is Khadijah Jabbar I’m a CNA will train in noverber for wound care specialist once certified were am i able to find a job in that field I’m not a nurse.
Khadijah,
Good luck with your certification exam! You can use your course completion certificate to leverage more wound care roles with your current employer, or you can search for wound management roles here: https://woundeducators.com/resources/wound-care-jobs/
I realize you must hold a degree in the medical field in order to become a WCS but are their options for LMT’s? I work in a physical therapy clinic and have for 2 years. We deal extensively with post-op patients and wound care is almost always necessary. Just wondering if there are any options?
George, you can take our 23-hour intro course or take our basic 50-hour wound care course, which is the CNA course. You could try to pursue the CWCA certification offered by the ABWM, but it requires 3 years of wound care clinical experience. You will have to confirm with them whether the work you are currently doing qualifies as such.
Either way, taking the course will provide you with immeasurable wound care knowledge to better assist your patients.
I have been a PTA for 15 years with many years of wound care. I have been looking at getting certified. Where can I find a good program with certification?
Bonnie, you can use our courses to prepare for either the WCC, CWCA, CWS, CWSP, or CWCN wound care certifications.
Hello
I’m an RN-ADN/WCC, my certification is up for renewal but I’m wondering if I would be able to take the test to become WOUND CARE SPECIALIST. I have been a wound nurse for 5 years.
Arlen,
We recommend upgrading to the CWS! It sounds like you have the qualifying experience, so you can apply on their site: abwmcertified.org
I currently do not have any wound care experience or hold any degrees in the medical field. I am really interested in pursing a care in wounds! How about would I come of doing so?
Arizona,
We appreciate your interest in wound care!If you are interested in learning more about wound care, you can always start with one of our certification exam courses to see if this may be the right career path for you. Once you decide, you can always pursue your CNA or MA license and request to be placed in wound-related roles. You may also be able to volunteer at a local hospital near you. Best of luck!
Is a wound care specialist in high demand/ what is the job outlook?
Amanda,
Wound management is a multi-billion dollar industry that is only growing. Becoming a wound care specialist will benefit you in several ways – read more here:
The Importance of a Formally Accredited Certification In Wound Care
Graduated from an ACGME accredited ObGyn residency program; practiced for many years with no clinical not surgical issues but was unable to pass the ABOG boards and lost my eligibility and now I simply can not find a job.
Very interested in this field
Please, how can I become a wound care specialist?
Im currently making a research about lives of wound care nurse as specialty would u please give me aome links. References for my related literature.
Louise,
Check here: https://woundeducators.com/resources/
If I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science, what should my next step be to become a wound care specialist?
Jay,
Thank you for your commitment to wound care education! We recommend the CWS certiciation with our advanced course as long as you have 3 years of experience:
The American Board of Wound Management describes three years of clinical experience as:
“Three years of wound care experience can be acquired over the course of your career. It does not necessarily have to be a consecutive three years. Wound care does not have to be your primary responsibility during that time, as long as you can demonstrate you have had roles related to wound care throughout your career.”
Link to course: https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/advanced-wound-care-certification-course/
I currently have a Master Degree in the Science of Nursing. I have worked as a wound care treatment nurse at several nursing facilities, but have never been certified. I would like to know what would be the best path for me to pursue to become a wound specialist?
Teresa, if you have an active license and can prove you have three years of combined experience, I would suggest the CWS. If you do not have three years, I would suggest the WCC. Both are accredited certifications, and our online course will prepare you for both exams. Best of luck!
Hi i’m a licensed Vocational nurse with wound care certification and i have more than 10 years of experience in wound care. Am I qualified for CWS?
Amador, BSNs and RNs with more than three years of experience can apply for the CWS exam. LPNs and LVNs we recommend pursuing the CWCA certification- both are offered by the ABWM. Our LPN/LVN course will prepare you for the WCC or the CWCA!
I am an occupational therapist and am looking into my CWS, however my employer would like to know what a WOCN would be able to do that I as a CWS would not be able to do. I have attempted to determine the answer, but have not had much success. Are you able to assist me with this answer. Thank you
Karla,
Happy holidays! A WOCN is certified in wound ostomy and continence. Only registered nurses with a bachelors or eligible to become a WOCN. Many nurses obtain their wounds certification from the WOCN board, and are only allowed to perform wound care. However, an occupational cannot obtain any of the WOCN certifications. You can learn more in our The Importance of a Formally Accredited Certification In Wound Care
Hi there, I am a Licensed Veterinary Technician with over 22 years of experience in specialized veterinary medicine, including surgery, anesthesia, pain management & wound care, oncology, emergency & critical care and small exotic & wildlife rehabilitation medicine. I am a Certified Pet CPR & First Aid Instructor with certification through the American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care. I am also FEMA-certified in Animals in Disasters: Awareness & Preparedness. I have dealt with multiple types of wounds in my career such as post-surgical, ostomy, bite wounds and abscesses, and many other types of acute & chronic wounds. Wound care is my passion! Does my background allow me to become wound-care certified without further education such as MA, RN, etc.?
Hi Holly,
As a Vet tech, you can take the basic wound care course to learn more about wound management and apply for either the WCC or CWCA certification. To confirm eligibility to take the certification exam, you should contact the certification board directly. Contact ABWM for eligibility