The American Board of Wound Management (ABWM®) offers three certifications that are nationally accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). These certifications are the CWCA® Certified Wound Care Associate, CWS® Certified Wound Specialist, and CWSP® Certified Wound Specialist Physician.

The CWCA® Certified Wound Care Associate

The CWS® Certified Wound Specialist

The CWSP® Certified Wound Specialist Physician

What’s the Difference between the ABWM® Wound Care Certifications?

The difference boils down to qualifications. In addition to having three years’ cumulative wound care related experience and an active, unrestricted license, the education level of healthcare providers determines which of the three certifications is applicable. All three wound care certifications offered by the ABWM are nationally accredited.

Certified Wound Care Associate (CWCA®)

The Certified Wound Care Associate CWCA® exam is open to any Healthcare professional with at least 3 years of wound care experience and an active, unrestricted license.

Examples: Associate degree nurses, RNs, LPNs, LVNs, PTAs, all certified healthcare assistants, healthcare administrators, dieticians, sales and marketing professionals, and academic researchers.

The Certified Wound Care Associate CWCA® exam fee is $375. The CWCA® exam is a computer-based exam that contains 120 multiple choice questions, given over a period of 3 hours.

Prepare for the CWCA Wound Certification Exam

All of the above wound care certification courses can be used to prepare for the CWCA wound certification exam.

Certified Wound Specialist (CWS® )

The Certified Wound Specialist CWS® exam is open to licensed healthcare professionals licensed as a BSN, DO, DPM, DVM, MD, NP, PA, PT, RD, or RN with 3 or more years of clinical wound care experience*.

Examples: Physical therapists, nurses, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers.

*In lieu of having 3 or more years of clinical wound care experience, candidates may complete a fellowship of at least one year in duration that is certified by a credentialing organization, and supply a letter of recommendation from the fellowship program director and a CWS that was actively involved in the wound care training.
The Certified Wound Specialist CWS® exam fee is $575. The Certified Wound Specialist CWS® exam is a computer-based exam that contains 150 multiple choice questions, given over a period of 3.5 hours.

Prepare for the CWS® Wound Care Exam

All of the above wound care certification courses can be used to prepare for the CWS wound certification exam.

Certified Wound Specialist – Physician (CWSP®)

The Certified Wound Specialist Physician CWSP® exam is open to MD’s, DO’s and DPM’s with three or more years of clinical wound care experience*.

Examples: Physicians and podiatrists.

*In lieu of having 3 or more years of clinical wound care experience, candidates may complete a fellowship of at least one year in duration that is certified by a credentialing organization, and supply a letter of recommendation from the fellowship program director and a CWS that was actively involved in the wound care training.

The Certified Wound Specialist Physician CWSP® exam fee is $995. The Certified Wound Specialist Physician CWSP® exam is a computer-based exam that contains 180 multiple choice questions, given over a period of 4 hours.

Prepare for the CWSP® Wound Care Exam

Full Requirements for the ABWM Certifications

You do not need to have any previous experience to take our online wound care certification courses, but you will need the experience to become nationally certified with the ABWM. Our courses can help prepare you for all the wound care fundamentals needed to pass any ABWM exam- CWS® CWSP® or CWCA® . Completion of our wound care courses will also get more CE hours- up to 60 per course. Show your current employer your commitment to wound care education or use certification as a way to leverage other job positions!

How to Get Wound Care Certified

1.  Download the ABWM Candidate Handbook & Application Online

2.  Complete and Submit Your Application

3.  Get Approved and Schedule Your Wound Certification Exam

Can People Outside the US Take their Wound Certification Exam? 

Yes!  To view available test centers, visit PearsonVUE.com/ABWM and click “Find a test center” on the right sidebar. If there is not a test center in your country, please contact ABWM at [email protected]. 

Maintaining Your Wound Care Certification

ABWM requires wound care certification renewal annually, no later than January 31st each year.  There is a $150 annual renewal fee, and a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education related to wound management are required each year.  After 10 years, certificants must recertify their credential by sitting for the certification examination. There is also an annual 6-hour minimum wound continuing education hour requirement for all license holders. 

About the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM)

The American Board of Wound Management (ABWM), is a voluntary, not-for-profit organization established for the purpose of credentialing multidisciplinary professionals in the field of wound management. The purpose of the American Board of Wound Management is to administer a certification process that elevates the standard of care across the continuum of wound management.  The ABWM is dedicated to a multi-disciplinary approach in promoting prevention.