Which Wound Care Program is Right for You?
There are a large number of wound care programs that lead to wound care certification. Choosing the appropriate program for your level of qualification and experience is not always clear. Below is a brief guide to help you decide which wound care certification is right for you.
Question #1: Bachelor’s Degree/BSN?
No Bachelor’s Degree/BSN?
If you do not hold a Bachelor’s degree, the most appropriate wound care programs may lead to a Wound Care Certified (WCC) or Certified Wound Care Associate (CWCA) qualification.
- WCC Certification Requirements (NAWCO)
- CWCA Certification Requirements (ABWM)
For the CWCA program, you must be able to provide documentation of 3 years of clinical experience in wound care. This program is ideal for associate-degree nurses, physical therapy assistants, all certified healthcare assistants, healthcare administrators, and other non-medical professionals with a career in the healthcare industry. Certification is valid for 10 years, and re-certification by self-assessment examination must be undertaken.
The WoundEducators.com MA Wound Certification Course, CNA Wound Certification Course, and LPN-LVN Wound Care Certification Course will help non-bachelor healthcare professionals prepare for the WCC or the CWCA wound care exam.
RN Degree, but No Bachelor’s Degree/BSN?
Prior to June 2019, the ABWM’s Wound Specialist (CWS) wound care program was intended for individuals with a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree who hold a current license as a healthcare professional. BSNs were able to test for the CWS but associate degree RNs were not. Luckily, the ABWM recognized this discrepancy and opened the CWS eligibility to include RNs. In addition to the CWS wound care program, RNs can also pursue the WCC certification mentioned above.
- CWS Certification Requirements (ABWM)
- WCC Certification Requirements (NAWCO)
The WoundEducators.com RN Wound Certification Course will help Associate RNs prepare for the CWS or WCC wound care exam.
Bachelor’s Degree/BSN?
If you are currently licensed as a registered nurse (RN) and have a baccalaureate degree, you may choose to become a Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) or a Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) if you have three or more years of experience in wound care.
- CWCN Certification Requirements (WOCNCB)
- CWS Certification Requirements (ABWM)
- WCC Certification Requirements (NAWCO)
The WoundEducators.com BSN Wound Certification Course will help prepare BSNs for the CWCN, CWS, or WCC wound care certification exam.
Question #2: Masters Degree?
If you hold a Masters degree and an active, unrestricted license, you should pursue the CWS exam or the WCC exam. Examples of CWS candidates are Physician Assistants or Physical Therapists.
Our PT Wound Certification Course, the Physician Assistant Wound Certification Course, and the Physician Wound Certification Course, will all help to prepare you for the CWCN and the CWS wound certification exam.
Doctoral Degree, MD, DO, or DPM?
For physicians, the Certified Wound Specialist (CWSP) certification is available for medics including medical doctors (MDs), Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) and Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) who have 3 or more years of clinical wound care experience. Finally, the Council for Medical Education and Testing (CMET) also provides certification for physicians specializing in wound care.
- CWSP Certification Requirements (ABWM)
- WCC Certification Requirements (NAWCO)
- CMET Certification Requirements
The WoundEducators.com ”Physician Wound Certification Course“, will help to prepare you for the CWSP wound certification exam and the CMET wound certification exam.
Question #3: Years of Wound Care Experience?
Once you’ve decided which wound care course(s) are available for you, you can narrow down your choice by the experience each requires.
Three or More Years of Wound Care Experience
If you have at least three years of wound care experience, you can apply for the ABWM exam that matches your license/degree requirements above.
The required three years of wound care experience does not have to be sequential, and a wound care job title is not a requirement. As long as you can prove you have had enough combined experience managing wounds throughout your career, you can meet the ABWM experience requirements. The experience (3 years) is standard for the CWCA, CWS, and CWSP certifications.
Two or More Years of Wound Care Experience
The WCC is available for healthcare professionals who have two years of full-time or four years of part-time experience in an approved profession with ongoing, active involvement in the care of wounded patients or in wound care management, education, or research directly related to wound care.
Less Than 1 Year of Wound Care Experience
If you do not have 2-3 years of wound care experience, you can elect to complete 120 hours of hands-on clinical training with an approved NAWCO preceptor. Many healthcare professionals with an interest in wound care also take our course to gain the necessary knowledge needed to begin a career in wound care. We have had several prior students take our course then show their completion certificate to their current employer to help them leverage more wound-related jobs and tasks.
Learn More with Our Wound Care Program Options
Interested in learning more about wound care and certification? Browse through our wound care certification courses for information on our comprehensive range of education options to suit healthcare professionals across the full spectrum of qualifications and experience.
I AM RN BSN AND I WANT TO BECOME RN WOUND CARE CERTIFIED BUT I DO NOT HAVE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN WOUND CARE. I WAS DOCTOR IN CUBA FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT SHOULD I DO.
As an RN BSN, you have the ability to attain a high level of certification. You may choose between either the CWS or the CWCN. It is important to note that these certifications require a minimum of a bachelors degree, to prepare for these exams you will take the WoundEducators.com BSN-NP wound certification course. Your 20 years of clinical experience as a Physician in Cuba will count since you were performing wound care as a part the many areas that you addressed in your practice.
I am an LPN and I would like to take the wound care course, but I am not sur if I can work in Canada with your certificate or work in USA with my LPN diploma if I do my WCC degry. Please, can you explane what to do.
To begin, we recommend that you become “wound care educated” and the WoundEducators.com 50 hour online LPN wound certification course will help you to accomplish that. You may then pursue a certification such as the CWCA through the ABWM (aawm.org ) or the WCC. You will need to check with your local regulators regarding the scope of work permitted in your area.
I am a home care nurse and currently see alot of wounds. I also have previous hospital and nursing home experience with wounds. I am an RN BSN which program would be appropiate and how long is the program.
The WoundEducators.com online interactive educational programs are convenient and will prepare you for the nationally accredited ABWM wound care certification examination(www.aawm.org). As a BSN working in home care, we highly recommend that you take the WoundEducators.com 57 hour BSN wound certification course and that you consider the CWS certification offered by The American Board of Wound Management (www.aawm.org) which will differentiate you from other certifications since it is only offered to those with a Bachelors degree or higher.
I’m a Physical Therapist who would like to become a wound care specialist, but I don’t have a good background with wound care. How do I start this process of becoming one?
The WoundEducators.com 57 hour PT wound certification course will enhance your knowledge in wound care and as a PT, we highly recommend that you pursue the CWS certification which will differentiate you further since it is only offered to those with a Bachelors degree or higher. The CWS is a national certification and is good for ten years.
I have been interested in wound care specialization but my nursing experience has been infant/ neonatal, therefore I have no experience other than some ostomy/incontinence care of infants. Could that be considered enough experience?
It is important for you to look back at your work experience and job responsibilities that were related to wound care. Many individuals are pleasantly surprised when they actually reflect back to see that their cumulative experience was substantial and they actual meet certification requirements. When you are ready, Woundeducators.com will prepare you for the wound care certification that you choose.
I am bs rn.currently working in a nursing home and involve in wound care.i was a operating room nurse in philippines for 5 years..I want to be cwcn.help me and where to start
The WoundEducators.com online interactive educational programs are convenient and will prepare you for the nationally accredited ABWM wound care certification examination(www.aawm.org). As a BSN working in a nursing home, we highly recommend that you take the WoundEducators.com 57 hour BSN wound certification course and that you consider the CWS certification offered by The American Board of Wound Management (www.aawm.org) which will differentiate you from other certifications since it is only offered to those with a Bachelors degree or higher. The CWCN through the WOCN group may also be an option. The WoundEducators.com BSN –NP course will prepare you for either of those exams. You may register online at http://www.WoundEducators.com
I am an RN looking to become Wound Care certified to advance my career. I work in a hospital and a Rehab center. I see many wounds in both facilities. I’m also on our wound care comittee and participate quarterly in our prevalence study which looks at the incident of hospital acquired wounds. Not sure which course would be right for me. Any suggestions? Thank you.
As an experienced RN fully engaged in wound related activities at your hospital and rehabilitation center, you will take the WoundeEducators.com RN wound certification course. The course is 50 hours in duration and you will compl;ete it at your own pace. Once you have mastered the material you will take the national certification exam through the American Board of Wound Management.
can I take the rn bsn course ,as an rn with an associates degree? I do hold board certification in psychiatry.
Hi Susan, If you have a Bachelor’s degree, you can take the BSN course and either the CWS or the CWCN wound care certification exam.
Hello,
I am a RN, BSN, have been a nurse since June 2011 and have being doing wound care since day 1.
I really want to be wound care certified. Can I register and take to test now?
Thank you !
Hi Vira, I recommend that you take the BSN wound care certification course and then the CWS or CWCN wound care certification exam. You can find detailed course information here: https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification/ .Please contact us if you have any questions.
hi i am a medical assistant, graduated in 2004 i would like to become a wound care what should i do next since i have no experince. thank you
Hi Emily, I recommend that you take the MA Wound Care Courseand obtain the certificate of completion. You can then let your employer know that you completed the 50 hour wound care course and obtain the experience needed to take the exam. Once you have the required experience, we will allow you back on the course free of charge so that you can study for the certification exam. If you have any additional questions, please contact us.
Hi, I’m an lpn and work in dermatoogy where i do constant wound care. Would that count for anything?
Absolutely! 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.”
For detailed information visit our wound care certification courses page, or contact us directly.
I have been a cna since ’02 and I’ve decides I want to take a course in being wound care certified please tell me how can I get started. I have working agency lately but I’ve always been in a nursing home. I would love to work with wound and see them heal to perfection.
For detailed information visit our wound care certification courses page, or contact us directly.
Hi My name is Ironia and I’m a LPN I would like to know is your wound care course accrediated and by whom. Does the Board of Nursing recognize this certificate
Hi Ironia, As an LPN we recommend our 50-hour LPN Wound Certification Course.
The LPN wound certification course is fully accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for 50 CE hours and accepted in all states.
The American Board of Wound Management (ABWM) administers the only accredited wound care certification examination for an LPN. The ABWM is a national inter-disciplinary certifying board for healthcare professionals involved in wound care. For detailed information about the ABWM exam eligibility requirements, please refer to the attached handbook.
It is important to note that not all wound care certifications are accredited. We, therefore, recommend reading the following article: The Importance of Formal Accredited Certification in Wound Care.
The wound certification exam is available on a continuous testing cycle. Completed applications must be received in the ABWM office a minimum of 15 business days before the desired testing date. Once approved, candidates may schedule their examination for any time in the following six months, based on availability.
I am a RN, BSN I want to become Wound Care Certified, my clinical experience is based on 16 months as Home Care, please let me know what is my best option to initiate my pathway to reach it
Hi Mary,
Thank you for your interest in WoundEducators.com.
There are no eligibility requirements to take our course. To sit for the certification exam, you will need to show three years of clinical experience. The ABWM defines three years of clinical experience as follows:
“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.”
If you do not have the required clinical experience at this time, please contact us so that we can provide you with alternative options.
As a BSN we recommend our 57-hour BSN Wound Certification Course.
The BSN wound certification course is fully accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for 57 CE hours and accepted in all states.
The American Board of Wound Management (ABWM) administers the wound care certification examination. The ABWM is a national inter-disciplinary certifying board for healthcare professionals involved in wound care.
It is important to note that not all wound care certifications are accredited. We, therefore, recommend reading the following article: The Importance of Formal Accredited Certification in Wound Care.
The wound certification exam is available on a continuous testing cycle. Completed applications must be received in the ABWM office a minimum of 15 business days before the desired testing date. Once approved, candidates may schedule their examination for any time in the following six months, based on availability.
Hi, I am a PTA in Ga and have 10 years experience in wound care and enjoy it very much, if I acquire the cwca will that allow me to work in a clinic under a cwsp instead of my PT
Hi Kesha, Your clinic guidelines would dictate who you work under. Wound care certification validates your knowledge and experience in advanced wound care, however, your state practice act and facility guidelines dictate who you work under. With your experience, wound care certification would be a fantastic benefit to your patients, your employer and yourself! For more information and to register view our Basic Wound Care Certification Course
I have been a cna for almost 9 years and I am wanting to become certified in wound care. I have worked in nursing homes, a hospital and just tranfered to a wound care clinic. What do I need to do to beco.e certified in wound care.
Zandra,
We recommend taking the CNA course – https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/cna-ma/
The CNA Wound Certification Course will take approximately 50 hours to complete. However, each student progresses at his/her own pace, so individual completion times may vary. This course in ANCC approved in all states. Full requirements for the CWCA (our recommended certification for CNAs can be found here. http://www.abwmcertified.org/abwm-certified/cwca/cwca-why-certify/
If you have more questions, feel free to contact us! More CWCA info can also be found here – https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-cost/
Can you comment on what an OT would do with wound care compared to an RN? I am thinking about becoming a CWS whenever I get my CLT. Practice setting in Subacute/snf and home care. -New OT grad
Hi OT, A lot of occupational therapists and physical therapists deal extensively with post-op patients, and wound care is almost always necessary, especially with chronic wounds which are more prevalent with age. Becoming wound care certified will be a huge asset to any practice and to all your patients!
Hi. Good day. I am a BSN RN for 20+ years. I am currently working in an in center hemodialysis clinic. Majority of the patients are diabetic. We do monthly foot checks on all of them. I do not have wound care experience. I would like to know where to start. Please advice. Thanks.
If you can prove you have three or more years assisting with wounds or wound care throughout your career, we recommend using our BSN Course to prepare for the CWS certification offered by ABWM. The three years does not have to be consecutive!
I am a LPN interested in getting wound care certified. What is the difference between WCC and CWCA?
Gabrielle,
The WCC is recently accredited as of 2019 and is a 5-year certification for all levels of healthcare professionals. The CWCA is an accredited 10-year certification. You can compare them here: Compare Wound Care Certification Options
I recently became an RN and have been working as an LPN for the last 10 years with Home Health Care . I have a BA not a BSN . Please let me know what is my best option of becoming wound care certified . Thank you
Paul, as of 2019, all RNs (including associate) can become CWS certified. As long as you have three years of experience (the experience does not have to be at the RN-level or consecutive) and meet all the requirements, this is your best option. Our RN course will prepare you for the CWS or WCC as an RN.
I am a BSN, RN, and have been a nurse for 30 years. I’ve worked in the medical device industry with a pressure injury prevention device for the past five years and assisted with wound care and staging at the bedside. I also conducted wound care in home health many years ago. I now consult in pressure injury prevention and would like to get my WCC/CWS. How do I account for my scattered wound care experience to obtain certification?
Kimberly,
Good news – when applying for your CWS, your experience does not have to be consecutive. If you can prove you have 3 or more years of combined experience (I’m sure you have plenty!) you will meet the necessary experience requirement. You can submit your application on the ABWM website. Once you have your CWS, then you can take your AWCC, which is a newer certification offered by the same organization as the WCC. Our course will prepare you for all three certifications. Note: The WCC does not have an experience minimum as long as you meet the educational requirement. Our course qualifies as the educational requirement. You can alternatively meet the requirement for the AWCC by proving you have your CWS certification. If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out! Best of luck!
Hi there,
I am 43yr female who has a very strong interest in wound care, but I am finding it difficult to find out the basic information about getting training in this area. I am not trained in nursing, I have 2 trades children’s services cert 3 and advanced senior hairdresser cert 4.
I have always found wound care extremely interesting, but always assumed that you had to be a registered nurse before you could become a wound care specialist. I just want to know if there is any professions that involve wound care without having to become a registered nurse first, also how many years of training it involves.
I would greatly appreciate any information or advice on how to get involved in this field.
Hey Kristy,
Thank you for your interest in wound care, to learn more about the various certifications offered, check out our comprehensive wound care whitepaper. https://woundeducators.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/The-Importance-of-a-Formal-Accredited-Certification-in-Wound-Care-r.pdf
If you would like more personalized info after reading through this, use our contact form and we will be in touch right away – best if luck!