Wound care certification cost can be described in two different ways – one which only considers the cost of the actual certification exam, and one which considers the overall wound care certification cost from start to finish. Most wound care certification exams cost between $300-$575. On the other hand, wound care certification courses can range widely both in cost and in CE/CME hours provided. In addition to paying your exam fee, many wound care certifications also require you to have previously completed an accredited wound care course. Below we break down the cost of common wound care certification exams and overall cost when paired with one of our courses.
Cost of NAWCO Wound Care Certification Exams
To take your WCC exam, there is a $30 application fee and a $300 exam cost. The WCC exam is administered by NAWCO, the National Alliance of Wound Care & Ostomy. You can use any of our courses to prepare for the WCC exam, however, this particular certification is not an accredited certification. If you decide to take this exam, you may have to take another one that is accredited later in your career. This could drive your overall wound care certification cost up if you have to pay for an additional/different exam.
WOCNB Certification Offerings
The WOCNCB exams and certifications are accredited certifications and are also competitively priced; the initial exam will cost $395, which covers the exam and application. Once you pass the exam, the certification is valid for five years. Besides being nationally accredited, another benefit of the WOCN certification is that there is no annual renewal fee within that five-year term.
The WOCNCB offers multiple certifications:
- Foot Care Certification
- Wound, Ostomy, and Certification
- Wound Treatment Associate
- Advanced Practice Wound Certification
- CWCN (most common)
If you are a go-getter, the WOCNCB also offers discounts when taking more than one certification exam at a time, with this application fee structure:
- Two Certification Specialties – $510 fee
- Three Specialties -$610 fee
- Four Specialties – $670 fee
The Wound Treatment Associate Exam offered by the WCONCB is $295. The WTA is not an accredited certification. The WTA exam must be taken by an LPN, LVN, or RN. Although the WTA is a less common path, it is still worth mentioning. In order to get your WTA-C credentials, you must complete 16 hours of clinical care under the direct supervision of a WOCNCB Certified Wound Care Nurse.
AWBM Wound Care Certification Cost
The AWBM also has a similar wound care certification cost. The cost to take their exams is:
- CWCA-$375
- CWS-$575
- CWSP-$995
Our wound care certification courses are widely used and extremely successful when used for preparing for the AWBM certifications. The ABWM certification is valid for ten years, however, there is a yearly 6 hour CE requirements and a $150 yearly registration fee.
Courses with an Until-You-Pass Guarantee
Many nurses take our wound care certification courses to prepare for the wound certification exam. We offer an “until-you-pass” guarantee, which will give you course access until you successfully receive your certification (provided it is within 3 years of registration).
Wound Care Certification Cost: Courses
WoundEducators.com aims to keep their wound care certification cost for courses affordable for all healthcare professionals. The (WCEI) Wound Care Education Institute’s cost for their online Skin and Wound Management Course is currently $2,797 for 22.75 CE hours. Our accredited online wound care certification courses for are just $797 for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, CNAs, and medical salespersons. Our wound care certification courses for Physicians, Occupational Therapists, BSNs, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants are just $897. Courses are approved for 50-60 CE/CME hours and all course materials and shipping are included.
Look Out for Non-Accredited Certifications
Vohra and WCC certifications are not accredited. Vohra’s full certification course with CE credits currently cost $410. This course may provide you with useful wound care knowledge, but you will need additional coursework if you plan on registering to take the CWCN, CWCA, CWS, or CWSP certification exams. While these courses still offer continuing education hours, they cannot be used to meet the education required for most accredited wound care certification exams. Their purpose is for accelerating wound care practices and professional knowledge.
Comprehensive Wound Care Certification Cost
The complete wound care certification cost combined with one of our preparation courses is very cost-effective for any certification you choose. Although the certifications listed above all require you to have a certain amount of clinical experience, knowing the cost will allow you to make better decisions about your future career path. By breaking down wound care certification cost, we want to make sure that you have no surprise costs and can budget appropriately when trying to achieve certification.
Thank you for sharing your valuable information. I am a new NP who would like to become proficient in Wound Care as well as to become certified.
Note that the WOCNCB experiential path also requires 1600 wound care clinical hours experience over the 5 years preceding the exam including 375 hours in the year before the exam.
Thanks Irene, view detailed information on the WOCNB wound care certification exam eligibility requirements.