Wound Care Certification for Nurses
Did you know that nurses make up the largest healthcare occupation in the US? Nurses are a critical part of patient success and arguably the most important part of the healthcare industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted that between 2014 and 2024, employment of LPNs, LVNs, and RNs will grow 16%. The biggest indicator of this job growth is the ever-growing (aging) population.
Create Your Nursing Specialty
One way nurses are setting themselves apart is by proving their commitment to the healthcare field. Obtaining additional certifications, including the wound care certification for nurses, is an excellent way to create distinction.
Creating a specialty, such as wound care management, solidifies advancement of individual nurses worldwide. There are a handful of wound care certifications for nurses available including the Wound Certified Wound Care Associate (CWCA), Wound Care Certification (WCC), Certified Wound Care Nurse Certification (CWCN), and the Certified Wound Specialist (CWS).
Although there are four paths to wound care certification for nurses we will discuss, not every nurse can pursue each.
Wound Care Certification for Nurses – Who Can Get What?
While the clinical requirements to obtain each wound care certification for nurses varies, one constant is maintaining an active, unrestricted license.
Associate-degree nurses, RNs, LPNs, LVNs can all obtain the CWCA certification, however, there are better wound care certification choices for BSNs and RNs. We encourage RNs to obtain the CWS® Certified Wound Specialist Certification. BSNs and Associate RNs can obtain the CWS® or the CWCN® certification since it dictates a higher level of education.
All licensed nurses can also obtain the WCC® certification, which was recently re-accredited in 2019. The WCC provides the same certification test for all nurses regardless of educational level and degree. Other accredited wound care certifications include the CWCA®, CWS®, CWSP®, CWCN®, and WCC®. Accredited wound care certifications show more prestige in the healthcare industry; they are more regulated by default.
Any healthcare professional with a Bachelor’s degree or higher can obtain the CWS certification- including DO, DPM, DVM, MD, NP, PA, PT, RD, or RNs.
To obtain the CWCN certification, one must have a bachelor’s degree or higher and be currently licensed as an RN. This requires you to have already passed the NCLEX exam and have an active RN license.
Trust the Wound Care Experts
We surveyed an elite panel of wound care specialists to share the fundamental knowledge needed to pass national board certification exams. We used this information as the basis for creating each of our wound care certification courses.
Wound Care Courses for Nurses
We have created three distinct wound care certification courses for nurses– because we recognize not all nurses are the same! Our courses address the variances in knowledge and create a relatable path for wound education for each nurse.
LPN / LVN Wound Care Certification Course
Any LPN or LVN that completes our wound care certification course will receive 50 CE hours. Our wound courses cover wound basics, past studies, current products, and an overview of many wound care topics and fundamentals necessary for success in wound management. LPNs and LVNs can become certified via the CWCA® or WCC® exam. We recommend LPNs and LVNs pursue the CWCA® Certified Wound. Care Associate certification since it is an accredited certification. The CWCA® certification lasts for ten years.
RN Wound Care Certification Course
Our wound care certification course for RNs will provide 50 CE credit hours to RNs upon completion. Our RN course allows RNs to work at their own pace with 24/7 access. We recommend associate-level RNs pursue the accredited CWS® Certified Wound Specialist certification. Our wound care certification course for RNs will also prepare nurses for the WCC® certification, but this certification only lasts 5 years. The CWS® certification lasts for ten years and is the most prestigious accredited certification option available for diploma and associate level RNs.
BSN and Nurse Practitioner Wound Care Certification Courses
Any nurse with a bachelor’s degree in nursing or any nurse practitioner will receive 57 hours for completing the BSN wound care certification course or the NP wound care certification course. This course builds upon existing advanced education and will provide invaluable wound care knowledge to integrate into practice. We recommend BSNs and Nurse Practitioners pursue the CWCN® certification, the CWS® certification, or the WCC® certification. The CWS® Certified Wound Specialist certification provides the strongest differentiation. The CWS® wound care certification is valid for ten years, the CWCN® and WCC® certifications are valid for five years.
Other Wound Care Courses Available
One common misconception is that Physician Assistants are nurses. Some nurses may go on to become Physician Assistants, but having a nursing degree or prior title is not required. We offer a separate physician assistant wound care certification course.
CNAs are also not nurses – CNAs must work under the direct supervision of an RN or LPN. WoundEducators.com does offer a separate course for CNAs and MAs. We recommend CNAs and MAs pursue the accredited CWCA® wound care certification or the WCC® certification.
Your Source for Wound Care Nurse Advancement
Consider us the expert on wound care certification for nurses and beyond. We ensure that each one of our courses speaks to the right audience to maximize learning. We take prior education and knowledge into consideration when creating our wound care certification courses and use that existing knowledge to build upon. Training and specialization distinguish one nurse from another- and we would love to help you set yourself apart!
My name is Bernard Abazie. I took this course as a LVN about 4 years ago but did not take the certification/board exams due to pressing financial problems. What can I do get certified?
Hi Bernard, You can certainly take the exam now, however, I highly recommend that you retake the course to review the material before sitting for the exam. We are happy to offer a substantial discount since you are a prior student. Please contact us at 800-637-5526 to discuss.
I am rathish from Toronto canada and i am worKing as a full time RN. Am i allowed to take this course ? and wounder if it valid in canada?
Rathish,
Yes! You can take the course and become certified in Canada.
To find out more, read our article on becoming certified in Canada:https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-in-canada/
Link to our RN course: https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/rn/
Hi Laurie,
I am one of your former students. I currently hold WCC and will need to renew my certification in 2 years. I would like to sign up for the review course again for my recertification. Would I be eligible for a discount.
I really loved the voice of the teacher and because I already tested and passed the course I can say the review is worth it. I signed up not to divulge about the test but taking your course helps me understood the testing material.
This course is highly recommendable.
I am at work now and might not have time to follow thru this email at my job. Will you please email me at my personal email- ej95 19@ yahoo.com.
If not I will call the 800 number indicated above.
Thank you so much.
Laurene Elauria-Johnson, RN-WCC
Lauren,
I will pass on your contact to Laurie and Karen to see what we can offer. In the meantime, if you wouldn’t mind, can you leave us a review on our site or Facebook to let other students know about your experience?
Hi, Are nurses from the Caribbean allowed to-do this wound care the wound care course. Rn at certificate level and certified mid-wife.
Hi Averene,
Thank you for your interest in WoundEducators.com
You can certainly take our courses from the Caribean. We have many international students take our course and achieve wound care certification You will have 6-month access to the online course. Shipment of your training kit is included in the price of the course.
Attached is a list of test center locations where you can sit for the wound certification exam.
If you are leaning toward a course that will eliminate the need for travel and work absences, then the WoundEducators.com online course is perfect for you. It will also allow you to proceed at your own pace with a high level of learning and retention.
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.
For more information and to register, please visit:
https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/.
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. For detailed information about the ABWM exam eligibility requirements and to download the exam handbook and application, please visit: https://woundeducators.com/wound-certification/abwm/
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 Career.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
I’m interested in wound care too. I read in another thread that working in LTC will give you tons of experience and enough opportunity to become certified, though I don’t know the actual hours required. I would imagine there is a lot of wound care in home health too, since pressure ulcers can end up requiring long term chronic care.
I’ll go see if I can find out the hours required to sit for exams.
Kinley,
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.
Hi Kinley,
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.
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. For detailed information about the ABWM exam eligibility requirements please visit https://woundeducators.com/wound-certification/abwm/.
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
I am a RN and I wanted to know if your course will prepare me for the CWCN exam?
Regina, Yes! We recommend: https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/rn/ you will have 6-month unlimited course access and an Until You Pass Guarantee, which will allow you to access completed course materials to study for the exam. You will still have to make sure you meet all the other requirements to take the exam, including necessary hours and proof of active license. Contact us at [email protected] if you need more assistance. Best of luck!
Hi I’ve been doing wound rounds with our wound care doctor for 6 years. I’ve been doing wound cafe for 6 years I have a bachelor’s degree can I take wound care exam immediately or do I have to take a class.
Kristina,
The good news is you should have sufficient wound care clinical experience to be able to become certified fairly quickly. Which specific wound care certification were you trying to pursue? Almost all accredited wound care certifications still require you to have the educational portion, whether that be from an online course like WoundEducators.com or through an in-person class.
hi, I have 5 years of wound experience, and I have a bachelors degree. What else is needed to take the exam. I also have 23 wound CE credit
if you wanted to take the CWS exam, you must send proof of your current license and clinical experience to the ABWM. From there, the ABWM will approve you to take the exam. Upon being approved, you have 3 months to take the exam through a PSI testing center.
Submit your completed application in hard copy to:
American Board of Wound Management
1800 M St NW
Suite 400S
Washington, DC 20036
Application can be found here:
http://www.abwmcertified.org/abwm-certified/how-to-apply
Is having a bachelors degree a requirement for CWS? I am an RN with only my AS. Thank you.
Aurora,
The ABWM has expanded its CWS criteria to include Associate RNs. You will still need to meet the experience requirements, but our RN course can prepare you for certification. RN Wound Care Certification Course
Becoming a CWS Certified Wound Care Specialist
To get the CWS, does my degree have to be in nursing? I’m an LPN with a Bachelors in Biology, and would like to take the course.
Diana, As an LPN you should take the LPN course and pursue either the CWCA offered by the ABWM or the WCC offered by NAWCO. Both are now accredited and our LPN course will prepare her for both. (You will still need to submit your application for certification and meet all other experience requirements.)
Link to our LPN course – LPN – LVN Wound Care Certification
Hi! Im a Home Health Rn and I graduated BSN in the Philippines. I have been doing home health since 2010 and i have been doing wound care for my patients. What course should i take? or can i take the exam directly?
Joy, you can take our BSN wound care course – https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/bsn-np/ to prepare you for the certification of your choice, including the CWS, WCC, or CWCN. I would start by seeing which testing centers are available in your area – http://online.goamp.com/CandidateHome/displayTCList.aspx?pExamID=21400
Hi –
I am an ASN -RN with a BS in psychology. Got a BS THEN realized I wanted to go back to school for nursing and earned my degree at the local community college.
I have been an RN now for 15 years.
I worked as a wound RN in a wound center for 3 years (2014-2017) then went into HH nursing (2016-present).
I am trying to figure out if I am only eligible for a CWS or if I am eligible for WCC or CWCN?
I am not currently working under a preceptor.
Can you please provide the link to the appropriate prep course when you respond.
Thank you – Britt
I have a question, if one of you can help me I appreciate. I’m a Brazilian wound care nurse. Do you know if I can get a wound care certificate in the USA with my bachelor degree from Brazil? Thank you!
Rachel,
You can view all the certification requirements for each wound care certification here: https://woundeducators.com/compare-wound-care-certifications/
This includes the WCC, AWCC, CWCN, CWS, CWSP, and CWCA wound care certifications. Once you narrow down your choice, you can search for testing centers in your area and check and see if you meet all the requirements for testing.
Thank you very much for the informative Wound Care Certification class. I really learned a lot and now that I am going to renew my cert, I will enroll again to review. The voice of the narrator is so nice that I wanted to hear her voice all the time. For me the teacher’s voice is a motivation for my adult learning.
I did not know this when I was growing up, but I learned that we learned in different ways. For me the audio and the visual aids are both important for my learning and you got these 2 factors.
When I passed my certification exam, I received a step as a promotion. So back then and now I can tell you that it is worth it to be a Wound Care Certified Nurse. At my job, they really like us to be certified so I also received a monetary award. The wound cases at my job is less because we really take care of our veterans, mentally, physically which includes their nutritional needs.
Lastly, I gained knowledge from the Wound Educators and know in my heart that I can practice wound care safely. You are highly recommended.
Thank you so much for the feedback, Laurene! If you haven’t yet, make sure to leave a review for us on https://woundeducators.com/about-us/testimonials/ to let other students hear real feedback on our courses.
I am an LPN working in New York City, is this accredited for New York? If I move from NYC to another state will the certificated still be accredited?
Jill, Our CE hours carry over nationwide, and so does our completion certificate. In order to be nationally certified, you will still need to take the exam of your choice. If you have 3 years of experience, we recommend testing for your CWCA as it is a 10-year nationally recognized certification. Our LPN course will prepare you for either your CWCA or WCC certification exam. Best of luck!
Hello-I am a BSN RN. I have worked 9 years focused primarily in psychiatry, but had to attend to patient’s physical status as well such as cuts, lacerations, stitches, etc. All of which, requiring cleaning, medication and dressing applications. Does this experience background qualify me to take the examination upon my completion of the course?
Hello. I am a practicing physician who is interested in becoming a wound care specialist. Is the physician’s course you offer designed for those already actively doing wound care, or someone such as myself with little clinical wound care experience? My specialty is Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and I do have basic experience with wound care over the years for some of my patients.
Christopher,
Our course is designed for all levels of wound care knowledge – our #1 goal is to help people prepare for wound care certification the affordable way. Anyone with previous experience can build upon the knowledge they already have, but our courses are simple and easy to understand for those without any experience. We use multiple different methods of learning, including video, online flashcards, quizzes, and reading. You would make a great candidate for our physician course!
when an RN successfully completes an accredited wound care program but is not yet certified. What is the title she is allowed to use if any ( i.e. WOC ) ?.
Lydia,
You can use your course completion certificate as a way to leverage more wound-care jobs, but cannot add the credentials until you pass the national board exam of your choice. As an RN, our courses will prepare you for the CWS, WCC, and more!
Is the Wound Care Educators course approved as a program course by the WOCN society?
Lydia,
The WOCN approves our course near the experiential track using CE hours. For more information, visit our WOCN page.
https://woundeducators.com/wocn/
Hello. Is this course recognized for working as a Wound care Nurse (RN) in the USA? Thank you.
Hey Camille,
Our online course will prepare you for with the CWS or WCC as an RN. Our course offers 6-months access, 57 CE hours, E-Textbook(s), Wound Care Certification Study Guides, and 24/7 Access. Shop here – RN Wound Care Certification Course
Hello, my name is Michelle G. I am currently living in Bartlett, TN. I have been a practicing nurse in medsurg for 3 years and an oversight nurse for 6 years with a home health agency. I have my BSN and would like to practice woundcare for the remainder of my career. What’s the best route for an individual like myself?
Hi, I am a new grad RN, currently working casual at the hospital and full time home care nurse, I got my RN license March of this year 2022, what are the chances that I can take wound care course? Thanks.
Hey Laine, you can take our RN wound care course. You do not need to have a specific amount of experience to enroll and complete the course. In order to become wound care certified with the board, you will need to meet the experience necessary for the certification of your choice; for example, the CWS requires three years of wound-related experience. If you do not meet the three years’ requirement, you can complete our course and use your training to leverage more wound care experience with your current provider. If you have any other questions, reach out using our contact form for the quickest response!
I am a new RN. I was an LPN for three years with half of that spent back in school and not working. I have worked in long-term care for years as a CNA. Does my time as a CNA count toward the 3 years for wound experience for the specialist program? Thanks!
Hey Kim,
Thank you for your commitment to wound care! As long as you can prove you have three years’ of cumulative (not consecutive) wound care experience and meet all other criteria (such as an active license), you can apply to sit for the CWS exam. You can find all criteria for the CWS application on our CWS page.
Hello, I am a new RN. I was an LPN for three years with half of that spent back in school and not working. I have worked in long-term care for years as a CNA. Does my time as a CNA count toward the 3 years for wound experience for the specialist program? Thanks!