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 a BSN. We encourage BSNs to obtain the CWS or the CWCN certification since it dictates a higher level of education and is available only for nurses who have a Bachelors degree or higher.

All licensed nurses can also obtain the WCC certification, although this is no longer an accredited certification and provides the same test for all nurses regardless of educational level and degree. Accredited wound care certifications include the CWCA, CWS, CWSP, and CWCN. These 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 BSNs and NPs.

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 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 CWCA certification. Our wound care certification course for RNs will also prepare nurses for the WCC certification, but this certification is not accredited and only lasts 5 years. The CWCA certification lasts for ten years and is the only accredited certification option available for diploma associate level RNs.

BSN / Nurse Practitioner Wound Care Certification Course

Any nurse with a bachelor’s degree in nursing or any nurse practitioner will receive 57 hours for completing the BSN/ NP wound care certification course. This course builds upon existing advanced education and will provide invaluable wound care knowledge to integrate into practice. As we discussed earlier, we recommend BSNs and Nurse Practitioners pursue either the CWCN certification or the CWS certification. The CWS certification provides a stronger differentiation since it is only offered to those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. The CWS certification is valid for ten years, the CWCN is valid for 5. These two are the only accredited certification options available for BSNs or NPs.

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 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!