• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Course Login

WoundEducators.com | Online Wound Care Certification Courses

Your online source for wound care certification.

  • Courses
  • About Us
    • Meet The Team
    • Risk-Free Guarantee
    • Accredited Wound Care Course Info
    • Student Testimonials
    • Our Mission to Help
  • Why Certify?
    • What’s Included
    • How Hard is Wound Care Certification?
    • Wound Care Certification Cost
    • Wound Care Certification for Nurses
    • Getting Started: Wound Care Certification
  • Resources
    • Sign up for Our Newsletter
    • Search Wound Care Jobs
    • Post a Wound Care Job
    • Submit Your Resume
    • I Completed My Wound Care Course – Now What?
    • Wound Care CE Hours Online
    • Wound Care Recertification Process
  • Certifications
    • Compare Wound Care Certification Options
    • ABWM® Wound Care Certifications
      • The CWCA® Certification
      • The CWS® Certification
      • The CWSP® Wound Care Certification
    • The WCC® Certification
    • The AWCC® Wound Care Certification
    • The CWCN® Certification
  • Blog
  • FAQ’s
  • Contact

Comparing Wound Care Certification Options

November 13, 2013 38 Comments

183
SHARES
ShareTweetGoogle +Linkedin
PinterestRedditTumblrStumbleuponDiggDelicious

https://woundeducators.com/wocn/Wound Care Certification Options

wound care certification options

If you have been researching wound care certification options, you may have stopped after being overwhelmed with a host of acronyms. Despair not- we provide all of the information about the available accredited certification bodies that can help you demystify the process of deciding between wound care certification options.

Simply visit our “compare Wound Care Certification Options” page to learn which license and degree are required as well as how much wound care experience is required. You can then choose which of our courses might best suit your needs.

Our courses will prepare you for the wound care certification option of your choice

There are a variety of wound care certifications available. Our courses are designed to provide you with options by preparing you for the wound care certification of your choice. We believe in choice- when you take one of our courses, we want you to have the option to choose between one of the many certifying bodies available. To this end, we have designed our courses so that you can make the choice that makes the best sense for you.

Whether you are an LPN, RN, physician or other health care professional, we want you to be able to successfully pass the certification exam of your choice that will lead to certification with the certifying body with which you most closely identify. In providing you with so many options, our goal is to help you succeed, no matter which route you choose.

At WoundEducators.com, we have no affiliation with any of the licensing bodies, thus it is not our goal to push you towards choosing one wound care certification over another. All have value, and any of them can help you get to where you want to be in your professional life. Becoming certified as a wound care specialist can help you to move upwards on your career ladder, helping you to command a higher salary or take on a new and challenging role as a wound care professional. But first, you need the necessary education to be able to pass the certification exam of your choice- and that’s where we come in.

Want to learn more about our wound care certification courses? We offer a number of courses geared towards your specific knowledge, experience, and educational background.

Wound Care Certification Boards

For detailed information on the individual certifying visit the links below:

Accredited Wound Care Certifications

  • American Board of Wound Management (ABWM)
  • Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Board (WOCNCB)
  • National Alliance Wound Care Ostomy (NAWCO)

For more information about the accreditation in wound care certification, download our white paper:  “The Importance of a Formal Accredited Certification in Wound Care”

Categories: Wound Certification Information

About the Author

Laurie Swezey's avatar

Laurie Swezey, founder and president of WoundEducators.com, has been a Registered Nurse for more than a quarter century, with most of those years dedicated to wound treatment. Ms. Swezey is a Certified Wound Care Nurse and a Certified Wound Specialist.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Che Plang, PT, WCC says

    December 3, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    Hi,
    Hope your having a wonderful day.
    I was just wondering, in your certification chart/pyramid, WCC was in the bottom and the CWS was in the middle, does it mean that it is a better certification board?
    thanks and much respect,
    Che

    Reply
    • Laurie Swezey says

      December 8, 2013 at 12:02 pm

      Hi Che, The CWS is higher in the hierarchy since it requires a bachelor degree. The CWCA (ten year certification) and WCC (5 year certification) do not require a bachelors, therefore many consider them less “selective” than the CWS.
      Please visit http://www.woundeducators.com for additional resources

      Reply
    • Carmen constNt says

      June 5, 2018 at 5:28 pm

      I would to get accredited wound care program to do. I am not interested in taking board exams every 4 years . I work in acute rehab and see wounds, dont have excess to acute surgery for clinicals. I would like to do continuing education instead. What program can I do?

      Reply
      • Laurie Swezey says

        June 6, 2018 at 10:01 am

        Hi Carmen,

        Thank you for your interest in WoundEducators.com.

        We offer a 23-hour Evidence-Based Wound Care Certificate Course. You would not be required to take boards with this course. There are no eligibility requirements to take the course. For more information and to register visit: https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/certificate/

        Reply
    • DrSangeetha says

      October 27, 2020 at 10:04 am

      How to apply for CWSP (USA) please guide.
      Thank you

      Reply
  2. Robin van Geest says

    February 21, 2017 at 11:36 am

    I want to become wound certfied. I am a Rn/bsn and have been a rn for 30 years. Yet i dont feel i have the hands on experience. What do I do about that? I am not working in a clinical setting pet se now. Yet I do have past hospital experience. I am lost as what to do next. Thanks

    Reply
    • Laurie Swezey says

      February 21, 2017 at 2:35 pm

      Hi Robin, 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.”

      If you wish to have additional experience, I recommend contacting a local certified wound specialist in your area and asking if you can shadow her/him for a few days. You can locate certified wound specialists here: https://portal.abwmcertified.org/ABWMweb/Directory/ABWMcontent/Directory.aspx

      As a BSN we recommend our 57 hour BSN/NP Wound care Certification Course.

      Reply
      • Robin mitchell says

        June 11, 2017 at 8:48 pm

        I am very interested in wound care it gets me very upset when I see my patients With them I feel classification of the types of wound is essential to learn as Well as how to properly care For Them .

        Reply
        • Laurie Swezey says

          June 13, 2017 at 12:44 pm

          Hi Robin thank you for your comment. It is certainly frustrating when wounds aren’t classified properly. Since you are interested in wound care, you may be interested in pursuing certification. For more information on our courses and the eligibility requirements see our certification courses.

          Reply
    • NancyJackson says

      May 7, 2018 at 1:22 pm

      Interested NancyJackson LPN 719-821-5377

      Reply
      • Laurie Swezey says

        May 7, 2018 at 1:25 pm

        Hi Nancy,

        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 following presentation provides a brief overview of our program: http://woundeducators.com/course-preview/.

        As an LPN we recommend our 50-hour LPN Wound Certification Course. For more information and to register, please visit: http://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/wound-care-certification-lpn/.

        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: http://woundeducators.com/accredited-wound-certification/.

        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.

        Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

        Reply
  3. Marìa De Lourdes Marrero says

    March 3, 2017 at 1:18 am

    Estos exámenes con certificaciones o boardd

    Reply
  4. Frances says

    April 28, 2017 at 6:47 pm

    As LVN I am interested in wound care certification. I want accredited

    Reply
    • Laurie Swezey says

      May 15, 2017 at 3:20 pm

      The WoundEducators.com online interactive educational programs are convenient and will prepare you for the nationally accredited wound care certification exam provided by the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM). For more information about the ABWM exam eligibility requirements please visit: https://woundeducators.com/wound-certification/abwm.
      The following presentation provides a brief overview of our program: https://woundeducators.com/course-preview/
      We also recommend reading the following article: The Importance of Formal Accredited Certification in Wound Care:
      https://woundeducators.com/accredited-wound-certification/
      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.

      As an LPN we recommend our 50 hour LVN Wound Certification Course. For more information and to register, please visit: https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/wound-care-certification-lpn/
      The LPN wound certification course is fully accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing center (ANCC) for 50 CE hours and is accepted in all states.

      Reply
  5. Rexy Aguilar says

    July 1, 2017 at 7:58 pm

    I am interested getting certified in wound care but I’m not sure which class to take. I am a Licensed Vocational Nurse for over 12 years now, and currently working full time in the medical/surgical unit and part time in wound care. I have my bachelor’s degree in business management. I don’t know if it matters in getting certified in wound care, just wondering if it counts. Please advise. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Laurie Swezey says

      July 3, 2017 at 10:13 am

      With your experience and educational background, I recommend getting certified in wound care!

      Because you have a Bachelors degree, you would be eligible to take the accredited CWS certification available for Bachelor and higher prepared professionals. The CWS is a challenging exam, so you will need to take the Advanced wound care certification course.

      The WoundEducators.com online interactive educational programs are convenient and will prepare you for the nationally accredited wound care certification exam provided by the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM).

      I also recommend reading the following article: The Importance of Formal Accredited Certification in Wound Care:

      The Advanced wound certification course is fully accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for 50 CE hours and is accepted in all states.

      Reply
  6. Margarita Gonzalez says

    August 6, 2017 at 11:51 am

    Hi,God bless you. I took a review of the course in Puerto Rico. My English is not fluent. Not pass the test. They only have us two hours. Can I take it again (the test) ? What are the instruction to take it? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Laurie Swezey says

      August 21, 2017 at 1:21 pm

      Yes, you will need to contact the ABWM for retesting information. If you wish to take a refresher course with us, please contact us.

      Reply
  7. Roz Mader says

    September 19, 2017 at 12:31 pm

    I am interested in wound care, I am ADN, one of the factors is cost of course. Does one need to do clinicals as well?

    Reply
    • Laurie Swezey says

      September 21, 2017 at 5:06 pm

      There are no eligibility requirements to take our course. To sit for the certification exam you will need to show 3 years of clinical experience.
       
      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.

      Reply
  8. Elizabeth Caron says

    October 19, 2017 at 3:19 pm

    Hi there,
    I am a diploma RN with 17 year of experience in long term care, hospice and Skilled rehab care. Just wondering if the RN wound care course would be a plus for me?

    Reply
    • Laurie Swezey says

      October 23, 2017 at 10:18 am

      Hi Elizabeth,

      Thank you for your interest in WoundEducators.com. As a diploma nurse with your level of clinical experience wound care certification is a great option! Hi Elizabeth,

      Thank you for your interest in WoundEducators.com. As a diploma nurse with your level of clinical experience wound care certification is a great option! 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.” 

      The following presentation provides a brief overview of our program: https://woundeducators.com/course-preview/.

      Some available wound care certifications are not accredited. Therefore, we highly recommend reading the following article: The Importance of Formal Accredited Certification in Wound Care: https://woundeducators.com/accredited-wound-certification/.

      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.

      As an RN we recommend our 50-hour RN Wound Certification Course. For more information and to register, please visit: https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/wound-care-certification-RN/.

      Reply
  9. lisa kephart says

    October 20, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    hi, I am an lpn, I would like to take this course, can an lpn take the test and get certified? where is the test given, I am in PA. what is the cost of the course?

    Reply
    • Laurie Swezey says

      October 20, 2017 at 1:09 pm

      As an LPN we recommend our 50-hour LPN Wound Certification Course. For more information and to register, please visit: https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/wound-care-certification-lpn/.

      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 LPNs. The ABWM is a national inter-disciplinary certifying board for healthcare professionals involved in wound care. View detailed information about the ABWM exam eligibility requirements.

      The test center locations in PA can be viewed here: http://online.goamp.com/CandidateHome/displayTCList.aspx?pExamID=21400

      Reply
  10. Mark k Howell says

    October 25, 2017 at 6:37 pm

    Hi Ms. Swezey,
    I am currently an. L.P.N in New York. I am working towards my R.N. I have always been interested in wound care. What’s the best path for me to follow?
    Thanks,
    Mark Arno-Howell

    Reply
    • Laurie Swezey says

      October 26, 2017 at 8:08 am

      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 following presentation provides a brief overview of our program: https://woundeducators.com/course-preview/.

      As an LPN we recommend our 50-hour LPN Wound Certification Course. For more information and to register, please visit: https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/wound-care-certification-lpn/.

      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: https://woundeducators.com/accredited-wound-certification/.

      Reply
  11. JohAnne Disalvo says

    February 9, 2018 at 10:22 am

    Hi I am an AD RN. I have a colleague who became certified and paid $3000. She passed the test first time. She had a week long course. Is this course you are offering equivalent? I want to become certified and am speptical. I don’t want hidden fees . Bottom line is , I want to be one WCC. I live in RI.

    Reply
  12. JohAnne Disalvo says

    February 9, 2018 at 10:23 am

    I wanted to edit, but could not get back in!

    Reply
    • Laurie Swezey says

      February 9, 2018 at 12:33 pm

      Hi JohAnne, The WCC is not an accredited certification, so we recommend the accredited CWCA wound care certification. For more information refer to our article “The Value of a Formally Accreditated Certification in Wound Care. I also recommend that you read the following whitepaper.

      The WCEI wound care certification course is a $2,700 course and provides 23.75 CE hours of education. Our RN wound care certification course cost $797 and provides 50 CE hours and wound training kit which is shipped to your home.

      As an AD RN we recommend our 50-hour RN Wound Certification Course. For more information and to register, please visit: http://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/rn/.

      Reply
  13. Anite Nicolas says

    April 11, 2018 at 10:56 pm

    Hi, I AM A CNA certified and a graduated practical nurse. I would like to take the wound care certification.
    Am I qualify for the course?

    thanks

    Reply
    • Holly Hingle says

      April 12, 2018 at 10:43 am

      Anite, thank you for your interest in our wound care courses. You do qualify to take our course.

      CNA course – https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/cna-ma/

      Licensed Practical Nurse Course – https://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/lpn/

      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 following presentation provides a brief overview of our program: http://woundeducators.com/course-preview/.

      Reply
      • Deborah Callicotte says

        June 5, 2018 at 12:40 pm

        Im trying to sign on to get course details and price. help! [email protected]

        Reply
        • Laurie Swezey says

          June 6, 2018 at 9:20 am

          Hi Deborah, I sent you an email with detailed information about the course and registration process. For more information and to register, please visit:
          http://woundeducators.com/wound-care-certification-courses/.

          Reply
        • Holly Hingle says

          June 10, 2018 at 8:51 pm

          Deborah,

          Please email us at [email protected] if you are still having trouble!

          Reply
  14. Penny says

    June 18, 2018 at 9:31 pm

    Hello,

    I am curious if the 23hr wound base course will help pass the WWC exam?

    Reply
    • Laurie Swezey says

      June 20, 2018 at 9:48 am

      We do not recommend the introduction course for any of the wound care certification exams. We also highly recommend that you pursue an accredited wound care certification. For more information view “The importance of a formally accredited certification in wound care“.

      Reply
  15. Takita Brown, MD says

    June 10, 2021 at 12:38 am

    As a physician, what is the benefit of getting the CWSP vs the CWS?

    Reply
    • WoundEducators says

      June 13, 2021 at 3:03 pm

      Takita, as an MD, we recommend you pursue the CWSP because it is the most exclusive ABWM certification available. Only physicians (MD’s, DO’s, and DPM’s) can receive the CWSP. The CWS is the certification most BSNs and RNs qualify for, and they are unable to take the CWSP because nurses do not meet the CWSP requirement. To learn more about the CWSP – visit our CWSP certification page

      You can use our newly updated Physician Wound Certification course to prepare for the CWSP exam.

      Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

sidebar

Blog Sidebar

Free Preview!

Sign up for our newsletter and enjoy a Free Preview of our Wound Care Certification Course!

Support Our “Where There’s a Wound, There’s a Way!™” Foundation

fundraiser logo

Join our “Where There’s a Wound, There’s a Way!™” fundraising campaign  Learn more

Payment Information

All major credit cards & PayPal accepted. All transactions are performed via a SSL secure server to ensure your privacy.

payments accepted visa mastercard amex discover paypal

Copyright © 2009-2021 WoundEducators.com
Wound Care Certification Courses | Risk Free Guarantee | Terms and Policies

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT