Wound care has become a greater issue in the past several years, as more patients are living longer with conditions that predispose to wound formation. However, the sheer number of certification programs available makes it difficult for you, the healthcare professional, to make a decision regarding which program to pursue. The acronyms alone may be overwhelming! Below, we examine various certification programs and their characteristics.

Certified Wound Specialist (CWS)
To become a Certified Wound Specialist, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have a Bachelor’s degree
• You must hold a current license as a healthcare professional
• You must be able to provide documentation showing three years of clinical experience in wound care, including direct patient care

The CWS exam requires self-preparation. Exams are held every April and October at selected testing centers nationwide. You must maintain a minimum of six contact hours of continuing education in wound management to be eligible for re-certification, and must be re-certified by exam every 10 years.  

The WoundEducators.com "Advanced Wound Management Certification Course" will help to prepare you for the CWS certification exam.

Certified Wound Care Associate (CWCA)
To become a Certified Wound Care Associate, you must meet the following criteria:

• You do not have to have a Bachelor’s degree
• You must have three years of clinical wound care-related experience, including direct patient care

The CWCA exam is given electronically twice a year (August and February) at selected testing centers nationwide. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. Successful candidates are required to re-register annually, and must have six hours of continuing education in wound care yearly. Certification is valid for 10 years, and re-certification by self-assessment examination is required.

The American Academy of Wound Management (AAWM) is the certifying board for healthcare professionals who become a CWS or CWCA. The AAWM is multidisciplinary, and operates independently of any membership or education association.

The WoundEducators.com "Basic Wound Management Certification Course" will help to prepare you for the CWCA certification exam.

Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN)
To become a Certified Wound Care Nurse, you must be currently licensed as an RN and hold a baccalaureate degree. Additionally, you must meet ONE of the following requirements:

• You must complete a wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nursing education program accredited by the WOCN
• You must complete a graduate-level program in nursing with documentation of graduate clinical course work equivalent to two semester hours OR
• You must have 50 continuing education contact hours over the last five years in wound care and 1500 clinical experience hours over the past five years (at least 375 of those hours must be completed within the year prior to certification application).

The certification exam is offered four times a year at testing centers across the US and Canada. Credentials are awarded for a five-year period. After five years you may re-certify by exam or through the Professional Growth Program, which involves submitting a portfolio outlining your continuing education, teaching, academic education, or other proof of specialization.

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing certification Board (WOCNCB) is the only organization that provides wound care certification strictly to nurses.

The WoundEducators.com "Advanced Wound Management Certification Course" which provides 57 CE/CME hours, will help to prepare you for the CWCN certification via the experiential pathway.

Wound Care Certified (WCC)
In order to take the certification examination to become a WCC practitioner, you must hold an active unrestricted license as a health care professional.  Additionally, you must meet one of the following options: 

1.   Education Option

• You must be a successful graduate of the NAWC-approved wound certification course
• You must provide documentation of active involvement in the care of patients with wound , or in management, education or research directly related to wound care while actively licensed for at least two years full-time, or four years part-time within the past five years

2.  Preceptor Option

• You must be a successful graduate of the NAWC-approved wound certification course
• You must complete a minimum of 120 hours of hands-on clinical training with an NAWC-approved clinical preceptor after completion of the course 

3.  Certification Option

• You must hold a current active certification with the WOCNCB as a "CWCN", “CWON”, "CWOCN" or current active certification with the AAWM as a "CWS"
• You must provide documentation of active involvement in the care of patients with wounds, or in management, education or research directly related to wound care while actively licensed for at least two years full-time or four years part-time within the past five years

4.  Experiential Option

• You must provide documentation of active involvement in the care of patients with wounds, or in management, education or research directly related to wound care while actively licensed for at least four years full-time within the past five years
• You must have 60 CE hours in skin and wound care

The NAWC is a national multidisciplinary wound care certification board. Testing for WCC certification takes place several times a month at testing sites throughout the country. The WCC credential is valid for 5 years and may be renewed by continuing education, re-exam, or training.

The WoundEducators.com "Basic Wound Management Certification Course" which provides 50 CE hours,will help to prepare you for the WCC certification via the experiential pathway.

Two new physician-only wound certifications are now available.  For more information on these certifications, and for additional information on the above certifications, see our interactive certification chart.