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 wound 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 wound certification programs and their characteristics.
Certified Wound Specialist (CWS)
To become a Certified Wound Specialist, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must hold a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral 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
Examples: Physicians, podiatrists, physical therapists, nurses, and other healthcare providers.
The CWS exam requires self-preparation. Exams are held on a continuous testing cycle 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 ”BSN/NP Wound Certification Course“, the ”PT/OT Wound Certification Course“, the “Physician Assistant Wound Certification Course” and the ”Physician Wound Certification Course“, will all help to prepare you for the CWS wound 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 be able to provide documentation showing three years of clinical experience in wound care
- Sales and marketing professional in the wound care industry with at least 3 years of wound care experience
Examples: Associate degree nurses, RNs, LPNs, LVNs, PTAs, all certified healthcare assistants, healthcare administrators, dieticians, sales and marketing professionals, and academic researchers.
The CWCA exam is given electronically and is offered on a continuous testing cycle 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 Board of Wound Management – ABWM (formerly the American Academy of Wound Management – AAWM) is the certifying board for healthcare professionals who become a CWS or CWCA. The ABWM is multidisciplinary, and operates independently of any membership or education association.
The WoundEducators.com the ”LPN/LVN Wound Certification Course“, the “CNA-MA Wound Certification Course“, the Sales and Marketing Wound Certification Course” and the ”RN Wound 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 ”BSN/NP Wound 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 / Preceptor/ Certification 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
- Preceptor Option - You must complete a minimum of 120 hours of hands-on clinical training with an NAWC-approved clinical preceptor after completion of the course
- 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”
2. 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 within the past five years
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 ”LPN/LVN Wound Certification Course“, the “CNA-MA Wound Certification Course“, the Sales and Marketing Wound Certification Course“ and the ”RN Wound Certification Course“ which provides 50 CE hours,will help to prepare you for the WCC certification via the experiential pathway.
If you require additional CE hours to meet the WCC requirement, WoundEducators.com will provide access to these additional hours free of charge!
Certified Wound Specialist – Physician (CWSP)
MD’s, DO’s and DPM’s who have three or more years of clinical wound care experience are eligible to take the CWSP exam. For more information about CWSP eligibility, visit the ABWM.
Examples: Physicians and podiatrists.
The WoundEducators.com ”Physician Wound Certification Course“, will all help to prepare you for the CWSP wound certification exam.
The Council for Medical Education and Testing (CMET)
The Council for Medical Education and Testing (CMET) is a non-profit organization providing physician specific certification for the Physician Specialist in Wound Care. CMET is the only physician specific organization in wound care and its sole purpose is to serve as a certifying agency. For more information on the CMET wound certification exam visit CMET.
The WoundEducators.com ”Physician Wound Certification Course“, will all help to prepare you for the CMET wound certification exam.
Read our article series: Wound Care Certification
View wound care certification comparison chart
