Wound Care Certification: Expert Level

Wound care has emerged as a distinct and vital medical specialty due to the increasing prevalence of complex, non-healing wounds and the intricate science behind tissue repair. However, a significant number of wounds are initially, and often continuously, managed by non-specialist healthcare professionals such as general practitioners and nurses in a variety of healthcare settings.

The lack of wound care specialization can sometimes result in longer wait times and less in-depth patient care (it makes sense: if you’re a PCP, you don’t have the same experience with complex wounds that a wound care specialist has, just like with other specialties). For example, in two studies that compared diagnostic delays between PCPs and wound care team physicians, 26% of patients seen by the PCPs lacked a diagnosis compared to less than 2% of wounds seen by the specialist. Such delays can significantly impact healing time.

One remedy for this is seeking wound care certification. Keep reading to discover key credentials you can work for if you’re looking to boost your wound care treatment.

What To Know Before Seeking Wound Care Certification

Here’s some foundational knowledge to consider before diving into the list of certifications.

What Is Wound Care?

Wound care involves assessing, treating, and managing injuries to the skin and underlying tissues to promote healing, prevent infection, and restore function.

Specialized wound care knowledge is crucial for optimizing healing, preventing complications, and reducing patient suffering. It ensures evidence-based practice and improves overall patient outcomes.

Role of Wound Care Certification in Validating Expertise

Wound care certification externally validates a professional’s specialized knowledge and skills, assuring competence in complex wound care practices. It demonstrates commitment to excellence and high standards of patient care.

Becoming certified in wound care:

• Boosts credibility. It validates specialized expertise, enhancing professional standing.
• Advances career. It opens doors to new roles and higher earning potential.
• Improves patient outcomes. It leads to better, safer, and more effective wound care.

7 Wound Care Certifications to Explore

Here’s a concise roundup of some of the most prominent and respected wound care certifications.

1. Certified Wound Care Associate (CWCA®)

The Certified Wound Care Associate (CWCA) is a valuable certification offered by the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM). It’s designed for healthcare professionals who play a supportive role in wound care, as well as those in related fields.

Who It’s For

The CWCA is generally considered an “associate” level certification, making it suitable for a broad range of healthcare professionals who are involved in wound care, but who may not be the primary decision-makers for complex wound management, like:

• Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
• Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs)
• Physical therapist assistants (PTAs)
• Certified healthcare assistants
• Medical assistants
• Dietitians
• Healthcare administrators
• Sales and marketing professionals in the wound care industry
• Academic researchers

Eligibility Requirements

• Professional license (if applicable): Though not required, if you are a licensed healthcare professional, you must possess a full and unrestricted professional license in at least one state, and in all states where you currently practice.
• Experience: You must have at least three years of wound care-related experience. This experience does not need to be consecutive, nor does wound care need to have been your primary responsibility during those three years. It’s a cumulative total.
• Education: Generally, a high school diploma or equivalent is required.

Application Process

You’ll need to submit an online application to the ABWM. This typically involves providing proof of your professional license (if applicable), your resume or curriculum vitae detailing your wound care experience, and a personal statement.

There’s an application fee of $375 for the initial exam, with a retest fee of $150. Once approved, you’ll have a 90-day window to schedule your exam at an approved testing center.

2. Certified Wound Specialist (CWS®)

The Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) is another highly respected certification offered by ABWM. Unlike the CWCA, the CWS is considered a master-level certification, signifying a more advanced and comprehensive expertise in wound management.

Who It’s For

• Registered nurses (RNs)
• Nurse practitioners (NPs)
• Physician assistants (PAs)
• Physical therapists (PTs)
• Occupational therapists (OTs)
• Registered dietitians (RDs)
• Pharmacists (PharmDs)
• Veterinarians (DVMs)*
• Physicians (MDs, DOs, DPMs)**

*For animal wound care specialists.

**While eligible for CWS, physicians often pursue the higher-level Certified Wound Specialist Physician (CWSP) certification from ABWM.

Eligibility Requirements

• Professional license: You must hold a full and unrestricted professional license in at least one state and in all states where you currently practice. This is a crucial distinction from the CWCA, which also considers non-licensed roles.
• Experience: You must have at least three years of clinical wound care experience. Similar to the CWCA, this experience does not need to be consecutive, nor does wound care need to have been your sole responsibility. It’s a cumulative total.
• Education: Generally, a bachelor’s degree or higher is expected for CWS candidates. While associate’s degree RNs with three or more years of experience may be eligible, the CWS is primarily aimed at those with a more advanced educational background in healthcare.

Application Process

Similar to the CWCA, you’ll submit an online application to ABWM and provide the required documentation; however, this certification also requires three letters of recommendation from professional references.

Moreover, there’s a higher application fee of $595 for the initial exam.

3. Certified Wound Specialist Physician (CWSP®)

The Certified Wound Specialist Physician (CWSP) is the highest level of wound care certification offered by the ABWM. It’s specifically designed for physicians who demonstrate master-level knowledge and expertise in wound management.

Who It’s For

The CWSP is exclusively for licensed physicians who specialize in, or have a significant practice focused on, wound management:

• Medical doctors (MDs)
• Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs)
• Doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs)

Eligibility Requirements

• Professional license: You must possess a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine (MD, DO, or DPM) in at least one state, and in all states where you currently practice.
• Experience: You must have at least three years of clinical wound care experience as a licensed physician. This experience must be directly related to the diagnosis and management of wounds. It does not need to be consecutive, nor does wound care need to be your sole responsibility during those three years.
• Education: You must possess a doctoral degree.

Application Process

The application process for the CWSP is the same as the CWS, though the fee is higher at $995.

4. Wound Care Certified (WCC®)

The Wound Care Certified (WCC) certification is a widely recognized credential offered by the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO). It aims to validate the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals involved in the assessment, treatment, and management of various types of wounds.

Who It’s For

The WCC is designed for a broad spectrum of licensed healthcare professionals who specialize in wound management:

• RNs
• LPNs/LVNs
• NPs
• PAs
• PTs
• PTAs
• OTs
• OTAs
• MDs
• DOs
• DPMs

Eligibility Requirements

• Professional license: You must hold a current and unrestricted license as one of the eligible healthcare professionals listed above.
• Experience: Either complete 120 hours of hands-on clinical training that’s directly related to wound care with an approved NAWCO preceptor or have two years of full-time (or four years part-time) experience in an approved profession with ongoing, active involvement in the care of wound patients, or in management, education, or research directly related to wound care.
• Education: Either graduate from a NAWCO-approved skin and wound management training course or currently hold one of the following certifications.
  • From WOCNCB: The Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN), Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON), or Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN)
  • From ABWM: The CWS

Application Process

Candidates apply for WCC certification online through the NAWCO website.

The application typically requires submitting proof of education (e.g., course completion certificate or existing certification), documentation of clinical experience (e.g., preceptor verification or employment history), and agreement to adhere to NAWCO’s code of ethics.

There is a fee of $350 for the initial certification, plus a $30 application fee.

5. Advanced Wound Care Certified (AWCC™)

The Advanced Wound Care Certified (AWCC) certification is another specialized credential offered by NAWCO. Introduced relatively recently (2019), it signifies a higher level of knowledge beyond a basic wound care certification and was the “first professional credential to focus on mastery of advanced wound care modalities.”

Who It’s For

The AWCC is aimed at licensed healthcare professionals who are actively involved in the advanced management of wounds and the application of cutting-edge therapies, including:

• RNs
• LPNs/LVNs
• NPs
• PAs
• PTs
• PTAs
• OTs
• OTAs
• MDs
• DOs
• DPMs

Eligibility Requirements

• Professional license: You must hold a current and unrestricted license as one of the eligible healthcare professionals listed above.
• Experience: Have completed one year of full-time (or two years part-time) experience in an approved profession with ongoing, active involvement in the care of wound patients, or in wound management, education, or research directly related to advanced wound care.
• Education: Graduate of advanced wound training course that’s relevant to the AWCC exam domains and a minimum of 20 hours of coursework.
• Certification: This is a distinguishing factor for the AWCC, as in addition to the education requirement, you must also hold at least one of the following active certifications.
  • From NAWCO: The WCC
  • From WOCNB: The CWCN, CWON, or CWOCN
  • From ABWM: The CWCA, CWS, or CWSP

Application Process

Like with WCC, you apply for AWCC certification online through the NAWCO website. The application requires submission of supporting documentation, including:

• Proof of active, unrestricted professional license.
• Proof of your prerequisite wound care certification (WCC, CWCN, CWS, etc.).
• Certificate of completion from an approved advanced wound training course.
• Documentation of your advanced wound care experience (e.g., employment verification, detailed resume/CV).

The fee is $380.

6. Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN®)

The Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) is a specialty certification for RNs who demonstrate expertise in wound care. It is offered by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB).

Who It’s For

RNs who possess specialized knowledge and skills in caring for patients with complex wounds and are interested in moving from general nursing practice to the specialized field of wound care.

Eligibility Requirements

• Professional license: You must hold a current, active, and unrestricted license as an RN.
• Experience: You must complete one of the following pathways.
  • Traditional pathway: Graduate from a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society or World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET) accredited nursing education program within the past five years.
  • Experiential pathway: Complete 50 continuing education (or continuing medical education) credits relevant to wound care and accumulate 1,500 practice hours in wound care within the past five years. At least 375 of these hours must have occurred within the year prior to application.
• Education: Hold a bachelor’s degree (or higher).

Application Process

Submit an application online through the WOCNCB website.

You will need to provide:

• Proof of your RN license.
• Official transcripts demonstrating a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Documentation of how you meet the eligibility requirements (e.g., course completion certificate, CE certificates, and supervisor verification of clinical hours).

There is a fee of $395 for one specialty, with discounted fees for adding other specialties to a single exam application submission.

7. Wound Treatment Associate-Certified (WTA-C®)

The Wound Treatment Associate-Certified (WTA-C) is a certification offered by WOCNCB. It is designed for licensed nurses (RNs, LPNs, and LVNs) who provide basic bedside wound care and function as an integral part of a wound care team, often working under the supervision of a WOC specialty nurse or physician.

Who It’s For

The WTA-C is primarily for LPNs, LVNs, and RNs who want to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to provide wound care across practice settings.

Eligibility Requirements

• Professional license: You must hold a current, active, and unrestricted license as an RN, LPN, or LVN.
• Experience: You must complete one of the following pathways.
  • Traditional pathway: Complete and receive a certificate from either the WOCN Society’s Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) program or the WEB WOC Skin and Wound Care Associate (SWA) course. Provide documentation of 16 clinical hours in wound care under the direct supervision of an expert wound care clinician who holds an approved wound care certification (e.g., CWCN, CWS, CWSP, etc.).
  • Experiential pathway: Accumulate 24 hours of continuing education credits specific to wound care and 160 hours of clinical preceptorship in wound care within the 12 months prior to application. In addition, complete a clinical skills checklist with the preceptor, which includes competencies such as monofilament testing, Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), compression wrap application, and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT).

Application Process

Apply online through the WOCNCB exam application portal. You will need to upload documentation of your license, education/training, and clinical hours/preceptorship in line with your chosen eligibility pathway, plus pay the $250 fee.

Which Certification Makes the Most Sense for You?

The wound care certifications above offer a great starting point for aspiring wound care nurses and physicians to learn more about the specialty and demonstrate that capability in their professions. Not only will this improve patient care but also make you more competitive in the job market and inspire confidence in patients.