CWOCN Certification: Overview and FAQ
In the U.S. alone, over 100,000 ostomy surgeries take place each year, and an even greater number of patients face challenges related to incontinence and chronic wounds. The Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN) credential is for nurses who demonstrate expertise in this critical field by passing a specialized exam, equipping them to manage complex cases like pressure ulcers and bladder or bowel incontinence.
With the growing demand for wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nurses, you’ll be able to make a meaningful impact in the lives of many patients and enjoy abundant job opportunities. Keep reading to find out what this certification is, how to get it, and how to maximize your chances of passing the test.
CWOCN Certification: Snapshot
- Eligibility: You’ll need a current RN license, a BSN degree or higher, and to complete an accredited education program or have experience in ostomy, continence, and wound care.
- Preparation: Read the certification handbook, study the topics in the content outline, use practice exams, review the list of references, and consider investing in a review course.
- Application process: Complete the online application, provide proof of your licensure and education or experience, and submit the payment.
- Exam: Each exam will have 120 questions, and you’ll have 2 hours to answer them.
- Cost: The exam fee for each exam is $395, but getting certified in all 3 areas of care costs $610.
- Renewal: You’ll need to renew it every 5 years.
CWOCN Meaning
The CWOCN certification is a specialized credential that’s granted to registered nurses (RNs) who have advanced education or experience in caring for patients with complex wounds, ostomies, and incontinence issues. This certification is issued by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB), an international organization committed to excellence in the WOC field and foot care.
To receive this credential, you’ll have to prepare for and take three exams: Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN), Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN), and Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN). Some of the key topics you’ll study include:
- Factors affecting wound healing, such as nutrition and age.
- Wound characteristics and phases of healing, such as hemostasis and proliferation.
- Evaluating pain by using verbal and nonverbal tools.
- Skin and wound classification systems, such as pressure injury stages and moisture-associated skin damage (MASD).
- Surgical indications for ostomies, such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and necrotizing enterocolitis.
- Surgical procedures, including ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), total proctocolectomy, and abdominal perineal resection (APR).
- Stomal complications, such as prolapse, retraction, and necrosis.
- Causes of voiding and bowel dysfunction, such as pelvic floor changes, infection, and trauma.
- Behavioral strategies to address incontinence, such as biofeedback, bladder training, and pelvic floor muscle exercise.
- Referrals for other services, such as nutrition nurses, gastroenterologists, and mental health professionals.
Wondering where these specialists can work? While some may assume they mainly work in geriatric care settings, that’s not the whole story. Their patients can be anyone from a child with cerebral palsy to a young adult healing from colon cancer. Therefore, you’ll have a wide variety of workplaces to choose from:
- Acute care settings
- Assisted living facilities
- Home health agencies
- Hospices
- Long-term care facilities
- Neurology units
- Neurorestorative care clinics
- Nursing homes
- Palliative care centers
- Post-acute care facilities
- Skilled nursing facilities
CWOCN Certification Requirements
Excited to learn how to get certified? Here are the main steps you’ll take on your certification journey:
1. Become a Nurse
Your first step is to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited institution. If you currently hold an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), consider enrolling in a bridge program, such as RN to BSN.
2. Obtain Licensure
The next step is to pass the NCLEX-RN, a national certification exam that assesses your readiness to practice nursing. After that, file your paperwork with your state board of nursing to get your RN license — your green light to start working.
3. Meet Certification Eligibility Requirements
Now it’s time to meet the eligibility criteria for the exam. Here’s what you need to get done before hitting that apply button:
- Have a current RN license.
- Hold a BSN or higher degree.
On top of that, you’ll need to fulfill one of the two pathways of education or practice:
| Traditional Pathway | Experience Pathway |
|---|---|
| Graduate from a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) or World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET) accredited nursing education program within the past five years.
Note that some programs ask for a year of clinical nursing experience. |
Acquire 50 continuing education hours relevant to your specialty.
Complete 1,500 practice hours in each specialty in which you wish to be certified (4,500 for CWOCN) within the past five years. You can acquire this experience in multiple settings:
Note that 375 of those hours should have taken place within the year prior to your application. |
4. Prepare for the Exam
Once you meet eligibility requirements, it’s time to study. Here are some resources the WOCNCB recommends to help you get ready for the exam:
- Certification handbook
- Content outlines for each specialty topic
- WOCNCB flashcards
- Textbook references
- Practice exams
- Review courses
- Exam tips
- Sample tests
- Journal of Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing articles
Keep in mind that you’ll have to prepare for three exams to get the CWOCN credential, as it encompasses three different topics: wound care, ostomy, and continence management.
5. Apply for the Exam
Create an online application, carefully fill out all required fields, and submit proof of appropriate nursing license and education. If you’re going the traditional route, include your certificate of completion from your education program along with the program code. If you’re using the experiential pathway, submit proof of your continuing education credits and practice hours for each specialty exam.
6. Pay the Exam Fee
Before you can hit submit on your application, you’ll need to pay the exam fee. It’s a key step in moving forward with your certification journey. Here’s a quick look at the fee details:
- One specialty: $395
- Two specialties: $510
- Three specialties: $610
- Four specialties: $670
7. Pass the Exam
To earn your CWOCN credential, you’ll need to take the wound, ostomy, and continence exams within 12 months of applying. If you pass the three exams after that period, you’ll receive three separate certifications: CWCN, COCN, and CCCN.
Want to get a feel for the exam experience? Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect when it’s time to take your tests:
- Your exams will last 2 hours.
- You’ll need to answer 120 questions for each exam.
- You’ll need a minimum score of 500 to pass, and the scores range from 200 to 800.
7. Maintain the Certification
Once you’re certified, your credential is valid for five years. To keep it active, you’ll need to submit a renewal application up to 18 months before it expires and retake the exam before the expiration date.
Frequently Asked Questions: CWOCN Certification
What is a typical CWOCN salary?
According to the WOCNCB, the average salary for a certified WOC nurse is $83,805 per year in the U.S., but it can vary depending on your education, experience, and geographic location. If you’re open to relocation, check out these five top-paying states for RNs:
How do I verify my credentials?
CWOCN certification verification is simple. Just fill in the online form, enter the required information such as the certification holder’s name or certification number, and click the “Verify” button.
What is a CWOCN-AP certification?
The Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse – Advanced Practice (CWOCN-AP) credential is designed for advanced practice nurses who focus on caring for patients with wounds, ostomies, and continence issues. Depending on their state, these nurses might work independently or as part of a treatment team.
What do I do if I fail the exam?
As exam day gets closer, you might be wondering what happens if you don’t pass. Mistakes happen, but don’t stress — you can try again. You’ll even get a $100 discount on the first retake.
How hard is the exam?
While the perception of difficulty can vary across people, here are the pass rates for the WOCNCB exams:
- Wound care: 72%
- Ostomy care: 78%
- Continence care: 80%
As you can see, with solid preparation, many nurses successfully pass these exams.
Related Certifications
Interested in discovering more certifications? Consider these useful credentials:
- Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN)
- Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN)
- Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN)
- Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN)
- Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN)
- National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
- Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD)
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
- Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
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