CWCN Certification: Overview and FAQ

If you’re a wound care nurse, becoming a Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) can show your expertise and enhance your professional credibility. If you’re interested in leadership, becoming an educator, or want to improve wound care standards, this certification can help. Here’s what to know about certification, the benefits of being certified, and how to get started.

What Is CWCN Certification?

This professional credential is offered by the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB). It’s for nurses who have specialized knowledge and skills in caring for patients with complex wounds, such as pressure ulcers, post-surgical wounds, and more. Achieving this certification signifies that a nurse has met rigorous standards and is dedicated to excellence in wound management.

CWCN certification is one of the nursing credentials offered by WOCNCB. Others include:

• Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN)
• Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN)
• Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN)
• Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN)
• Certified Wound Care Nurse – Advanced Practice (CWNC-AP)

Becoming a CWCN nurse can open doors to more opportunities in specialized settings and leadership roles, but it isn’t a requirement to work in wound care. Certified wound nurses can work in the following areas:

• Hospitals
• Outpatient wound clinics
• Long-term care facilities
• Home health care
• Rehabilitation centers
• Hospice and palliative care
• Burn units
• Military and veterans hospitals
• Public health organizations

Why Pursue Certification as a Nurse?

If this credential isn’t a requirement to care for patients, why spend the time and money pursuing it? Specialty certifications have been shown to have various benefits, including:

• Professional recognition: CWCN certification is widely recognized as a mark of excellence in wound care nursing. It distinguishes you from your peers by demonstrating your knowledge and commitment to the field. This recognition can enhance your professional reputation and credibility among colleagues and patients.

• Career advancement: Certified nurses may have access to more job opportunities, leadership roles, and higher salaries. Employers value the expertise and dedication that certification represents, making you a more competitive candidate for advanced positions in wound care, management, and wound research.

• Enhanced skills: The certification process helps you deepen your knowledge and skills in wound management, improving patient care. As a result, certified nurses may offer better outcomes for patients, including reduced infection rates and improved mortality.

• Job satisfaction and confidence: Achieving certification is a rewarding accomplishment that can boost your confidence and sense of fulfillment in your work. Fewer than 20% of U.S. nurses are certified, so this additional credential is an achievement that signifies your dedication.

CWCN Nurse: Salary Averages

What can you expect to make as a certified wound care nurse? Salaries in nursing roles vary, but wound care nurses make about $107,000 per year on average. Certification increases your chances of earning more in this role, but your income is also influenced by your experience, location, and clinical area.

How to Become Certified in Wound Care Nursing: 4 Steps

Ready to become a Certified Wound Care Nurse? To earn this credential, follow the four steps below.

Step 1: Verify Your Eligibility

To be eligible to sit for the exam, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• Have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Complete one of the following pathways.
  • Education pathway: Graduate from an approved, accredited WOC education program in the past 5 years.
  • Practice pathway: Complete 50 CME/CE credits or the equivalent in college coursework and have 1,500 hours of wound care experience within the past 5 years.

Step 2: Apply

Once you meet the application requirements, it’s time to apply for the exam. Here’s the information you’ll need to apply:

• Proof of licensure from your state board of nursing
• Proof of your bachelor’s degree
• Education pathway: Proof of course completion
• Practice pathway: CE credits, the number of clinical hours you have completed, and contact information for a supervisor who can attest to your experience

Additionally, you’ll need to pay a fee of $395 to take the certification exam. If you’re planning to take more than one of WOCNCB’s certification exams, the fees will be higher.

Step 3: Schedule The CWCN Exam

Once your application is approved, you’ll get an email from Meazure Learning to schedule your exam. If you’re applying for more than one certification, you can choose to sit for all of them in a single testing period, but if you prefer to take them separately, there’s a $75 fee. Additionally, if you set an exam date and have to reschedule, you’ll need to pay an additional $50, so try to set a date you can stick with.

You can take the exam at an in-person testing center or remotely through your home computer. Here’s an outline of what the exam covers:

• Patient interview
• Wound assessment
• Creating care plans
• Evaluating care plans
• Prevention measures
• Interventions for wound management
• Debridement
• Educating family and patients
• Educating other clinicians
• Collaboration

To give yourself the best chance of passing (and avoiding re-testing fees), prepare for exam day using the following resources:

• Meazure Learning’s online demo test
• WOCNCB’s Self-Assessment Exam (SAE)
• WOCNCB’s mobile flashcards
• WOCNCB’s list of textbook references
• WOCNCB’s list of approved review courses
• Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursingreview articles

Step 4: Maintain Certification

This certification is valid for five years. To renew, you’ll need to either sit for the exam again or complete a Professional Growth Program (PGP). The fees for either option are the same as the initial application fee. The PGP recertification application includes:

• Submitting a completed PGP portfolio between 3 and 12 months of credential expiration.
• Meeting PGP requirements, including 10 CEs pertaining to your specialty.
• Creating an online profile with updates on your PGP activities.

If you choose to retake the exam, WOCNCB recommends scheduling your test at least 90 days before your certification expires to avoid a lapsed credential.

CWCN Certification FAQs

What’s the difference between CWCN vs. CWOCN?

CWOCN stands for Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse and has a broader scope than CWCN, meaning that if you also care for patients with stomas and incontinence, you may be better suited for CWOCN.

Where can I find CWCN certification verification?

The WOCNCB’s certification verification page allows you to check the status of any nurse who carries their certifications.

Can I retake the exam if I don’t pass?

Yes, there’s no limit to the number of times you can take the exam. If you don’t pass the first time, you’ll need to pay a retake fee of $100. After that attempt, you’ll be charged the full application amount.

Related Certifications

• Certified Wound and Ostomy Care Nurse (CWOCN)
• Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN)
• Wound Care Certified (WCC)
• Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN)
• Certified Wound Specialist (CWS)
• Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse (CHRN)
• Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)

Find Roles in Wound Care and Other Specialties

Whether you’re a CWCN or not, you might be curious about open nursing roles in your area. Learn more with personalized job notifications tailored to your credentials, specialty, and location.