Wound Certification Programs

A wound care certificate demonstrates that a health care professional has voluntarily tested his knowledge of the care, treatment and management of wounds and has the expertise required for this specialized field. Several independent organizations offer certification programs for qualified individuals, such as physicians, nurses and other health care providers. Medical professionals are eligible to enroll in pre-certification training courses before taking the exam, or they can opt to take the board examination drawing solely upon their professional experience.

Wound Care Education Institute

• The Wound Care Education Institute offers a skin and wound care certification program that includes a pre-certification training course and a comprehensive board exam. Eligibility requirements include current employment as a physician, registered nurse, physical therapist, physician's assistant or a related medical field that requires the care and treatment of wounds. In addition, participants should have a minimum of two years of experience. For certification, participants sign on for a five-day seminar that involves classroom education, hands-on lab training and practice, an examination review and a certification exam. Once completed, certification is good for five years. The WCEI program is accredited by the National Alliance of Wound Care Credentialing Board (NAWCCB).

  Wound Care Education Institute
  1700 Park Street Suite 100
  Naperville, Illinois 60563
  877-462-9234
  wcei.net

American Academy of Wound Management

• The American Academy of Wound Management is a not-for-profit organization that certifies wound care specialists. Certification is awarded after a healthcare professional successfully passes a board examination and assessment that tests his or her ability to administer effective wound care. The program is open only to professionals with at least three years of documented experience researching wound-related treatments or delivering clinical care to injured patients. This includes post-residency physicians, biomedical scientists, and nurses, as well as qualified non-health care professionals with documented evidence of working in wound management field. The certification program consists of an annual self-assessment exam and is good for 10 years. AAWM does not offer or endorse any pre-certification training programs.

  American Academy of Wound Management
  1155 15th Street NW, Suite 500
  Washington, DC 20005
  202-457-8408
  aawm.org

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board

• The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) is a wound care certifying agency that is oriented towards practicing nurses. Registered nurses who hold a BSN degree are eligible to enroll and take the exam. The program includes pre-certification education and training and a board exam. The educational program takes nine weeks to complete and includes 120-hours of clinical experience. Participants review the assessment and treatment for a variety of wounds, including those caused by trauma, diabetes, pressure ulcers and more. Certification is good for five years, and the training program is accredited by the American Board of Nursing Specialties.

  WOCNCB
  555 East Wells St. Suite 1100
  Milwaukee, WI
  888-496-2622
  wocncb.org;