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CERTIFICATION
The NAWC® offers the "Wound Care Certification Examination" to measure the
academic and technical competence of eligible candidates in the area of Skin
and Wound Care Management above basic licensure.
The NAWC® offers the "Wound Care Certification Examination" to measure the
academic and technical competence of eligible candidates in the area of Skin
and Wound Care Management above basic licensure.
CREDENTIALS
Upon successful completion of the Certification examination, candidates may use
the initials "WCC®", Wound Care Certified to designate their status.
Credentials are awarded for a five (5) year period following successful passing of
the examination.
Upon expiration of credentialing term, Certificants are required to recertify with
the NAWC® to maintain their credentials.
Upon successful completion of the Certification examination, candidates may use
the initials "WCC®", Wound Care Certified to designate their status.
Credentials are awarded for a five (5) year period following successful passing of
the examination.
Upon expiration of credentialing term, Certificants are required to recertify with
the NAWC® to maintain their credentials.
SCOPE OF PRACTICE
The "WCC®" provides direct patient wound and skin care in acute, long-term care
and home care settings. The "WCC®" plays an important role as a direct care
provider, educator and resource for optimum patient outcomes in wound and
skin care management. The "WCC®" scope of practice is performed in
accordance with legislation code and scope of practice as determined by each
respective professional state regulatory board.
Skin and wound management includes the identification, assessment,
management, prevention, and continuing evaluation of patients with alterations in
skin/tissue integrity, that includes but it not limited to pressure, vascular,
arterial and diabetic ulcerations, as well as skin conditions resulting from
incontinence, surgical procedures and/or trauma.
Skin and wound management is a specialized area that focuses on overall skin
care, promotion of an optimal wound environment, including prevention,
therapeutic interventions and rehabilitative interventions.
Skin and Wound Management requires the skills of the interdisciplinary team that
includes the physician, nurses, WCC®, dietitian, physical therapist, occupational
therapist, social workers, and other health care disciplines or providers
depending upon each individual patient assessment. The physician is the leader
of the interdisciplinary care team. Skin and Wound Care management plans must
always be prescribed by the physician.
The "WCC®" provides direct patient wound and skin care in acute, long-term care
and home care settings. The "WCC®" plays an important role as a direct care
provider, educator and resource for optimum patient outcomes in wound and
skin care management. The "WCC®" scope of practice is performed in
accordance with legislation code and scope of practice as determined by each
respective professional state regulatory board.
Skin and wound management includes the identification, assessment,
management, prevention, and continuing evaluation of patients with alterations in
skin/tissue integrity, that includes but it not limited to pressure, vascular,
arterial and diabetic ulcerations, as well as skin conditions resulting from
incontinence, surgical procedures and/or trauma.
Skin and wound management is a specialized area that focuses on overall skin
care, promotion of an optimal wound environment, including prevention,
therapeutic interventions and rehabilitative interventions.
Skin and Wound Management requires the skills of the interdisciplinary team that
includes the physician, nurses, WCC®, dietitian, physical therapist, occupational
therapist, social workers, and other health care disciplines or providers
depending upon each individual patient assessment. The physician is the leader
of the interdisciplinary care team. Skin and Wound Care management plans must
always be prescribed by the physician.
ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTIFICATION
Applicants for the NAWC® WCC® certification examination must meet all
of the following criteria:
Active unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse, Licensed
Practical/Vocational Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physical Therapist,
Physical Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Physician or
Physician’s Assistant.
Documentation of active involvement in the care of wound care
patients, or in management, education or research directly related
to wound care while actively licensed for at least two years full-time/four
years part-time within the past five years.
Must meet one of the following:
a. Education Option - Successful graduate of approved
NAWC® “Wound Management Certification Training Course”
b. Certification Option - Current active certification with Wound
Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) as
a "CWCN", “CWON”, "CWOCN" or Current active certification
with American Academy of Wound Management (AAWM) as a
"CWS" or “CWCA”.
c. Experiential Option - Documentation of active involvement in
the care of wound care patients, 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, plus 50 Contact hours in skin and wound care.
Completion of application and required supporting documentation.
Payment of required fees.
Receive passing score on the NAWC® WCC® examination.
of the following criteria:
Active unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse, Licensed
Practical/Vocational Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physical Therapist,
Physical Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Physician or
Physician’s Assistant.
Documentation of active involvement in the care of wound care
patients, or in management, education or research directly related
to wound care while actively licensed for at least two years full-time/four
years part-time within the past five years.
Must meet one of the following:
a. Education Option - Successful graduate of approved
NAWC® “Wound Management Certification Training Course”
b. Certification Option - Current active certification with Wound
Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) as
a "CWCN", “CWON”, "CWOCN" or Current active certification
with American Academy of Wound Management (AAWM) as a
"CWS" or “CWCA”.
c. Experiential Option - Documentation of active involvement in
the care of wound care patients, 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, plus 50 Contact hours in skin and wound care.
Completion of application and required supporting documentation.
Payment of required fees.
Receive passing score on the NAWC® WCC® examination.
NAWC Approved Wound Management Certification Courses
Skin and Wound Management Certification Training Course Upon successful completion of this
training program, candidates will be able to sit for the NAWC® WCC® certification examination.
Wound Care Education Institute Click here for website
training program, candidates will be able to sit for the NAWC® WCC® certification examination.
Wound Care Education Institute Click here for website
Content of Examination
The certification exam is an objective, multiple choice test consisting of 110 questions and is available in a computerized
format or paper & pencil format with a total testing time of two (2) hours. A score of 70% or greater is required to pass the
examination.
The questions for the certification examination are prepared by the NAWC® Certification Committee and teams of Subject
Matter Experts (SMEs). The examination questions are written to assess cognitive levels of knowledge, comprehension,
application and analysis related to skin and wound management. The content for examination questions is based upon job
practice analyses conducted to ensure the content is current, job-related and representative of the responsibilities of
wound care practitioners. Each question is subjected to editing for grammar, bias and technical adequacy by experts from
the testing agency. For detailed content listing see page 11 of the candidate handbook.
The examination is weighted in approximately the following breakdown:
The NAWC engaged Alpine Testing Solutions to conduct an Angoff standard setting study to provide a passing score range
for the WCC® examination. The passing score of 70% is based on the recommendation of Alpine Testing Solutions and the
Angoff predictions provided by the SMEs that participated in the standard setting process.
| Recertification Upon expiration of the WCC® certification, credentials can be reinstated by education course, continuing education, examination or CEOP program. For recertification details click here. |
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References for Study
The following reference list may be helpful in preparing for the examination. This list does not attempt to include all the
acceptable references available, nor is the examination based solely on these sources. The NAWC® does not sponsor or
endorse any one reference over another. Some of the references can be accessed online, while others are available at
local book stores.
"Clinical Guide to Wound Care" by Cathy Thomas Hess, Sixth Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers. 2008.
"Acute and Chronic Wounds: Current Management Concepts” Third Edition by Ruth A Bryant and Denise P Nix, Mosby, Inc.
Publisher, 2007.
"Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Secrets," by Catherine Milne, Lisa Q. Corbett, and Debra Duboc; Publisher
Hanley &
Belfus, 2002.
"Wound Care: A Collaborative Practice Manual for Health Professionals" Third Edition by Carrie Sussman, Barbara Bates
Jensen,
Publisher: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, 2007.
Advances in Skin & Wound Care Journal, Published by Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins.
Ostomy/Wound Management Journal, Published by HMP Communications.
The following reference list may be helpful in preparing for the examination. This list does not attempt to include all the
acceptable references available, nor is the examination based solely on these sources. The NAWC® does not sponsor or
endorse any one reference over another. Some of the references can be accessed online, while others are available at
local book stores.
"Clinical Guide to Wound Care" by Cathy Thomas Hess, Sixth Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers. 2008.
"Acute and Chronic Wounds: Current Management Concepts” Third Edition by Ruth A Bryant and Denise P Nix, Mosby, Inc.
Publisher, 2007.
"Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Secrets," by Catherine Milne, Lisa Q. Corbett, and Debra Duboc; Publisher
Hanley &
Belfus, 2002.
"Wound Care: A Collaborative Practice Manual for Health Professionals" Third Edition by Carrie Sussman, Barbara Bates
Jensen,
Publisher: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, 2007.
Advances in Skin & Wound Care Journal, Published by Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins.
Ostomy/Wound Management Journal, Published by HMP Communications.