Question:
I am interested in taking the exam to become wound care certified. What do I need to do?
Answer:
First, you need to determine your pathway options. Refer to the chart below. You may also use our online eligibility checker. Once you determine your pathway, you will need to complete the exam application and pay the required fees. Click this Apply Online link or click the blue Apply Online button at the top of the homepage.
Question:
Is the WCC Credential accredited?
Answer:
Question:
I have been approved to take the NAWCO WCC® Certification Exam at a Prometric testing center. How do I schedule that exam?
Answer:
You will receive an email from Prometric testing centers and that email will contain information on scheduling your examination at your convenience, using their online system.
Question:
At a Prometric Test Center may I skip questions and go back to answer those questions later?
Answer:
Yes, as long as you have time remaining and do not close out of the exam.
Question:
I failed the WCC Certification Exam. Can I take it again?
Answer:
Any exam candidate can take the exam a total of 4 times. Time limits apply, please see the WCC Candidate Exam Handbook for full details. The fee for each exam attempt is $350 + a $30 application fee.
To apply for the WCC re-exam, click the APPLY ONLINE link or go to the NAWCO home page and click the blue Apply Online button at the top of the page.
Question:
How many hours would I have to work for it to be considered part time?
Answer:
A minimum of 20 hours is common. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal wage and hour law, doesn’t define full- or part-time employment. This is determined by each employer in each state. For consideration to sit for the certification examination, the Certification Committee requires a minimum of 20 hours weekly. The candidate’s work experience is integral to success not only at the bedside, but on the certification examination as well.
Question:
I am a Surgical Assistant working with wound care patients. Am I eligible to become certified as a WCC?
Answer:
At the present time, only those professions listed are eligible:
Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Podiatrist, Physician or Physician Assistant.
Question:
How can you certify different types of professionals with the same examination and credential, since they all practice at different levels?
Answer:
Certificants must practice within the scope of their professional license. This is true regardless of the type of specialty certification, or the organization awarding it. So being wound care certified does not supersede the scope of practice of your basic professional license.
Question:
I would like to know if wound care certification is included in the ANCC® certifications?
Answer:
The ANCC offers their own certifications in various nursing specialties, but they do not offer one in the specialty of wound care.
Question:
Is the WCC credential a Magnet-recognized certification?
Answer:
WCC is on the Magnet-recognized list of national certifications included in the Demographic Data Collection Tool™ (DDCT).
Question:
What is the DWC® credential?
Answer:
DWC (diabetic wound certified) is a specialized board certification in diabetic wound management. It demonstrates a candidate’s proficiency and mastery of essential knowledge and skills of wound management for the diabetic patients. Diabetic wound management focuses on overall diabetic wound care and promotion of an optimal wound healing environment, including prevention, therapeutic interventions, and rehabilitative interventions.
Question:
How does it differ from a wound care certification?
Answer:
The DWC credential is a specialty certification that will focus on wound care as it relates to the disease of diabetes.
Question:
Why is the certification necessary?
Answer:
In America today, our aging population is growing to record numbers and the incidence of diabetes is on a steep rise. This means the need for more dedicated wound care clinicians has never been greater. DWC certification ensures the industry, patient, and peers that the certificant has the skills and tested competency to treat diabetic wounds.
Question:
What are the eligibility requirements for DWC board certification?
Answer:
The chart below illustrates the required pathway options necessary to pursue certification.
* ADDITIONAL COURSE FEE APPLIES FOR EDUCATIONAL PROVIDER.
Question:
How is the DWC credential recognized?
Answer:
DWC is the only wound care certification in the specialty of diabetic wounds. It sets the highest threshold of certification making it recognized and relevant within health care. DWC certification is a clear, strong indicator of a candidate’s tested competency.
Question:
What does the exam cover?
Answer:
Question:
At a Prometric Test Center may I skip questions and go back to answer those questions later?
Answer:
Yes, as long as you have time remaining and do not close out of the exam.
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Question:
What is LLE® Certification?
Answer:
LLE is a comprehensive certification that prepares the wound care professional for the credential in Lymphedema Lower Extremity Management. Having incorporated a “state of the art” skill set and theoretical framework, certified wound care professionals can significantly differentiate themselves with a mastery level of expertise in wound, lymphedema and edema management.
Question:
What does LLE stand for?
Answer:
LLE stands for Lymphedema Lower Extremity
Question:
What are the eligibility requirements for LLE certification?
Answer:
*ADDITIONAL FEE REQUIRED FOR THE “Edema Solutions for Wound Specialists Course”.
Question:
Who offers the course in Lymphedema Lower Extremity Management?
Answer:
Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy. The course title is “Edema Solutions for Wound Specialists” Click here for information about Norton School.
Question:
What can I expect on the test?
Answer:
The LLE Certification examination is an objective, multiple choice test consisting of 100 questions with a total testing time of two (2) hours.
Question:
At a Prometric Test Center may I skip questions and go back to answer those questions later?
Answer:
Yes, as long as you have time remaining and do not close out of the exam.
Question:
What is OMS Certification?
Answer:
OMS (Ostomy Management Specialist®) is a specialized board certification in ostomy management. It demonstrates a candidate’s proficiency and mastery of essential knowledge and skills regarding the management of the ostomy patient. OMS focuses on overall pre-surgery, and post-surgery care for patients requiring a fecal or urinary diversion.
Question:
Why is OMS certification important?
Answer:
OMS certification offers assurance to the public that the health care practitioner will provide safe and effective ostomy and skin management.
In addition, OMS certification recognizes that the individual has demonstrated a standard level of knowledge and proficiency in ostomy treatment, therapy, and management.
Question:
What are the eligibility requirements for OMS certification?
Answer:
The chart below illustrates the required pathway options necessary to pursue certification.
*ADDITIONAL COURSE FEE APPLIES FOR EDUCATIONAL PROVIDER.
Question:
Why do I need to become certified?
Answer:
OMS board certification makes a statement regarding your professional skill set to patients, colleagues, and employers. By meeting the requirements of certification, you have elevated yourself professionally. Most of all, OMS certification will validate that you have the knowledge and skills to care for an underserved patient population, the ostomy patient.
Question:
Are stoma cases increasing in the United States?
Answer:
Stoma cases continue each year. There are simply not enough skilled health care professionals to provide a continuum of care for these patients. Patients need more support, including pre-operative education, post-operative training and continued counseling throughout the life cycle of their ostomy and/or fecal/urinary diversion.
Question:
What is the difference between OMS certification and CWOCN®, COCN®, CWON®?
Answer:
Each certification confirms that the individual certified has completed all course requirements along with passing a certification exam. The certification asserts that the individual holds the knowledge and skill set to provide quality, efficacious therapy, treatment and counseling for ostomy patients and caretakers.
Being a multidisciplinary certification, OMS offers the opportunity to all levels of Nurses, Physicians, and Therapists to provide specialized ostomy care within their scope of practice and across the continuum of care.
The CWOCN, COCN, CWON certifications are only for RNs with a Bachelors degree or higher. As a result, there simply aren’t enough certified ostomy professionals nationally to care for patients with ostomies.
Question:
How can you certify different types of professionals with the same examination and credential, since they all practice at different levels?
Answer:
Successful ostomy patient education, teaching, training, and management require the skills of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. Therefore, all members of the team should have a thorough knowledge of ostomy management including all factors of healing and self-care required for the patient to resume the “new normal” quality of life. The educational sessions are comprehensive and inclusive of physical, systemic and psychosocial factors faced by ostomates.
Question:
Do I need a bachelor’s degree to qualify for OMS certification?
Answer:
No. Health care providers with one year of experience and an active unrestricted license may apply for the OMS certification examination. See chart above for eligibility requirements.
Question:
What will OMS board certification do for my career?
Answer:
In today’s healthcare environment, the typical patient that is hospitalized for ostomy surgery receives the most basic patient education regarding their stoma and pouching systems. Much of the post-surgical care is provided in alternative healthcare settings. First and foremost, you will become a very important resource for the ostomates in your community. Secondly, your services will become essential to the health care providers in your facility, institution or agency. You will be able to add a new credential to support your scope of practice as determined by each respective professional state licensing board.
The sky is your limit as far as personal career satisfaction.
Question:
I am a good student but I do not test well. If I fail to pass the exam, may I re-take it again?
Answer:
If you do not pass the test, you may re-test. There will be a $380 charge for each additional test session. (see OMS CANDIDATE EXAM HANDBOOK)
Question:
Will my employer automatically pay me more if I get this certification?
Answer:
Negotiation skills will be important here. This will be up to you to leverage your increase of knowledge and certification to make more money.
Question:
At a Prometric Test Center may I skip questions and go back to answer those questions later?
Answer:
Yes, as long as you have time remaining and do not close out of the exam.
Question:
What is the NWCC credential?
Answer:
NWCC (Nutrition Wound Care Certified) is a specialized certification for the RD/RDN involved in the care of wound care patients. It demonstrates a candidate’s proficiency and mastery of essential knowledge and skills of wound management.
Question:
Why is NWCC important?
Answer:
Current wound care “standards of care” require a team approach. The NWCC (Nutrition Wound Care Certified) RD/RDN is a key member who understands both the underlying causes of wounds and how to support the patient with proper nutritional plans based on those underlying causes.
Question:
What are the eligibility requirements for NWCC?
Answer:
The chart below illustrates the required pathway options necessary to pursue certification.
*ADDITIONAL FEE REQUIRED FOR EDUCATION PROVIDER.
Question:
How long do I hold the NWCC certification?
Answer:
NWCC Certification is a 5 (five) year credential. All certificants must apply for recertification within 6 (six) month of their expiration date.
Question:
At a Prometric Test Center may I skip questions and go back to answer those questions later?
Answer:
Yes, as long as you have time remaining and do not close out of the exam.
