CWOCN - Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse

Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN) board certification validates knowledge and clinical skills of the registered nurse with specialized training or experience in wound and ostomy care. The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) offers the exam, accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC). 

Eligibility Requirements

• Current licensure as an RN

• Bachelor’s degree or higher

• Completion of one of the following requirements:

  • Traditional Method: Graduate from an accredited Wound, Ostomy, Continence (WOCN) Nursing Education Program within the last five years

  • Experiential: Completion of 1500 direct patient care hours (375 must be completed in last year) and 50 CE hours in all specialties (wound care, ostomy care, and continence care) within the last five years

The WOCNCB provides a list of accredited nursing education programs on its website. It recommends that candidates review the Examination Handbook before applying to take the CWOCN certification exam. Evidence of nursing license, education transcripts, CE certificates, and supervisor verification will be required when applying online.

• Completion Time: Candidates have 6 hours to complete all three CWOCN exams

• Cost: $610

Exam Format

The CWOCN exam process consists of three exams covering continence, wound and ostomy care. Each exam includes 110 questions, with 100 scored and 10 unscored, unidentified pretest questions. Item scores are scaled according to their degree of difficulty and minimum passing scores are criterion-based, meaning there isn’t a set percentage or number of questions that guarantees a passing score.

Candidates have 2 hours to complete each exam for a total time of 6 hours. They may schedule one 6-hour testing session. Alternatively, candidates may schedule multiple 2-hour sessions or a 2-hour and 4-hour session for a surcharge of $75.

Scantron is WOCNCB’s exam administrator for in-person and remote proctored online exams. Candidates receive printed CWOCN exam results immediately upon completion. They may also log in to their online WOCNCB account to retrieve their results.

Topics on the three CWOCN exams include: 

• Wound Care

  • Assessment and Care Planning - 35.5%

  • Intervention and Treatment - 40%

  • Education and Referral - 24.5%

• Ostomy Care

  • Assessment and Care Planning - 32.7%

  • Intervention and Treatment - 40%

  • Education and Referral - 27.3%

• Continence Care

  • Assessment and Care Planning - 35.5%

  • Intervention and Treatment - 37.3%

  • Education and Referral - 27.3%

• Visit the WOCNCB Candidate Access Portal

• Create an account

• Select the applicable certification specialties

  • Wound Standard

  • Ostomy Standard

  • Continence Standard

• Click “Start Application”

• Be prepared to enter the following information:

  • Practice setting

  • RN license

  • ADA requirements

  • Specialty education

  • Continuing education

  • Specialty clinical experience

  • Employment information

  • Eligibility

Candidates receive an email with further directions.

The CWOCN certification is valid for five years. To renew, nurses must:

• Have current certification through the WOCNCB

• Hold current RN licensure

• Complete the recertification exam

  • Visit “Recertification Exam”

  • Enter username and password provided by WOCNCB

  • Complete the recertification application

  • Schedule exam for each specialty

• Complete the requirements within the Professionals Growth Program (PGP) in lieu of taking the recertification exam

The PGP is an online portfolio that allows nurses to record CE hours, professional memberships, publications, and other specialty-related activities to recertify in place of retaking the exam. They must accumulate a total of 80 PGP points to meet the requirements for recertification, including 10 CEs in their clinical specialty. Candidates may select “PGP” or “Exam” for each individual specialty for renewal.

Renewal Cost: $610

Initial CWOCN certification exam candidates who apply through the experimental pathway must earn direct patient clinical hours and continuing education credits post-degree within the five years prior to application. RNs must earn 50 CE credits each on topics related to the wound, ostomy, continuance specialties. Also, renewal candidates who renew through the PGP route must complete at least 10 CEs in their clinical specialties.

The WOCNCB has study resources available including the WOCNCB Exam Candidate Handbook, which contains sample questions.

Related certifications for licensed practical/vocational nurses include:

•  Wound Treatment Associate-Certified (WTC-C) is ideal for the LPN/LVN knowledgeable and experienced in wound care

Related certifications for registered nurses include:

• Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) is ideal for RNs with advanced knowledge and experience in wound care

• Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN) is ideal for RNs with advanced knowledge and experience in ostomy care

• Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON) is ideal for RNs with advanced knowledge and experience in wound and ostomy care

• Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN) is ideal for RNs with advanced knowledge and experience in incontinence care

• Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN) is ideal for RNs with advanced knowledge and experience in foot care

Related Advanced Practice (AP) designations are also available:

• Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN-AP) is ideal for APRNS with advanced knowledge and experience in wound care 

• Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN-AP) is ideal for APRNS with advanced knowledge and experience in ostomy care

• Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWOCN-AP) is ideal for APRNS with advanced knowledge and experience in wound care and ostomy care

• Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN-AP) is ideal for APRNS with advanced knowledge and experience in incontinence care

• Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN-AP) is ideal for APRNS with advanced knowledge and experience in wound care, ostomy care, and continence care