The Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse Certification Board (WOCNCB) has certified nurses in wound, ostomy, and continence care for more than 30 years. In order to meet the stringent requirements of the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) and National Certifying and Credentialing Agencies (NCCA), the WOCNCB developed alternate pathways toward certification. For more than 20 years, these alternative pathways have allowed nurses who were not able to attend a formal program and nurses involved in postgraduate education to qualify to sit for the examination.
The WOCNCB recognizes that nurses are unique. The board agrees with the accrediting bodies that the pathway to achieving the goal of certification may vary. Circumstances in their personal and professional lives sometimes prevent individuals from attending a formal program. Therefore, the board offers 3 pathways to apply for the opportunity to sit for the examination. If successful, the examination demonstrates expertise in wound, ostomy, and/or continence nursing through a proven, psychometrically sound, and legally defensible examination.
For initial certification or recertification of lapsed WOCNCB(R) credentials alternative pathways to formal education will require:
1. current licensure as an RN;
2. a baccalaureate degree; and
3. completion of one of the following alternatives:
Graduate-level track
* A graduate-level program in nursing must be completed, with documentation of 2 semester credits of course work in each specialty for which certification is sought.
* Official college transcripts and diploma indicating completion of a graduate program.
* Course descriptions must be submitted with your application.
Experiential track
* When applying as a Graduate and Experiential Pathway candidate, you must have 50 contact hours and 1,500 clinical experience hours over the last 5 years within each specialty for which certification is sought. Furthermore, 375 hours must have occurred within the past 1 year prior to application.
* If a submitted educational program covers multiple topics, the program brochure or the class syllabus must be included with the application.
* A copy of each certificate of completion of contact hours must be submitted.
Examination preparation
Review books are available to help candidates prepare for the examination. The WOCN Society offers certification preparation courses associated with its annual conference, and CD-ROMs of the conference presentation are available for purchase via the WOCN Society Web site (http://www.wocn.org). The formal educational programs also occasionally offer review courses. Another tool that candidates may use is the online self-assessment examination, which may be found on the WOCNCB Web site (http://www.wocncb.org). This practice examination offers candidates an opportunity to test their level of knowledge. This examination provides candidates with assistance in directing their study through immediate feedback. This feedback includes correct answers and the rationale behind both correct and incorrect options.
The Graduate and Experiential Pathway is an exciting opportunity for nurses with current clinical experience and education in wound, ostomy, and continence care to be formally recognized for their skills and knowledge in this specialty.
If you have any questions, call 1-888-496-2622 or submit your questions to "Ask the Board" on http://www.wocncb.org.