Previously Asked Questions

Question:
11/7/2025 12/31/25 Will be my 3rd Recert, #2005460458, I would like to do PGP. I work full time in Primary Care and do all the foot care and wounds in the our community health clinic in Sutton, Alaska as well as 2 other clinics as needed. This is a tribal clinic that sees all peoples, no one is turned away. Our panel is over 700, with walk ins, homeless & travelers from out of state. I do not have a 5 yr list of daily foot care patients seen in clinic. My manager and provider agree, I have served over 2,000 hrs of foot care in 5 years. Both are willing to sign a document verifying. Last review, I retested & would like to file PGP if the board agrees. I am a BSN RN of 47 yrs and love my job obviously, why I still serve. I meet all the other PGP requirements. I respectfully request your review & decision if a PGP is an option for my recertification. Many thanks, Vicki Lynn Kindseth, RN, BSN CFCN PO Box 1200 Chickaloon, AK 99674 Cell: 1-907-232-7330 Work Desk:1-907-631-7659

Answered November 8, 2025
Good evening and thank you for your question. From what you have described, it appears that you will have practice hours for recertification through PGP for foot care. I would recommend submitting your portfolio for PGP. If you are audited you would need to submit a tracking form and attestation statement. Please see page 11 of the PGP Handbook.

Question:
I’ve been certified WOCN in acute care hospital for over 30 years. I was going to let my certification expire and retire, but was recently given an opportunity for another chapter to be Ostomy Nurse for (Urology) center and I realize that I really truly need my certification and I didn’t realize that I had to do it three months before it expired. I thought I just paid a late fee as long as I got it in before the end of the yearIs there anything that I can do?

Answered November 6, 2025
I am assuming your credentialed have lapsed? When credentials have lapsed less than six months, you may certify again via examination, using the 6 months grace period option. This gives you six months to test from the date of lapsed credentials. Please review the Exam Handbook regarding this option. Also would recommend reaching out at info@owocncb.org and speaking to someone directly about your concern.

Question:
Can LPN /LVN get certified?

Answered November 3, 2025
Yes, we offer WTA-C (Wound Treatment Associate - Certified). An LPN or LVN can take this exam to earn the credential. To become eligible to apply for the exam, you must complete either the WTA or the SWA course, and also have 16 clinical hours of wound care working with a wound care expert, such as MD, NP, PA, or an RN with CWCN certification. Please see the "Eligibility" section with links to the course providers and information found on this website under "Certification / Wound Treatment Associate".

Question:
this is follow-up question to my 10/31/25 posted question and you answered on 10/31/25, with a question. My prior PGP application (for all 3 woc) was accepted for recertification on May 25, 2023. Why does my current PGP profile say this "Accrual Period: 2023-09-30 thru 2028-09-30"?

Answered November 3, 2025
The PGP online system automatically uses a begin date for points accrual using the normal PGP deadline from 2023, since that is the standard. Regardless, you may utilize the calendar function to enter your own dates that begin from a prior PGP approval date -- and since our PGP Committee will have access to viewing this prior approval date as your actual begin date.

Question:
I completed the WOCNCB Job analysis (role delineation study), received 5 points, on 8/31/2023. I completed this job analysis after my last recert in May, 2023. My current Points accrual is 9/30/2023 - 9/30/2028. Am I allowed to use this WOCN Job analysis for next recert?

Answered October 31, 2025
Please refer to page 5 of the PGP handbook. When was your portfolio accepted? You may begin accruing points the day after towards your next recertification.

Question:
My foot care certification is on a different time line than the WOC certifications. CFCN is due 1/31/2026, the remainder are due 12/31/2026. If I have to submit 3 months in advance for the foot care, I will have a significant payment burden. Is it possible to submit all 4 recertifications at the same time and still meet the windows, I would need to submit the portfolio by 12/31/2025. that means I will be late for the CFCN and still meet the 12 month window for WOC recert. Please advise as I don't want to pay any penalties. thank you in advance. Gale R. Lupien

Answered October 31, 2025
Since these are too far apart for submitting together, we would normally suggest consolidating your credentials to use one same expiration date using the earliest of them. This would mean updating the WOC credentials to the 1/31 expiration. However, this would mean the deadline for all would become today - 10/31/2025 since there is the 3 month deadline. Please contact our office (Email: info@wocncb.org) and perhaps we can set up a Late Submission to send through 11/30 for all after updating the WOC credentials to the 1/31 expiration.

Question:
for session/course provider, if it was provided by my local chapter, do I choose "wocn" or "other"? If other, type in midwest chapter?

Answered October 29, 2025
Thank you for your question. Please refer to page 9 of the PGP handbook. Your local chapter should be under the WOCN. For example: WOCN Pacific Regional Conference is a local chapter but through the WOCN. You may want to verify with your local chapter.

Question:
Are the continuing education credits at Coloplast good for the ostomy CE requirements?

Answered October 29, 2025
Thank you for your question. Please refer to page 9 of the PGP handbook. As long as the CE is accredited by one of the Accepted accrediting agencies listed on page 9. (example: ANCC)

Question:
Im from outside the usa, do i need to pass the nclex first before getting i take the wcon exam?

Answered October 24, 2025
We accept RN licensure from other countries, so you will not necessarily need to.

Question:
Does Emergency Nurse count as an wound care experience?

Answered October 24, 2025
Yes, any hours as an ER nurse may count. You will estimate the number of hours spent in the specialty -- such as if you think 10% of your time is wound care and ER is 40 hours/week, then over 5 years your total might be 1,000 hours.