Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Exams
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS for WOUND, OSTOMY, and CONTINENCE EXAMS
INITIAL (FIRST-TIME) CANDIDATES MUST:
- Have a current RN License.
- Hold a bachelor’s (or higher) degree - all Baccalaureate degrees applicable
- Have completed ONE of the following pathways of education or practice:
A. TRADITIONAL PATHWAY
- Graduate from an accredited WOC Nursing Education Program. For the most current list of programs, visit the WOCN Society website: https://www.wocn.org/become-a-woc-nurse/accredited-programs/
- The WOC(ET) Nursing Education Program must have been completed within the past 5 years (from date of exam application), or otherwise you must prove eligibility via the Experiential Pathway.
- The WOC/ET Nursing Education Program must be accredited by the WOCN® Society at the time of graduation. For international candidates see below:
| INTERNATIONAL CANDIDATES: Candidates from countries outside the United States may apply via the Traditional Pathway by graduating from a “Recognized” program through the World Council of Enterostomal Nurses (WCETN). Canadians may use graduation from the NSWOC® Program (WOC-EP). We accept education evaluation services to show US equivalency of a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree, and recommend international candidates to seek these services on the website of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. For international fees in Developing Countries: Click here to view list of qualifying developing countries according to the World Bank (low or lower-middle income). Qualifying applicants may utilize a fee of $100 per specialty exam. |
B. EXPERIENTIAL PATHWAY
- The accumulation of practice hours and continuing education credits (contact hours) must be earned post bachelor’s degree while practicing as an RN.
- For each certification specialty, 1500 practice hours specialty-specific in your WOC, or AP-WOC role. The role can be in any work setting (Acute Care, Ambulatory Care, Long Term Care, Home Care, Academics, Administrative, Industry and Independent Practice) and hours must be completed within the previous five years. If you are applying for wound, ostomy, and continence, a total of 4500 practice hours are needed. Further, 375 hours must have occurred within the year prior to application, or a total of 1125 if you are applying for wound, ostomy, and continence.
- To track your CE and practice hours, click here.
Submit exam application with applicable fee and support materials which include:
- RN license verification (may come from state board of nursing website.)
- Copy of Bachelor’s Degree (diploma or transcripts).
- Copy of WOC Education completion (Graduation document) – for “traditional pathway”
- Copies of each CE certificate, uploaded to the online application – for “experiential pathway”
- Fill out section #8 (Experience) in the online application – for “experiential pathway”. You will list the total figure of clinical hours specific to the specialty.
- Fill out section #9 (“Employer”) in the online application – for “experiential pathway”. You will list the current/past clinical supervisor(s) name/contact information so they may be contacted directly for verification of experience hours specific to the clinical focus. A letter of verification is not required since WOCNCB may contact your supervisor, although it may be uploaded to the application if you prefer. Verification is for total clinical hours specific to the specialty from the past 5 years.
- Click Here to access “application checklist”
RETAKE CANDIDATES MUST:
- Be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse.
- A copy of current RN license must accompany a completed application, if it has expired since your last exam.
- There is a 30-day waiting period before retesting after an unsuccessful exam.
- Submit exam application with applicable fee.
- Successfully complete exams.
Download Candidate Examination Handbook
The Candidate Handbook is a 56 page document.
