Wound Treatment Associate-Certified Exam

To earn the WTA-C^® credential, a candidate must meet all WTA-C^® eligibility requirements listed below and pass the WTA-C^® certification examination. All candidates must take a certification exam to earn credentials initially.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS for WOUND TREATMENT ASSOCIATE-CERTIFIED EXAM

INITIAL (FIRST-TIME) CANDIDATES MUST:

1. Have a current LPN/LVN or RN License.
2. Have completed ONE of the following pathways of education or practice:

A. TRADITIONAL PATHWAY 

1. Hold a current LPN/LVN or RN license.
2. Complete the WOCN Society’s WTA Program, or the WEB WOC Skin and Wound Care Associate (SWA®) course within the past five (5) years, under the direction of an approved WOCNCB nurse and hold a current WTA Program or SWA® Program certificate of completion.
3. Accumulate 16 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an expert in wound care, for example: Physician, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, or an RN or APRN certified in wounds through WOCNCB®. The expert MUST HAVE experience relevant to wound care. Click here to download the Verification Form for clinical hours.
4. Submit all of the above within the Meazure Learning online exam application, at: WTA-C exam application

B. EXPERIENTIAL PATHWAY

1. Hold a current, active LVN/LPN or RN license
2. Complete 24 CE/CME credits (contact hours) specific to wound care within the past 12 months meeting the WTA-C Detailed Content Outline previous to the date of application.
3. Complete 160 hours of clinical preceptorship within the past 12 months. Acceptable preceptors to meet WTA-C® clinical requirements are:

• Any RN holding an active wound care certification through the WOCNCB, i.e. CWCN® or CWCN-AP®.  An active WTA-C® is not an acceptable clinical preceptor.
• MD, NP or PA holding an active CWS® or CWSP® certification. An active CWCA® is not an acceptable clinical preceptor.
• The experts MUST HAVE experience relevant to wound care. (You will download a verification form from the online application that is signed by the expert.)  Click here to download the Verification Form for clinical hours. Multiple forms may be submitted to meet 160 hour requirement.

4. Complete a clinical skills checklist with the preceptor to include:

• Monofilament testing
• Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)
• Compression wrap
• Negative pressure wound therapy

Click here for clinical skills checklist.

5. Submit all of the above within the online Meazure Learning exam application, at: WTA-C exam application

Upon successful passing of the WOCNCB certification exam, the certified nurse will be able to use the WTA-C^® credential.

BECOME A CWCN® - Use your WTA-C® credential towards CWCN®

CWCN® FAST TRACK eligibility for current WTA-C®

If you hold a WTA-C, it will replace 24 Wound CE/CME credits (contact hours) as well as 160 Wound care practice hours needed for the CWCN Experiential Pathway requirements. These 24 CE and 160 practice hours must have occurred within the 5 years prior to exam application, and must be accumulated after holding a Bachelor’s Degree and RN license. Please see the full CWCN Experiential Pathway eligibility information below:

CWCN EXPERIENTIAL PATHWAY

• You must hold an RN license and Bachelor’s Degree.
• You must have 50 CE/CME credits (contact hours) or an equivalent in college course work related to Wound care which must be completed over the five years previous to the date of application. All CE/CME credits (contact hours) or college course work must directly apply to the Wound specialty. Multi-day conferences may include professional practice topics or may be focused on a specific type of treatment i.e. hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). Professional practice topics do not relate directly to any clinical focus and are not accepted. HBO education programs receive partial credit but are usually not accepted in their entirety.
• You must have 1500 practice hours in Wound care, which  must be completed within the previous five years. Further, 375 hours of wound practice out of the total must have occurred within the year prior to application.
• The accumulation of practice hours and continuing education credits (contact hours) must be earned post bachelor’s degree while practicing as an RN.