The Gold Standard for Certification®

Since 1978, the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB®) has been offering nursing specialty certification credentials to qualified nurses involved in the care, education, and management of individuals living with wounds, ostomies, and continence or foot care issues. Worldwide, over 10,000 WOCNCB-certified nurses hold a combination of more than 20,000 WOCNCB credentials. (See Certification offerings.)

WOCNCB’s rigorous credentialing process is considered the Gold Standard for Certification® in wound, ostomy, continence, and foot care nursing. Both the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certifications and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies have accredited WOCNCB. Accredited specialty nursing certification serves as an important guidepost for healthcare organizations seeking American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet® recognition.

George and colleagues note that ANCC values nurse certification because of its consistent link to higher quality care, improved patient safety, and enhanced clinical outcomes. Certification reflects a nurse’s validated specialty knowledge and commitment to evidence-based practice, which strengthens clinical decision-making and professional accountability at the bedside. Research by Coelho shows that organizations with a higher percentage of certified nurses ex­perience lower rates of nurse-sensitive adverse events such as patient falls, medication errors, hospital-acquired infections, and mortality; they also receive higher patient satisfaction scores.

In addition, Coelho notes that certification is associated with increased nurse engagement, confidence, and retention, all of which support safer and more stable care environments. These outcomes align with ANCC’s emphasis on excellence in nursing practice, quality improvement, and patient outcomes, creating a natural transition into a discussion of organizational performance and sustained excellence.

The value of WOCNCB certification

Just as medicine has become more specialized, so has nursing. Infectious disease providers can’t manage infected wounds alone, and surgeons can’t manage fecal or urinary ostomies. It’s not their area of expertise.

In outpatient and inpatient settings, WOCNCB-certified nurses serve as pivotal stewards for the continuum of care backed by 45 years of high standards and distinguished expertise. This gold standard sets these nurses apart from other wound care certifications with a unique concentration on evidence-based practice, segueing to a high level of unique respect and autonomy.

The ripple effect extends across inpatient and outpatient settings, and now into the rapidly expanding virtual care environment via telehealth visits, leading to ease of accessibility and convenience and ongoing monitoring, which can potentially translate into timely intervention. This also broadens the marketplace value of nurses with WOCNCB certification, including work–life balance.

Common workplace opportunities for WOCNCB-certified nurses include a level of autonomy in the role as an expert and provider of evidence-based care for patients. WOCNCB certification protects patients by promoting safe and evidence-based care practices and opens opportunities for specialized nursing roles across the entire continuum of care.

Initial certification

To meet nurses where they are in their careers, WOCNCB offers two paths to certification—traditional and experiential.

Traditional

The traditional route begins with the successful completion of a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society®–accredited WOCN Education Program (WOCNEP). These programs deliver classroom knowledge and a structured clinical experience necessary to sit for one or more specialty certification exams. Currently, eight WOCNEPs offer training through traditional classroom settings and hybrid options. For many, this pathway presents the ideal option for building a comprehensive foundation and connecting with faculty and peers dedicated to specialty practice.

Experiential

The WOCNCB recognizes the sometimes-complex and nonlinear nature of nursing practice. For nurses with substantial hands-on experience caring for patients in wound, ostomy, continence, or foot care practices but without formal program completion, the experiential pathway can prove valuable. This option allows qualified RNs with a bachelor’s degree or higher to apply for certification based on documented practice and contact hours. It acknowledges and validates the depth of expertise gained in practice.

Recertification

WOCNCB-certified nurses can apply for recertification every 5 years either by testing or through the Professional Growth Program (PGP). The Professional Service Industries (PSI) administers exams at in-person testing sites or via online remote proctoring.

For those who prefer not to test, the revised PGP pathway offers an alternative, which requires 80 portfolio points per specialty. Nurses earn portfolio points through professional activities that support ongoing growth and competence in wound, ostomy, continence, and foot care nursing. Changes made in 2024 recognize practice hours, making it easier to accumulate portfolio points. PGP builds on three categories: continuing education for each specialty, practice hours (full-time or part-time, including clinical practice, academia, or in­dustry), and activities (teaching, programs/projects, writing/publications, research, volunteering).

The WOCNCB Certification Inspiration podcast offers an episode on the new streamlined PGP requirements (bit.ly/3QI9bIy) and an overview of the simplified requirements, including practice hours that make more nurses eligible to recertify without taking exams. Nurses can find the PGP handbook, FAQs, and PGP Quick Guide at the WOCNCB website (bit.ly/4n3OG4U). In addition, WOCNCB offers live PGP office hours via Zoom. During the live sessions, certificants can ask specific questions and receive PGP submission guidance. The WOCNCB website lists upcoming PGP office hours.

Fast-track programs

Certification isn’t just about where you start, it’s also about how you grow. WOCNCB has designed fast-track options that recognize the
value of prior certification and create efficient pathways toward advanced credentials.

CFCN® FAST TRACK eligibility for current CWCN®, CWON®, or CWOCN®

Foot care and wound care frequently go hand in hand, and WOCNCB acknowledges this overlap. Nurses who hold the Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN®) credential can pursue a streamlined route to become a Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN®). The requisite 8 contact hours and 12 clinical hours are waived to recognize the advanced assessment and treatment skills already demonstrated in wound care, while supporting the expansion of the nurse’s scope into broader foot care management.

From WTA-C® to CWCN

WOCNCB designed the Wound Treatment Associate Certified (WTA-C®) role to meet the growing need for certified, wound treatment nurses who provide daily patient monitoring, pressure injury prevention, and basic wound management under the direct supervision of a licensed independent practitioner. For those ready to take the next step, the fast-track option to CWCN offers a natural progression. It provides WTA-C registered nurses with the opportunity to elevate their practice, deepen their expertise, and validate their expanded skills through board certification. WTA-C replaces 24 contact hours as well as 160 clinical hours needed for the CWCN Experiential Pathway requirements.

These fast-track programs highlight WOCNCB’s focus on supporting career mobility, reducing redundancy, and encouraging lifelong learning. For nurses eager to build on their foundation and expand their professional impact, these options provide the momentum to keep advancing while delivering the gold standard in wound, ostomy, continence, and foot care.

Special Programs

The WOCNCB offers several special programs designed to support certificants.

Inactive/retired status

This status serves certificants who are either retiring or moving away from active practice.

To qualify, an individual must have an active WOCNCB certification at the time of application and be retired from active practice (for retired status). The individual must submit an application at least 30 days prior to certification expiration and pay an application fee. If approved, WOCNCB will grant Inactive Status for one 3-year period. WOCNCB grants Retired/Emeritus Status for one 5-year period.

Neither status can be extended beyond the initial period. To return to active status within 3 years from the date of Inactive Status or within 5 years of Retired/Emeritus Status, the individual must complete 50 continuing education hours for each specialty, maintain an active RN license, pay the application fee, and pass the exam for each certification.

Grace period and extensions

Certificants whose credentials have lapsed for less than 6 months can use a 6-month grace period. If the credential has lapsed beyond 6 months, the individual can re-acquire certi­fication via the experiential pathway.

Those with current WOCNCB certifications can request credential extensions in the event of a serious medical issue, natural disaster, or active military duty.

Benevolence fund

The WOCNCB offers financial assistance for situations such as severe illness or accident, death of an immediate family member, a natural disaster, or other tragedies. To apply for the benevolence fund, applicants must complete an application form and provide documentation showing financial hardship that prevents them from recertifying. Learn more at wocncb.org/recertification/benevolence-fund.

Ongoing excellence

As it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2028, WOCNCB remains the Gold Standard for Certification in wound, ostomy,
continence, and foot care certifications. The WOCNCB’s recent initiatives (revamped PGP Program and transition to PSI testing) serve as testaments to its focus on excellence, sustainability, and innovation.

Alex Aningalan is program manager of wound and ostomy care at New York Presbyterian Westchester in Bronxville, New York. Alexxia Richmond is CEO at Excelled Healing in Snohomish, Washington. Marie Turner is an RN in the outpatient department at the Emory Clinic for Surgical Oncology/Colorectal in John’s Creek, Georgia.

American Nurse Journal. 2026; 21(7). Doi: 10.51256/ANJ0726115

References

Boyle DK, Bergquist-Beringer S, Cramer E. Relationship of wound, ostomy, and continence certified nurses and healthcare-acquired conditions in acute care hospitals. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2017;44(3):283-92. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000327

Coelho P. Relationship between nurse certification and clinical patient outcomes: A systematic literature review. J Nurs Care Qual. 2020;35(1):E1-5. doi:10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000397

George N, Pascale A, Warshawsky NE. Practice environment and nurse outcomes by ANCC designation: Insights from NDNQI. J Nurs Manag. 2025;2025:1772029. doi:10.1155/jonm/1772029

Lal MM. Magnet Recognition® and Pathway to Excellence®, complementary programs. J Nurs Adm. 2024;54(2):67-8. doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000001381

Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board. Accredited programs. wocn.org/become-a-woc-nurse/accredited-programs/.

Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board. Professional Growth Program (PGP). wocncb.org/recertification/professional-growth-program-pgp

Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board. WOCNCB Examination Handbook. 2026. wocncb.org/UserFiles/file/exam_handbook.pdf