Advanced Practice Certification

[Eligibility] [Fees] [Deadline Dates]
[Handbook and Application] [Pre-Approval] [Recertification] [Audit Documentation]
[Questions] [FAQ] [Home]

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Advanced Practice certification by the WOCNCB, a certificant must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Hold a current RN license. (A copy of the current license must be submitted with your application.)
2. Possess current entry-level WOCNCB^® certification. (A copy of your certification certificate must be submitted with your application.)
3. Have completed a Graduate level NP or CNS program. (A copy of diploma and transcripts must accompany application.)

Upon approval of certification via portfolio, individuals receive their CWOCN-AP credential. Certification must be re-established every five years.

Fees

Application Fee – Effective August 15, 2007:
One Specialty: $300
Two Specialties: $350
Three Specialties: $400
Four Specialties: $450

(Fees through August 14, 2007 are: Three Specialties $440; Two $360; One $310. Discounted prices for check payment are: Three Specialties $425; Two $350; One $300)

Deadline Dates

You must submit your AP application according to the following schedule:

Late Applications: Late applications will be accepted if postmarked 30 days after the application postmark deadline listed in the chart above. A late fee of $75.00 will be charged and must be included with your payment.

Certificates are mailed quarterly at month-end in January, April, July, and October.
(Candidates whose portfolios were submitted in January-February-March will receive their certificates at the end of April; candidates whose portfolios were submitted in April-May-June will receive their certificates at the end of July, and so forth.)

How to Obtain an AP Handbook and Application

The current Advanced Practice Handbook and application can be downloaded from this Web site, printed and used to apply for the CWOCN-AP credential. Mail the completed application with all appropriate fees and documentation to: WOCNCB®, 555 East Wells Street, Suite 1100, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

To download the AP Handbook, Application and verification forms click here. (Acrobat Reader required). The handbook is a 36 page document.

If you need forms only, click below to access sets of interactive forms for Wound, Ostomy, or Continence.
interactive forms - Wound (file size 1.0 MB - MS Word format)
interactive forms - Ostomy (file size 1.0 MB - MS Word format)
interactive forms - Continence (file size 1.0 MB - MS Word format)

FILLING OUT INTERACTIVE FORMS:
These interactive forms have been placed into sections for Wound, Ostomy and Continence with the point logs and summarization/verification forms needed for each category. Extra verification forms are provided within each specialty for more commonly used categories.

Skip pages you do not need to fill in.

Fill in each grey shaded area. (The grey shaded areas will expand as you type, and are unlimited in length.)

Use Tab key (or Arrow keys) to move the cursor into each "fill-in-the-blank" shaded area.

Type "x" in the checkboxes you are filling in.

Print only the pages you fill in.

Questions? If you have questions, or for any reason these interactive forms do not contain enough copies so that you can complete your AP portfolio, please contact the WOCNCB^® (888) 496-2622 for assistance.

To download Acrobat Reader click here.

If you wish to order a printed copy of this Handbook, call WOCNCB^® at (888) 496-2622 or fax your request to (414) 276-2146.

Pre-Approval in Category B-8 (Activity Not Defined)

We realize there are creative people, and that we may not have captured all the projects and activities you may have worked on. When you want the AP Committee to review the project or activity for a decision of acceptability and the points you may be awarded, please submit documentation one (1) month prior to the AP application deadline. You will need to use the Category B Verification Form and send it to the WOCNCB^®.

Recertification

How to Recertify
Your CWOCN-AP certification must be renewed every 5 years, by sending the required documentation as listed in the handbook. Please note the deadlines for submission based on your expiration dates.

Audit Documentation

What follows is a sample list of acceptable documentation materials that may be submitted if you are audited. We recommend that you immediately contact the source for documentation if you do not have copies on-hand. You will be provided with the instructions and forms along with a notification of an audit and will have 30 days to complete it.

• Copy of CE certificate or certificate of completion
• Fill out audit form if you do NOT have certificate

• Copy of proposal, project, procedure

• Copy of findings
• Other documents showing project completion

• Copy of article or publication
• Copy of title page with date/table of contents

• Completed sign-in sheet
• Promotional brochure
• Letter of agreement or acceptance from educational institution
• Letter of validation from educational institution

• Newsletter
• Minutes
• Directory

• Transcripts
• Course description
• Letter from sponsoring organization

Questions

Questions about the Advanced Practice application/portfolio?
If you have general questions on the process, please call Kathy Meyer at WOCNCB^®, (888) 496-2622 or submit specific questions the "Ask the Board" section in this website.

Advanced Practice Certification

Q: I am only interested in advanced practice certification in the Wound and Ostomy specialties. Is AP certification only offered for the tri-specialty (CWOCN-AP)?
A: In addition to the tri-specialty (CWOCN-AP), advanced practice certification can be earned for any single specialty, or any two specialties.

Q: Will the AP certification replace my current certification, or must I do both?
A: Once you have earned your basic WOCN certification, and submit an AP portfolio to earn your Advanced Practice credential, you will only need to carry forward with the AP credential. Certification must be established every five years.

Q: I'm certified via Experiential Pathway. Will I qualify for AP credential without going through a WOCN Education Program?
A: The current eligibility requirements are to have graduated from a WOCN education program, or a formal education program related to the single specialty for which certification is sought. The eligibility requirements were developed based on regulatory requirements for formal post Bachelor's education to match the specialty practice and certification. This is why experiential pathway is not currently accepted. APN issues are a hot topic with Boards of Nursing at this time. WOCNCB will participate in an APN Roundtable held by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing in April. Information to be disseminated at that time may facilitate WOCNCB to alter their eligibility requirements. Please "stay tuned".

Q: I just recertified via PGP - can I use the same activities in my AP portfolio?
A: Yes, activities may be used for AP portfolio certification that was previously used in your PGP portfolio. You will need to use activities occurring during the past five year period.

Q: I have a Masters, but not in Nursing - will I be eligible for the AP credential?
A: The current eligibility requirements are that you have completed a graduate level NP or CNS program. A copy of your diploma and transcripts must accompany your application. Therefore, you must have a MSN.

Q: How much must I write for the eligibility requirement to write three comprehensive clinical scenarios?
A: You may submit a one-page document that answers the questions from the AP application.