Certification by Examination

[Handbook] [Eligibility] [WOC Education Programs] [Deadline Dates] [Recertification] [Scheduling] [Fees] [Locating Assessment Centers] [Self Assessment Exam] [Sample Test] [Exam Content Outline] [Link to AMP] [CEUs] [Benevolence Fund] [Home]

How to Obtain an Examination Handbook and Application

The current Candidate Examination Handbook and application can be downloaded from this Web site, printed and used to apply for the examination. Mail the completed application with all appropriate fees and documentation to: WOCNCB^® Examination, Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP), 18000 W. 105th Street, Olathe, KS 66061-7543, USA.

To download Candidate Examination Handbook and Application click here. (Acrobat Reader required)

The Candidate Handbook is a 20 page document.

To download Application click here. (Acrobat Reader required)

To download Acrobat Reader click here.

If you wish to order a printed copy of this Handbook, call AMP at (913) 895-4600 or fax your request to (913) 895-4650.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the WOCNCB^® examination(s) an applicant must fulfill the following requirements.

Recertification of valid (non-lapsed) WOCNCB^® credentials:

1. Be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse (A copy of your current license must be submitted with your application. No other documentation is required.)

Initial certification or recertification of lapsed WOCNCB^® credentials:

1. Be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse ( A copy of your current license must be submitted with your application)
2. Hold a baccalaureate degree (A copy of your diploma or transcripts must be submitted with your application)
3. Fulfill ONE of the following requirements:
1. Accredited Education Program Track
• Complete a WOC Nursing Education Program that is accredited by WOCN. Click here to access list of programs.
• Effective January 1, 2009 candidates will be required to successfully complete exam(s) within five years of graduation from a Wound, Ostomy, Continence Education Program, or they must then prove eligibility via the Experiential Pathway.
• The Nursing Education Program must be accredited at the time of graduation.
• A copy of your certificate of completion/graduation must be submitted with your application.
  Please contact an accredited program for more information.
2. Graduate Level Track
• Complete a graduate-level program in nursing with documentation of graduate clinical course work equivalent to two semester hours in each specialty for which certification is sought.
• Official college transcripts and course descriptions must be submitted with your application.
  Please read the Graduate Level Track section of the handbook.
3. Experiential Track
• Have 50 contact hours (CEU) over the last five years within each specialty for which certification is sought.
• Have 1,500 clinical experience hours over the last five years within each specialty for which certification is sought. Effective January 1, 2007, at least 375 of those hours must be completed within the year prior to certification application.
• A copy of each certificate of completion of contact hours must be submitted.
  Please read the Experiential Track section of the handbook.

To be accepted for the examination(s), individuals must fulfill the eligibility requirements outlined above and submit a completed application, required documentation and fee by the application postmark deadline.

Upon passing the exam(s) individuals receive their CWOCN^®, CWCN^®, COCN^®, CCCN^®, or CWON™ credential. Certification must be re-established every five years.

WOC Education Programs

There are several WOCN-accredited education programs throughout the United States. Completion may be obtained via distance learning, home study, online, or traditional on-site. Please contact the program that best suits your needs. Click here to review the programs and their admission/tuition requirements.

Deadline Dates

Quarterly Testing Cycles

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 – approximately 4 weeks after the testing quarter has ended. Refer to the testing cycle chart above for approximate mailing dates.

Recertification

How to Recertify
You may either recertify by taking the certification exam(s) or submit a written portfolio via the Professional Growth Program (PGP). Please read details below:

Recertification By Exam
In order to recertify by exam, you must send your application to sit for the certification exam(s) by the appropriate deadline listed below.

• Applications are only valid during the quarterly testing cycle for which you apply.
• You must pass the exam(s) during the testing cycle.
• You may re-apply for any examinations which you do not pass – within the same quarter – and the re-application must be received 30 days prior to the end of the 3-month testing cycle.
• If you've missed the application deadline your credentials are considered lapsed for the next testing cycle. In order to certify again, you must meet the “Eligibility Requirements” on this website.

Recertification by Professional Growth Program (PGP)
In order to recertify by PGP, you must send the required documentation provided in the PGP Handbook by the appropriate application deadline listed in the handbook.

• You must be currently certified.
• You may not have first attempted and failed the certification exam(s).

Scheduling

You must call AMP to schedule an appointment to take the examination.

Examinations will not be offered on the following holidays:

DEADLINES ARE FIRM AND APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED AFTER THE POSTMARK DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. LETTERS OF INTENT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

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)

Self Assessment Examination

Now available for purchase - the WOCNCB^® Self Assessment Exam (SAE)! The SAE provides self assessment (or practice) to measure your professional knowledge and prepare you for the actual credentialing exam. This web-based SAE gives you instantaneous scoring and results, along with feedback on your answers.

Accessing the WOCNCB^® Self Assessment Examination:

• Click on the link to the SAE, http://store.lxr.com/dept.aspx?id=40
  
  
• Purchase the WOCNCB^® SAE for $30 per specialty
  
  
• Take the SAE
  
  
• Score the exam
  
  
• Review your score reports
  
  
• Schedule your computer based test through AMP, www.goamp.com

How to Locate Assessment Centers

To access the locations of AMP Assessment Centers click here.

Take a Free Sample Test - It's User Friendly!

To take a free sample computer-based test, click here.

Exam Content Outline

To access the Exam Content Outline, click here.

Link to AMP

Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP), located in Olathe, Kansas, is our testing company who has state-of-the-science capabilities, outstanding services and conveniences. AMP has been in the testing arena for 20 years and has extensive experience with medical certification.

AMP provides WOCNCB^® with the following services:

• Psychometric Consultation
• Item Development
• Item Measurement
• Item Maintenance
• Test Assembly
• Standard Setting
• Examination Administration
• Scoring
• Reporting
• Publishing
• Marketing

Continuing Education Courses

The WOCNCB^® understands that some members are unable to attend conferences to receive their continuing education units for recertification. To assist you with this task, the WOCNCB^® will be providing a list of educational courses that can be accessed through the internet or teleconferences. This list will be updated on a quarterly basis. The WOCNCB^® does not endorse these classes, but is providing them as a reference to assist you in the recertification process.

NEW Benevolence Fund

The WOCNCB^® is pleased to announce its Benevolence Fund. This funding is designed to assist WOCNCB^® certified nurses in maintaining their designation(s) if financial hardship has occurred while attempting to recertify. Beginning in January 2007, the WOCNCB^® will be accepting applications from candidates that fit the following criteria:

To qualify for the Benevolence Fund, the applicant must:

• Currently be certified through the WOCNCB^®.
• Demonstrate financial hardship that prevents the candidate from recertifying in a specialty/specialties.
• Submit requested information in its entirety.

Each applicant can only be awarded funding once, every five years. Funding cannot exceed the cost of recertification in all specified specialties.

On a quarterly basis, all applications will be reviewed by the WOCNCB^® Finance Committee and submitted to the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board for a ruling and the amount awarded.

The following is a list of potential circumstances that would qualify you for funding.

1. Severe Illness / Accident
2. Death of Immediate Family Member
3. Natural Disaster (fire, crime, flood, weather, etc.)
4. Destitution
5. Other Tragedies

Click here to download an Application