Previously Asked Questions

Question:
I am in the process of working on my PGP for recertification. Is there a number on how many education tools for patients or health care providers you can submit per certification for ostomy? Thank you for your time.

Answered May 27, 2026
Thanks for your question! It sounds like you are asking if there is a limit to the number of educational tools you can submit for PGP points. If so, there is no limit but remember you must have at least 10 CEs directly related to the specialty and this can be found on page 9 of the 2024 PGP handbook. Good luck on your portfolio!

Question:
experiential pathway for RN without BSN”.

Answered May 26, 2026
As an RN without a Bachelor's Degree, you would qualify for the Wound Treatment Associate-Certified credential, WTA-C. Please see the website page under "Certification / Wound Treatment Associate" and click on "Eligibility". It requires course completion plus 16 clinical hours with a preceptor who is a wound care expert. There is another level for the RN with a Bachelor's Degree, for "Certified Wound Care Nurse".

Question:
I am looking for an ostomy nurse in my area. The zip code is 11937 and the town is East Hampton NY. Please respond as soon as possible because my wife has an ileostomy and is having frequent leakage and may need a new pouching system. Thank you Marie Ongioni 631-324-2012

Answered May 25, 2026
I’m sorry to hear your wife is struggling! Below are a couple of websites to locate a local ostomy nurse. The first one is for the WOCN find a nurse and the other is the United Ostomy Associations of America locate an patient ostomy nurse. https://findanurse.wocn.org/ https://www.ostomy.org/outpatient-ostomy-services-locator/

Question:
I am currently enrolled in the self-paced Wound and Ostomy program through WEB WOC, and I wanted to ask if this program would still qualify me for the experiential pathway for certification? Do I need to be in the traditional pathway instead? Thank you

Answered May 20, 2026
We look for you to have 1,500 hours experience specific to the specialty, in any work setting (Acute Care, Ambulatory Care, Long Term Care, Home Care, Academics, Administrative, Industry and Independent Practice). You would count the hours to total 1,500 specific to wound, plus 1,500 specific to ostomy. You may want to calculate based on hours per week or month, or a percentage of time in order to determine the total hours you have. The online exam application asks you to list the total number as a figure, plus provide the name of a supervisor(s) on an Employment History form, as a means for us to contact them directly for verification. This, in addition to having 50 CE's specific to each area, make you eligible for the WOCNCB certification. The WebWOC program should give you those CE's. All the experience hours and CE must occur within the past 5 years, as long as you have 375 experience hours that occurred within the past one year out of this total. Please visit our website for information, listed on the "Eligibility" page under "Certification / Wound Ostomy Continence".

Question:
Hello, I am planning to enroll in a WOCN-approved school to prepare for initial CWON certification through the Experiential Pathway. Before paying for the program, I would like to get confirmation from the WOCN-CB that I qualify for the Experiential Pathway. Below is a brief synopsis of my background: I graduated from college with my BSN in 2014. Since then, I have been working full-time as a cardiac post-op acute care RN managing post-cardiothoracic surgery recovery and wound care at one of the largest children's hospitals in Dallas, Texas. I have held this job for the last 12 years (from 2014 to the present day). My patient population comprises infants and children at various stages of CHD corrective and palliative surgery recovery. The typical care provided includes hemodynamic stabilization, post-op wound care, and management of various types of enteral nutrition via gastrostomies, gastro-jejunostomies, nasogastric tubes, and naso-duodenal tubes. Recently, I completed my MSN-FNP program and took on an additional part-time job as a Wound Care Nurse Practitioner caring for adult patients across various settings (home health, nursing homes, independent, home-bound, palliative care, and inpatient). From 2014 to the present day, there has been no interruption in my work as a full-time RN. I have an active nursing license in Texas with no restrictions. Kindly confirm that I meet the requirements to certify through the experiential pathway. Thank you so much. Jennifer Kalu

Answered May 15, 2026
We look for 1,500 practice hours specific to the clinical specialty, in any work setting (academia, industry, acute/long term care, etc.). You would count the hours to total 1,500 specific to wounds, plus 1,500 specific to Ostomy (i.e., it is per specialty). You may want to calculate based on hours per week or month, or a percentage of time in order to determine the total hours you have. The online exam application asks you to acknowledge you have the total hours required, and to provide the name of a clinical supervisor(s) as a means for us to contact them directly for verification. This, in addition to having 50 CE's specific to wound care, plus 50 CE specific to ostomy care (i.e., it is per specialty), make you eligible for the WOCNCB certification. All the hours and CE must occur within the past 5 years, as long as you have 375 experience hours that occurred within the past one year out of this total.

Question:
When I tried to apply for PGP recert, my certifaction is not attached to my present email address. Can someone assist me with this issue?

Answered May 13, 2026
Please contact the WOCNCB office directly, either by phone or email. We can look for whether you have more than one account, where the newer one is not synched to the credentials and details we have on file for you. (888) 496-2622 or info@wocncb.org

Question:
Is the cwocn called clinical nurse specialist?

Answered November 17, 2017
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are registered nurses who typically hold a master's degree, at minimum, along with national certification denoting advanced knowledge and clinical skills specific to a particular patient population or specialized area of nursing. Therefore, this designation (CNS) is not issued by our credentialing body, WOCNCB, but rather by a state board of nursing or perhaps given by the university while earning the MSN. In some states, it is a practice-based designation to use CNS.

Question:
Does the APN WOCN certification meet the requirements for CMS for an APN, and thus the Medicare provider #?

Answered May 30, 2009
The WOCNCB AP credentials would not meet the CMS requirements for an APN. The ability to obtain a Medicare provider number is based upon your advance practice credential, CNS or NP. Certifications of any type, including the WOCNCB credentials, enhance your scope of practice.