ABOUT:
The Certified Wound Specialist (CWS®) board certification represents the pinnacle of expertise and specialization in wound management, serving as a formal recognition of mastery-level knowledge and practice in the field. Renowned for its prestige and rigor, the CWS® credential signifies an individual’s unwavering commitment to excellence and proficiency in wound care. By attaining this certification, professionals demonstrate not only their dedication to the highest standards of patient care but also their ability to meet the unique challenges of wound management with skill and precision. Moreover, the CWS® credential serves as a beacon of distinction, conveying to patients, employers, and peers alike a level of specialized expertise and achievement that sets them apart in the field of wound care.
CERTIFICATION BODY: ABWM®-American Board of Wound Management
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
- Achieve Board Certification: Attain formal recognition of master-level knowledge and specialty practice in wound management through board certification.
- Enhance Team Approach: Foster collaboration within the healthcare team, recognizing its vital role in successful wound management endeavors.
- Specialist Recognition: Gain recognition as a wound care specialist, esteemed for expertise and proficiency in the field.
- Dedication to Standards: Demonstrate unwavering dedication to the highest standards in wound care, crucial for developing comprehensive management programs.
- Improved Patient Care: Enhance the quality of wound care provided to patients, ensuring optimal outcomes and well-being.
- Collaboration and Resource Exchange: Cooperate with various disciplines and organizations involved in wound care, facilitating resource exchange and collective expertise.
- Cost Reduction: Reduce the costs associated with wound care provision in facilities or practices, optimizing resource allocation.
- Education and Training: Serve as an on-site resource to educate and train colleagues engaged in wound management, fostering continuous professional development.
- Marketing Advantage: Promote wound management services as a niche benefit of facilities or practices, enhancing market competitiveness.
- Community Engagement: Join a diverse, multi-disciplinary community dedicated to advancing the practice of wound care, contributing to its ongoing improvement and evolution.
EXAM INFORMATION:
- Exam Format: The examination comprises 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), with 25 designated as pretest questions.
- Duration: Candidates are allotted 3 hours to complete the examination.
- Question Types: The exam assesses candidates’ recall, application, and analysis abilities through a variety of question types.
RE CERTIFICATION:
- Renewal Requirements: CWS® credential renewal is required every 10 years.
- Options: Renewal can be achieved by either earning 60 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or opting for reexamination.
- CEU Requirement: Professionals can fulfill the renewal requirement by accumulating 60 CEUs through approved educational activities.
- Reexamination: Alternatively, candidates may choose to undergo reexamination to maintain their CWS® credential.
Requirements
- Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral Degree: Candidates must hold a professional degree in healthcare and possess at least three years of clinical wound care experience.
- Associate's Degree for RNs: Alternatively, licensed Registered Nurses with an Associate's degree must also have three or more years of clinical wound care experience.
- License Requirement: Candidates must maintain a full and unrestricted professional license in at least one state and in all states where they practice.
Target audiences
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Physical therapist
- Nurses with a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degrees