The steps you will have to take to earn wound certification may depend on your background and the organization through which you seek certification. In most cases, you will have to meet the education, experience, and licensing criteria of a certifying organization, which usually includes taking approved courses and having valid health professional credentials. Finally, you will typically have to complete an application, pay a fee, and pass a certification exam to earn this type of credential.
You will usually have to qualify before you can take an exam and earn wound certification. Often, this involves taking a wound care course or a series of courses that are approved by a certifying organization. Often, these courses are designed for medical professionals at certain experience levels. For example, you may find wound care courses that are intended for registered or practical nurses as well as those that are intended for physicians or other types of medical care professionals. This type of course, in combination with your medical background and education, may qualify you to take a wound certification examination.
Sometimes certifying organizations also allow you to earn certification without taking an approved course. In such a case, you may have to prove that you have suitable related experience and education to qualify for this career. For example, if you are a nurse who wants to earn wound certification, you may need a bachelor's degree in nursing as well as years of experience to qualify. Other programs may allow you to qualify by completing a minimum number of graduate school education hours in a healthcare field and a minimum number of clinical work hours.
Once you are qualified to earn wound certification, you will likely have to complete an application with the certifying organization and pay a fee. You may also have to submit documentation proving the education and experience you have. Finally, you can take the examination or series of exams the organization requires. If you pass, you will usually receive written proof of your certification in this area of medicine. Additionally, many organizations have requirements you'll have to meet to renew your certification, such as earning continuing education credits and paying additional fees.
The content you will find on a wound certification exam may depend on which one you choose to take. Often, however, the content areas you will need to study include those in wound evaluation, diagnosis, and management. You will likely need in-depth knowledge of ways to promote wound healing, including via nutrition and blood sugar management, as well as ways to deal with ulcerated wounds. Additionally, some wound care certification exams require knowledge of ostomies or stomas, which are surgically formed openings in a patient's body.
