Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone can take our certification course. If you're a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, physician, or dietician, you may meet the credential board’s eligibility requirements to take the certification exam. Visit the following sites to determine your eligibility. 

• NAWCO
• ABWM
• WOCNCB

Yes! Non-licensed individuals are able to enroll in our Skin and Wound Management course. 
 
The credential for a non-licensed individual is the Certified Wound Care Market Specialist (CWCMS). If you're interested in taking the certification exam, you must meet eligibility requirements.

Visit our eligibility page for full details on the certification exam details for each NAWCO exam, eligible licenses, eligibility requirements, and experience requirements. 

Visit NAWCO's website for information about the certification eligibility requirements, as well as the application process, handbook, and more.

Here's how to set up your account:

• Complete the form to create your account.

It's considered a best practice to use your name as it appears on your professional license, if applicable. Your personal information is only used for account identification purposes and is never shared.

Here's how to register for a course:

• Visit Courses.
• Select the course you're interested in taking.
• Click the Register button.
  • If you're not already logged in or don't have an account a box will pop up and prompt you to take action.
• Complete the registration process.
  • Once you begin registering for a course, it will show up on your dashboard. You can continue to register for the course by clicking on the course link.
  • Once you've completed your registration, the course will show up on your dashboard and you'll receive a confirmation email.

After registering for the course, if you plan to sit for a certification exam, you'll select a credentialing board, complete their exam application, and pay their certification fees. 

The credentialing board determines your exam eligibility.  For your convenience, the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy administers the certification examination at most course locations the day after the course concludes. Contact NAWCO at 877-922-6292 for exam-related questions.

While the Skin and Wound Management tuition covers four days of live instruction, course materials and Continuing Education Contact Hours.  The value WCEI® offers expands beyond the classroom.  With access to in-person and real-time online support and guidance - along with a myriad of online resources based on current standards of care and best practices - your investment in your education will grow over time.
 
Once you complete the WCEI® course you will have ongoing access to an amazing array of free or low-cost benefits.

While the Diabetic Skin and Wound Management tuition covers online training modules, course materials and continuing education contact hours. The value WCEI® offers expands beyond the classroom.  With access to in-person and real-time online support and guidance - along with a myriad of online resources based on current standards of care and best practices - your investment in your education will grow over time.

Once you complete the WCEI® course, you will have ongoing access to an amazing array of free or low-cost benefits.

While the Ostomy Management Course tuition covers online pre-course modules, four days of live instruction, course materials and continuing education contact hours. The value WCEI® offers expands beyond the classroom.  With access to in-person and real-time online support and guidance - along with a myriad of online resources based on current standards of care and best practices - your investment in your education will grow over time.

Once you complete the WCEI® course you will have ongoing access to an amazing array of free or low cost benefits.

You can recertify the easy way by preparing with a WCEI® certification course onsite or online. No test, no stress, no problem! 

Courses to prepare you for recertification are available for the following:

• Skin & Wound Management Course
• Nutrition Skin & Wound Management Course
• Diabetic Wound Management Course
• Ostomy Management Course
• Certified Wound Care Market Specialist Course® (CWCMS®)

Additionally, recertification pathways may be available through your credential board.

WCEI® offers over 100 onsite Skin and Wound Management certification courses across the nation each year.

If you are not able to find a course near you, consider the online Skin and Wound Management certification course.  Additionally, WCEI® can also bring a certification course to your facility where you can include fellow healthcare providers and make the course a community event.

WCEI® offers an onsite Diabetic Skin and Wound Management certification course.

If you are not able to find a course near you, consider the online Diabetic Skin and Wound Management certification course. Additionally, WCEI® can also bring a certification course to your facility where you can include fellow healthcare providers and make the course a community event.

WCEI® offers several onsite Ostomy Management certification courses each year. 

If you are not able to find a course near you, WCEI® can bring a certification course to your facility where you can include fellow healthcare providers and make the course a community event.

Yes!  WCEI® frequently works with facilities who are interested in hosting a course:

• Skin and Wound Management Certification Course
• Ostomy Management Certification Course
• Diabetic Skin and Wound Management Certification Course

Don't let costs stand in your way of furthering your education and career.  WCEI® offers a variety of options that may meet your needs:

• General tuition assistance & payment options
• Military Support

If you need further assistance, contact a WCEI® financial advisor by emailing [email protected], or calling 877-462-9234.

The following list of services can assist in funding course tuition. Don’t let wound care certification costs stand in your way. Contact a WCEI® financial advisor to find out how you can cover or offset tuition costs by calling 877-462-9234 or emailing [email protected].

Affirm

Affirm is a company that offers loans for online purchases with fixed monthly payment terms.

Military Spousal Assistance (MyCAA)

MyCAA funding gives eligible military spouses the opportunity to train for portable jobs in growing career fields. WCEI® is an approved educational institution with the MyCAA. Learn more about MyCAA.

Student Loans

Contact your local bank for information on educational loans.

Tuition Agreement

If your employer does not have a tuition assistance program, utilize this agreement to negotiate reimbursement terms.

Tuition Tax Write-Off

If you are traveling to a conference or continuing education event related to your practice, you may be able to write off your expenses.

Unemployment

Many organizations or state programs will include education benefits with unemployment packages. Contact your unemployment representative to determine your eligibility and request the necessary application forms. It is important that you contact WCEI® once you have received an approval notification because each state's payment process varies.

Unrestricted Education Grants

Contact your facility supervisor and/or purchasing department about unrestricted education grants. Grants are provided through contracted wound care suppliers and/or vendors. WCEI® receives tuition payments directly from the supplier/vendor. Consider these:

• International Alliance of Wound Care Scholarship Foundation (IAWCSF)
• Scholarships4Moms
• Scholarships.com

Over the past 20 years, more than 40k individuals have taken their initial certification or recertification course through WCEI. This is three times more than other providers.

The following is what makes the WCEI program different:

Course Curriculum

• We are not just a “review course” or “test prep”, we teach current bedside best practices
• The curriculum is updated with regulatory changes or at a minimum of every 3 years
• Ability to change from one learning modality to another (Online Self-paced, Live Online, or Onsite In-person)
• Exam prep tools included (practice tests)
• The online course materials are included with a live class and are available 29 days prior to the class start date.
• Seasoned and experienced faculty from a variety of backgrounds
• Unlike other courses that require hours of reading time, the time spent within our courses is faculty-led or exam prep time
• Each lesson has end-of-lesson knowledge questions
• Access to 3 unlimited practice exams
• Interactive online lessons or faculty-driven interactivity during live classes

Relias Learning Platform (LMS)

• The Contact Center allows you to connect with other learners in the program; send emails to faculty or other students, post a discussion, and receive notifications
• The Support Center is a feature that provides functionality tutorials at anytime
• The Progress section displays the percentage of the course completed, the number of hours completed, and a line graph displaying open and completed sections of the course
• An organization can establish administrative roles that can support their learners, monitor progress, and run reports
• Receive text or email notifications or reminders
• Write notes and bookmark areas in a lesson
• Personalized learning through proficiency levels that identify focus study areas
• Activities solidify learning in a fun and interactive way
• Resume where you left off

After Taking the Course

Once you receive your credential, the real work happens. The only constant in the field of wound care is changing. It is imperative that you connect with other specialists for support and remain committed to ongoing education. WCEI provides you with the opportunity to:

• Ability to connect with other wound care specialists within the Wound Care Rocks Community
• Attending education events like live webinars, seminars, hands-on workshops, a national conference, and more.

Online Self-Paced Asynchronous Learning

• Access to course materials for 6 months
• Self-directed, independent learning
• Requires an electronic device with internet access

Live Online Synchronous Learning

• 4 consecutive online learning days
• Remote access to the online course and other resource materials 29 days prior to the first day of class
• Requires an electronic device with internet access
• Real-time interaction with instructors and peers via Q&A, chat, and polling
• Visual materials, interactivity, and practical examples

In-Person Distance Learning

• 4 consecutive online learning days
• Remote access to the online course and other resource materials 29 days prior to the first day of class
• Real-time interaction with instructors and peers via Q&A, chat, and polling
• Visual materials, interactivity, and practical examples
• Networking with wound care professionals

WCEI® offers a variety of education programs that provide continuing education contact hours for nurses, physicians, and practitioners of physical therapy and occupational therapy.  Total hours provided vary.

Skin and Wound Management – leads to the NAWCO WCC or the NWCC certification exam

• Online Self-Paced: Individuals enrolled in the online course have access to course materials for 6 months. The course takes approximately 23-40 hours to complete. Completion times vary based on time commitments, learning style, distractions, whether the student completes the supplemental course, etc.
• Live Online: 4 consecutive days
• Onsite In-Person: 4 consecutive days

Ostomy Management Specialist – leads to the NAWCO OMS certification exam

• Online Self-Paced: Individuals enrolled in the online course have access to course materials for 6 months. The course takes approximately 32-40 hours to complete. Completion times vary based on time commitments, learning style, distractions, whether the student completes the supplemental course, etc.
• Live Online: 8 Online Modules + live sessions
• Onsite In-Person: 4 consecutive days

Diabetic Wound Management – leads to the NAWCO DWC certification exam

• Online Self-Paced: Individuals enrolled in the online course have access to course materials for 6 months. The course takes approximately 23-40 hours to complete. Completion times vary based on time commitments, learning style, distractions, whether the student completes the supplemental course, etc.
• Live Online: 4 consecutive days
• Onsite In-Person: 4 consecutive days

The online Skin and Wound Management course will take approximately 23-40 hours to complete, and the Diabetic Skin and Wound Management course will take 30 - 35 hours. Completion times will vary based on time commitments, learning style, distractions, whether the student completes the supplemental course, etc.

All of your account information is available on your WCEI® account dashboard.  To locate your certificate of completion, follow these steps:

• Log into your WCEI® user account using your email address and password.
• Certificates of completion are found under the respective areas Completed Training (Courses) or Completed Webinars.

If the certificate is not available, contact the admissions department by emailing [email protected], or calling 877-462-9234.

WCEI® offers the following online courses:

• Skin & Wound Management Certification Course
• Diabetic Wound Certification Course
• Ostomy Management Specialist Certification Course
• Certified Wound Care Market Specialist® Certification Course (CWCMS®)

Select a credentialing board for testing center instructions. 

Start by reviewing the technical requirements document. Then simply follow these steps to access your online account:

• Log into your WCEI® user account using your email address and password.
• Under Current and Upcoming Training (Courses), click the Start Course link located beneath the course name.
  • The link will change to Continue Course after your access the course modules the first time.
  • Your 180 days of access begins as soon as your enrollment is complete.
• Click the link and accept the terms and conditions of the training system.

If you have difficulties, the technical support team is available by emailing [email protected], or by calling 877-462-9234.

You can view course modules at any time during the 180-day access period.  Follow these steps to access your online course modules:

• Login to WCEI® user account using your email address and password.
• Under Current and Upcoming Training (Courses) click the Continue Course link located beneath the course name.
• In your training account, click the Completed Courses tab. 

If you have difficulties, the technical support team is available by emailing [email protected], or by calling 877-462-9234.

You can change any information in your account online except your name (this is to protect the accuracy of your account and certificates). To change your name, call us at 877-462-9234, and we will gladly assist you.

To update your personal account information:

• Click on the red Login button located at the top right of every page.
• Underneath the welcome message on the left side click on Edit Profile.
• Updated your profile information.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Update Profile.

If you continue to have difficulties, the technical support team is available by emailing [email protected] or by calling 877-462-9234.

We apologize if you are experiencing technical issues. You can reach our technical support team by emailing [email protected], or calling 877-462-9234.

No problem! Here is how to reset or recover your password:

• Click on the red Login button located at the top right of every page.
• At the bottom left of the display box click on Forgot Password and follow the instructions.

If you have difficulties, the technical support team is available by emailing [email protected], or by calling 877-462-9234.

If you took a certification examination with NAWCO® within the last three weeks and have questions about the results, email NAWCO® at [email protected], or call 877-922-6292. Otherwise, contact your credentialing board.

Registering and accessing one of WCEI® On-Demand webinars is easy.  Here is what you need to do:

Register

• Click the Courses drop down at the top left of any page.
• Select On Demand Webinar.
• Scroll through the list and select a webinar by clicking on the name.
• Click the register button.
• If you are not already logged in or do not have an account, you will be prompted before being taken to a registration page.

Complete the registration process.

• Incomplete Registration: the webinar you started registering for will show up on your dashboard.  You can continue to register for the webinar by clicking on the course link.
• Complete Registration: the webinar you registered for will show up on your dashboard and you will receive a confirmation email.

Access

• Immediately after registering you will be taken to the webinar for viewing.
• You may view the webinar completely or come back to your dashboard later where it will be located under Current and Upcoming Training (Webinars).

Wound Care Certification

The overall pass rate for WCC as of June 2025 is 75%.

Ostomy Certification

The overall pass rate for OMS as of June 2025 is 84%.

Diabetic Wound Management Certification

The overall pass rate for DWC as of June 2025 is 98%.