The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society

Education / WOCN Accredited Programs

WOC Nursing education programs (WOCNEP) accredited by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN)

Please contact individual programs directly for dates, types of structure(s), and costs.

“Every class, every semester I continue to learn vital skills and information that make me a better WOC nurse.”

Cleveland Clinic – R. B. Turnbull, Jr. School of WOC Nursing

Program Description: Split option program - Four weeks of didactic instruction and the option of conducting your four weeks of clinical instruction at the Cleveland Clinic, or at a facility closer to home with a Clinic-approved preceptor. Thanks to the Cleveland Clinic's large volume of patients - between 40-60 ostomy-fistula and 35-50 pressure ulcer and incontinence patients are in the hospital on any given day - you will be exposed to a wide variety of medical conditions and treatments. Working closely with one of our WOC nurses, you will receive hands-on experience in caring for patients with intestinal and urinary stomas, urinary and fecal incontinence, dermal ulcers, cutaneous fistula and other selected skin conditions.

For more information and up to date program dates, please click here.

Online Education Program Description: The online option is a full scope WOC nursing education program. The didactic segment is presented completely online and includes four courses; Concepts in WOC Nursing, Wound and Skin Management, Fecal and Urinary Diversions, and Continence Management. Each of the courses are approximately four weeks long and include asychronous discussion threads, self directed learning modules, individual and group projects, and a comprehensive final exam. All course work is completed and submitted within the learning management system which tracks all virtual classroom activity. Once the didactic courses are completed, each learner will complete a 120 hour clinical experience with an approved preceptor close to the learner's geographic area. On completion of both the didactic and clinical components, continuing education credits and a graduation certificate is awarded, and the graduate is eligible to complete the certification exams through the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board.

For more information and up to date program dates, please click here.

Emory University School of Medicine
Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing Education Center

Program Description: Individualized start dates; applicants may begin this program as soon as they are accepted for admission and their tuition has been paid, or if they have chosen to pay by the module, as soon as we have received payment for the 1st module. Onsite weeks are scheduled based on student readiness, but typically there is one held every other month. Certification Review Manual Available.

For more information and up to date program dates, please click here.

Harrisburg Area WOC Nursing Education Program

Program Description: Wicks is a fully accredited Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Education Program offering three program options:
(1) Split Option--offered several times annually at various locations;
(2) Home-Study--offered on a rolling admissions basis for students interested in self-paced learning;
(3) Combined Home-Study/On-Site--offered for students who wish to participate in the self-paced home study program, but also wish to attend a portion of the on-site class.
(4) Wound Care Specialty Program -- a fully accredited Wound Care Specialty course, encompassing the nursing management of complex wounds, fistulas and tube management, offered several times a year both at our corporate office and at off-site locations.

For more information and up to date program dates, please click here.

La Salle University School of Nursing

Program Description: On-site traditional classes or distance learning via the Internet. The La Salle University WOCNEP is offered in two formats. Split-Option—offered annually; onsite once weekly classes at Philadelphia campus (easy commuting) with off site clinical preceptorships near to home. Online Distance Education—offered annually; Web-based distance learning classes plus three clinical immersion days in Philadelphia per course; off site clinical preceptorships following the two required courses.

For more information and up to date program dates, please click here.

Medical University of South Carolina, Wound Care Specialty Course

Program Description: The WOCN-accredited Wound Care Specialty Course provided by the College of Nursing at the Medical University in historic Charleston, SC prepares registered nurses with a minimum Baccalaureate degree for the specialty practice of wound care nursing. Consistent with the mission of the College of Nursing, this continuing education program provides evidence-based education for wound management. Successful graduates of the course are eligible to take the national board examination offered by the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Certification Board (WOCNCB) to become Certified Wound Care Nurses (CWCN). The course prepares the graduate to provide direct care, education, and consultation to patients, families, and other healthcare providers for the comprehensive assessment and management of acute and chronic wounds including: surgical wounds, pressure ulcers, venous, arterial, and neuropathic/diabetic ulcers, fistulae, wounds with percutaneous drains or tubes, and select skin care problems. Program Options: Two program options are provided: (1) an intensive, onsite 3-week course with all didactic and clinical experiences in Charleston, and (2) a split-option, web-enhanced, distance learning course that is designed for completion in 4 months, which requires the first week onsite in Charleston and the balance of the course is completed online with clinical experiences offsite at the end of the course. Both program options are approved for nursing continuing education contact hours.

For more information and up to date program dates, please click here.

VA Eastern Kansas Wound Management Academy

Program Director Sharon Saim, RN, MSN, CWCN
4101 4th Street Trafficway
Leavenworth, KS 66048

The Wound Management Specialty Program is a continuing nursing education program, offered by the VA Eastern Kansas Wound Management Academy and is fully accredited as a traditional on site educational program by the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse Society.

The Academy is located in Leavenworth, Kansas at the Eastern Kansas Health Care System’s VA Medical Center. The course prepares the nurse to practice preventive, rehabilitative, health maintenance, and therapeutic interventions in the management of acute and chronic wounds, fistulae, management of percutaneous drains and tubes, and lower extremity diseases. It is our goal to prepare nurses with a quality wound specialty program that optimizes patient outcomes across the lifespan.

The Program provides an onsite three (3) week course that consists of approximately 70 hours of didactic and 40 hours of clinical experience, with Wound Ostomy Continence preceptors, in the VA and  greater Kansas City area. The course is approved for contact hours by the Kansas State Board of Nursing.   

Graduates of the course will be eligible to take the national board certification examination offered by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Certification Board to become a Certified Wound Care Nurse.

For more information and up to date program dates please contact Sharon.Saim@va.gov or click here.

University of Virginia Graduate Program in WOC Nursing

Wound, Ostomy & Continence Master’s and Post-Master's Certificate Program Program Description:  The curriculum builds on both the theoretical knowledge and clinical experience of the master's prepared nurse. Duration:   The School of Nursing offers three WOC courses annually (two didactic courses and a practicum). The Certificate program can be completed within 12 months. The two WOC didactic courses meet on Thursday afternoons from 4 to 7 pm in the fall and spring semesters. The practicum is in the summer session. Any MSN student pursuing a CNS or ACNP may choose to focus on WOC as their area of specialization as well as postmasters students are welcome to apply. Program Dates: Fall semester starts in late August. On-site: Three graduate level credits for a total of 9 credit hours.

For more information and up to date program dates, please click here.

University of Washington School of Nursing, Wound and Ostomy Education Programs

Program Description: University of Washington School of Nursing offers two specialty certificate programs through its nationally-accredited Continuing Nursing Education department.

Wound Management Education Program (WMEP) - This program is offered for registered nurses who seek advanced knowledge and skills in the management of chronic and complex wounds. This intensive course addresses a broad range of wounds, healing problems, and components of specialized nursing practice using a wide variety of expert faculty. Concepts guiding the didactic content and practicum are prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of the healing process. A unique aspect of the program is the selection and matching of students with a variety of preceptors certified in wound care and practicing in various health care settings. Students will earn 6 graduate quarter credits.

For more information and up to date program dates, please click here.

WebWOC Nursing Education Program

Program Description: WebWOC Nursing Education Program is a recognized leader in developing innovative, interactive, online distance learning courses in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing. In 2000, this program became the first online education program to be accredited by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN). The School of Nursing at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, MN is the academic partner for this online program. Ten graduate level credits or CEU's are awarded following successful completion of the Program. Full and Specialty Scopes are available on flexible schedules: semester-based or faculty-guided independent study. The faculty is academically and clinically prepared to guide learners into the profession of WOC nursing by leveraging advanced technology expertise so that even the beginning nurse computer user can fully participate in this experience.

For more information and up to date program dates, please click here.