American Board of Wound Management

• ABWM Certified
• How to Apply

How to Apply: CWCA, CWS and CWSP

Find out how to apply by clicking on the individual arrow buttons to expand one or expand all.

For First-Time Candidates

1. Download and complete the Candidate Handbook and Application for the appropriate National Board Certification Examination. If you are not sure which application to complete, please view the Certification Eligibility page.

2. Submit your completed application in hard copy to:

American Board of Wound Management
1155 15th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005

All materials should arrive at the ABWM office in a single envelope. FedEx and USPS certified mail is recommended. Your application must be received a minimum of 15 business days prior to your desired exam date. Upon approval, you will be able to schedule your examination at a local testing center for any time in the following six months, based on availability.

Completed applications will include:

a. Completed ABWM Application with signed application statement, affirming your adherence to the policies set forth in the Candidate Handbook
b. Signed Code of Ethics form, affirming your adherence to this code.
c. Professional resume or curriculum vitae
d. Personal statement which details three years of wound care experience and direct patient care, if applicable
e. Copies of professional licenses and board certifications
f. Three letters of reference from any professional colleagues sealed in their original envelopes.
Letters should discuss wound care knowledge, skills, and expertise, and must document the required years of experience.
g. Completed Application Payment page
h. Completed Application Checklist, with each item initialed

(*Please note that in completed CWSP Applications, a copy of your current CWS ID Card may be submitted in lieu of items C-F)

3. Once your application to sit for the certification examination has been approved, you should expect to receive two notifications directly from our testing company Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP).  The notifications will arrive first by e-mail, and second by mail, and will include information on how to schedule your exam.

4. Once you have received your approval notifications, you may schedule your exam for any time in the following six months, based on availability at your local testing center.

For more information about selecting the date, time and location of your exam, please view the Exam Scheduling page.

For a list of locations where the exam is offered, please view the AMP Assessment Centers.

5. Upon completing the exam, a score report will be generated immediately.

If you pass the exam, you will be considered either an Associate or a Diplomate of the ABWM. You will receive a Welcome Packet from ABWM approximately two to four weeks after passing the exam. The Welcome Packet will include: a letter congratulating you on your accomplishment, an immediate press release, an employer advocacy letter, and a pin and patch for you to proudly display your new designation. You will also be issued a certificate by AMP. Associates and Diplomates of the ABWM will be required to renew their certification annually by paying a $150 renewal fee, and by completing six hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in order to maintain their certification. Associates and Diplomates of the ABWM will be required to recertify after ten years by sitting for the appropriate examination again.

If you do not pass the exam, you may apply to Re-test after 90 days. You may apply to Re-test for up to two years following your previous examination. Candidates who wish to Re-test after two years must submit an entirely new Application for National Board Certification. Candidates who wish to re-test more than three times will need to provide documentation of 30 CEUs.

For Re-Testing Candidates

1. Download the ABWM Re-Test Application.

2. Submit your completed application by mail, fax, or e-mail to:

American Board of Wound Management
1155 15th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
Email: info@abwmcertified.org
Fax: 202-530-0659

Your application must be received a minimum of 15 business days prior to your desired exam date. Upon approval, you will be able to schedule your examination at a local testing center for any time in the following six months, based on availability.

Completed applications will include:

a. Completed and signed ABWM Re-test Application
b. Re-test Fee for the appropriate examination.

3. Once your application to sit for the certification examination has been approved, you should expect to receive two notifications directly from our testing company Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP).  The notifications will arrive first by e-mail, and second by mail, and will include information on how to schedule your exam.

4. Once you have received your approval notifications, you may schedule your exam for any time in the following six months, based on availability at your local testing center.

For more information about selecting the date, time and location of your exam, please view the Exam Scheduling page.

For a list of locations where the exam is offered, please view the AMP Assessment Centers.

5. Upon completing the exam, a score report will be generated immediately.

If you pass the exam, you will be considered either an Associate or a Diplomate of the ABWM. You will receive a Welcome Packet from ABWM approximately two to four weeks after passing the exam. The Welcome Packet will include: a letter congratulating you on your accomplishment, an immediate press release, an employer advocacy letter, and a pin and patch for you to proudly display your new designation. You will also be issued a certificate by AMP. Associates and Diplomates of the ABWM will be required to renew their certification annually by paying a $150 renewal fee, and by completing six hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in order to maintain their certification. Associates and Diplomates of the ABWM will be required to recertify after ten years by sitting for the appropriate examination again.

If you do not pass the exam, you may apply to Re-test after 90 days. You may apply to Re-test for up to two years following your previous examination. Candidates who wish to Re-test after two years must submit an entirely new Application for National Board Certification. Candidates who wish to re-test more than three times will need to provide documentation of 30 CEUs.

For 10-Year Re-Certifying Candidates

1. Download the ABWM Recertification Application. Candidates who fail to recertify 10 years after their initial certification will have their Associate or Diplomate status revoked, and will no longer be permitted to use their credential.  For more information regarding recertification, please view the Renewal & Recertification Handbook.

2. Submit your completed application by mail, fax, or e-mail to:

American Board of Wound Management
1155 15th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
Email: info@abwmcertified.org
Fax: 202-530-0659

Your application must be received a minimum of 15 business days prior to your desired exam date. Upon approval, you will be able to schedule your examination at a local testing center for any time in the following six months, based on availability.

Completed applications will include:

a. Completed and signed ABWM Recertification Application
b. Re-test Fee for the appropriate examination.

3. Once your application to sit for the certification examination has been approved, you should expect to receive two notifications directly from our testing company Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP).  The notifications will arrive first by e-mail, and second by mail, and will include information on how to schedule your exam.

4. Once you have received your approval notifications, you may schedule your exam for any time in the following six months, based on availability at your local testing center.

For more information about selecting the date, time and location of your exam, please view the Exam Scheduling page.

For a list of locations where the exam is offered, please view the AMP Assessment Centers.

5. Upon completing the exam, a score report will be generated immediately.

If you pass the exam, you will maintain either your Associate or Diplomate status. You will receive a Recertification Welcome Packet from ABWM approximately two to four weeks after passing the exam. The Welcome Packet will include: a letter congratulating you on your accomplishment, an immediate press release, an employer advocacy letter, and a pin and patch for you to proudly display your maintained designation. You will also be issued a certificate by AMP. Associates and Diplomates of the ABWM will be required to renew their certification annually by paying a $150 renewal fee, and by completing six hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in order to maintain their certification. Associates and Diplomates of the ABWM will be required to recertify after ten years by sitting for the appropriate examination again.

If you do not pass the exam, your Associate or Diplomate status will be revoked. You will not be permitted to use your credential again until successfully passing the examination. In order to be re-instated, you may apply to Re-test after 90 days. You may apply to Re-test for up to two years following your previous examination. Candidates who wish to Re-test after two years must submit an entirely new Application for National Board Certification. Candidates who wish to re-test more than three times will need to provide documentation of 30 CEUs.

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