Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
www.wocncb.org

The mission of WOCNCB is to provide consumer protection by offering credentialing for licensed Registered Nurses in the specialty care area of wound, ostomy and continence care nursing. Certification credentials are highly valued and provide formal recognition of achievement.

In order to fulfill our mission, the WOCNCB will:

• Set, maintain and evaluate national standards for certification and recertification in wound, ostomy and continence care nursing.
• Promote the certification program for wound, ostomy and continence nursing practice.
• Encourage continued professional growth in specialized nursing practice.
• Provide formal recognition of individuals who meet the certification requirements.
• Provide identification of nurses who have achieved certification in WOC nursing to employing agencies, the public and other healthcare professionals.

History: The WOCNCB was established in January 1978 under the name ETNCB (Enterostomal Nursing Certification Board), with certification examinations beginning in November of 1979. Graduates of accredited ET (Enterostomal) nursing programs were required to take the certification examination to become Board Certified after February 1979, giving a certification designation of CETN (Certified ET Nurse). In March 1993, the CETN credential was divided into a tri-specialty (Wound, Ostomy and Continence), giving new credentials of CWCN, COCN and CCCN (Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse). At the same time (March 1993), the ETNCB became the WOCNCB. In 2001 the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) gave accreditation to the CWOCN credential. Today, the WOCNCB continues to promote the highly valued certification program.

EDI client since: January 2002