If you need help studying for the Certified Wound and Ostomy Care Nurse (CWOCN®) certification or just want some more information about what the exams are like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free CWOCN practice test!
What’s on the Exam?
There are three CWOCN-related exams, and you’ll have to pass all three to get your CWOCN credential:
- Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN)
- Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN)
- Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN)
Each exam contains 120 multiple-choice questions and is timed at 2 hours.
Here’s a closer look at the contents of each exam:
CWCN Exam
120 questions | 2 hours
- Assessment and care planning (39 scored questions)
- Intervention and treatment (44 scored questions)
- Education and referral (27 scored questions)
CCCN Exam
120 questions | 2 hours
- Assessment and care planning (39 scored questions)
- Intervention and treatment (41 scored questions)
- Education and referral (30 scored questions)
COCN Exam
120 questions | 2 hours
- Assessment and care planning (36 scored questions)
- Intervention and treatment (44 scored questions)
- Education and referral (30 scored questions)
How to Register
To get started, you’ll need to submit an application on NAWCO’s website. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
When you submit the application for an exam, you’ll also need to submit the testing fee, which is $395.
CWOCN Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score will range somewhere between 100 and 800.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the exam is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can take an exam three more times within the next two years. After that, you’ll have to wait a full year before trying again.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the full testing fee every time you retake a test.
FAQs
How many questions are on the CWOCN exam?
Each of the three exams contains 120 questions.
What is the time limit for the CWOCN exam?
Each of the three exams is timed at 2 hours.
What is the passing score for the CWOCN exam?
You’ll need to get a final scaled score of at least 600 on each exam to pass.
How much does the CWOCN exam cost?
The cost of each exam is $395.