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FAQ
  1. Who is eligible to take the CWS examination?
  2. How much is the exam fee? How much is the re-test fee?
  3. Does AAWM offer courses to help me prepare for the exam?
  4. Where do I send my transcript?
  5. What if I graduated from a university in another country? A)  Do you still need my transcripts forwarded directly to the AAWM?  B)  I do not have a sealed official copy of my transcript or access to one.
  6. Can individuals outside of the United States sit for the Board Certification Examination?
  7. How will I know the exact location and time of the exam site?
  8. When do I receive my exam scores?
  9. May I have my test hand-scored?
  10. Do I receive a certificate and ID card after passing the CWS® examination?
  11. How is this certification useful to me as a healthcare professional?
  12. When do I re-register?  Re-registrations are mailed in January. The re-registration fee is $150.00 annually, plus 6 CEUs/CMEs in Wound Care.
  13. My certification has lapsed without my knowledge, and I have received a letter stating that I have been revoked.  A) Why wasn’t I notified by e-mail or phone?  B) I did not receive any       notices prior to this.  C)  I wish to keep the CWS®, credential.  D) Is there anything I can do to keep my certification, and do I have to retake the Board Certification Exam?
  14. I have recently changed addresses, but am not sure which address you have.  Can I change this information online, or should I contact the AAWM?
  15. I am trying to choose a wound care training seminar/conference to attend to brush up on my chronic wound care knowledge and obtain continuing education credits.  Which ones are the best?
  16. As a CWS®, what initials am I allowed to place after my name and when am I allowed to do so?
  17. Do you have a list of CWSs in __________ city or _________state?
  18. I have some questions I would like to submit to be considered for use in future examinations.  How would I go about sending these in?
  19. Do you have a mailing list? 
  20. I would like to be on the Exam Committee, but it always seems like it is full.  How can I participate in this committee?
  21. Can the AAWM answer questions about a specific course of treatment or chronic wound care product?
  22. When do I re-certify?
1.

Who is eligible to take the CWS examination?

Any licensed healthcare professional with a Bachelors, Doctoral or Master's degree in a life sciences related field who has three (3) or more years of clinical wound care experience is eligable.  This is documented through your three letters of reference, resume, and application. Back to Top^

2.

How much is the exam fee? How much is the re-test fee?

The early registration exam fee is $550.00 mailed directly to AAWM by the early registration date. Any application post-marked after the stated early deadline is subject to an additional $50.00 fee. No applications will be accepted after the late registration date.

The re-test fee is $200.00, which is to be mailed along with your PTC Application directly to AAWM before your exam date. Back to Top^

3.

Does AAWM offer courses to help me prepare for the exam?

The AAWM is legally restricted from endorsing or recommending any wound care examination review course. Back to Top^

4.

Where do I send my transcript?

Sealed and mailed from the school / university of your highest level of education to your home.  It must be mailed with your entire completed application. If your school no longer provides transcripts, you will need to send all copies of any licenses, certifications, diploma, or any proof that you attended the school. Back to Top^

5.

What if I graduated from a university in another country? A)  Do you still need my transcripts forwarded?  B)  I do not have a sealed official copy of my transcript or access to one. 

If you have additional paper work proving your education, for example from the ECFMG, then those materials will suffice in place of your transcript, and are subject to a mandatory $35.00 fee. Back to Top^

6.

Can individuals outside of the United States sit for the Board Certification Examination?

Testing locations are offered in the United States, Canada, and Puetro Rico. Test sites in the US Territories can be coordinated through an area univeristy for an additional $75.00. Please include the name and address of the insitution, facultuy contact, and two desired dates within the testing period. Backto Top^

7.

How will I know the exact location and time of the exam site? 

Once your application is processed and approved information on how to schedule a time at a local testing site will be sent to you by mail by the Professional Testing Corporation (PTC) about 3 weeks prior to the exam date. You can then find the site and schedule a 3 hour exam time within the 2 week testing period. If you do not receive an eligibility notice within 10 days prior of the scheduled exam period, please contact PTC directly at 212-356-0660. Back to Top^

8.

When do I receive my exam scores?

You will receive your exam scores via mail four to six weeks after your examination date, directly from the Professional Testing Center.  Please do not call AAWM to find out your score. Back to Top^

9.

May I have my test hand-scored? 

Yes, please email tcalamari@aawm.org.   AAWM will forward your request on to PTC and they will mail you their results. Back to Top^

10.

Do I receive a certificate and ID card after passing the CWS® examination?

Yes, upon passing the exam, you will receive your complimentary certificate in the mail approximately three months after your examination date.  You must return your address/credentials verification form to the AAWM before receiving your certificate.  You will also receive an ID card and lapel pin approximately six weeks after your examination date.  We will mail you a replacement ID card if you misplace it.  You may order extra certificates for $25.00 each. Back to Top^

11.

How is this certification useful to me as a healthcare professional?

As a healthcare professional, the CWS® credential can allow you to obtain promotions, pay raises, greater job opportunities, and personal pride.  Please contact the AAWM is you wish to be sent an advocacy letter or if you wish to have one sent to your employer. Back to Top^

12.

When do I re-register?  Re-registrations are mailed in January  of each year.  The re-registration fee is $150.00 annually.   

How many Continuing Education hours do I need each year to remain certified?  Minimum of six (6) hours of CEUs are required each year to stay certified.  This information should be mailed in with your re-registration form each year.   Your CEUs must be completed between the date of your last re-registration payment and the date of your current re-registration form. Back to Top^

13.

My certification has lapsed without my knowledge, and I have received a letter stating that I have been revoked.  A) Why wasn’t I notified by e-mail or phone?  B) I did not receive any notices prior to this.  C)  I wish to keep the CWS®, credential.  D) Is there anything I can do to keep my certification, and do I have to retake the Board Certification Exam?

You should have received three notices and a warning letter by mail previous to the “Revocation Letter.”  Please contact the AAWM to check and see if we have your correct address. Please contact the AAWM to request your “re-instatement,” however, you must provide your CEU information and send the AAWM your yearly re-registration payment of $150.00. Back to Top^

14.

I have recently changed addresses, but am not sure which address you have.  Can I change this information online, or should I contact the AAWM?

Please email tcalamari@aawm.org with your updated address. Back to Top^

15.

I am trying to choose a wound care education seminar/conference to attend to brush up on my wound care knowledge and obtain continuing education credits.  Which ones are the best?

The AAWM does not endorse any meetings or seminars listed. Back to Top^

16.

As a CWS®, what initials am I allowed to place after my name and when am I allowed to do so?

Once you pass the CWS® Exam you are a Diplomate of the AAWM and you can use the initials "CWS" after your name on documents, websites, signatures, etc. We ask that when you place the "®" sign after the initials when referring to the credential in published works. You do not have to place the "®" after the initials next to your name. Back to Top^

17.

Do you have a list of CWSs in __________ city or _________state?

Please visit the website (www.aawm.org) and click on "Certified Wound Specialists" and search for CWSs in a particular area of the country. Back to Top^   

18.

I have some questions I would like to submit to be considered for use in future examinations.  How would I go about sending these in?

Please submit your exam questions to the AAWM to tcalamari@aawm.org and the questions will be forwarded to the Exam Committee for review. Back to Top^

19.

Do you have a mailing list?  

Yes, we offer a mailing list of our current Diplomates.  The mailing list fee is $100 for CWSs and $1,500 for non-CWSs. The list is available in hard-copy mailing labels only. Please email tcalamari@aawm.org. Back to Top^

20.

I would like to be on the Exam Committee, but it always seems like it is full.  How can I participate in this committee?

Please email the AAWM office to request a position on the Exam Committee and we will notify you when a position opens. Back to Top^

21.

Can the AAWM answer questions about a specific course of treatment or wound care product?

At this time the AAWM is strictly a certifying organization only and cannot answer these types of questions.

22.

When do I re-certify?

Each CWS® will recertify 10 years after their certification date. The first group of CWSs will re-certified in 2006. The re-certification process requires you to complete a self-assessment examination. The re-certification fee is $400.00. Diplomates must achieve a passing score on the assessment (approximately 80%). If Diplomates do not successfully pass the self-assessment, they must then register for and pay to take the next regularly scheduled written examination.  Failure of this examination will result in revocation of their CWS® certification. The testing agency, Professional Testing Corporation, will forward the self-assessment examination to you within two weeks of receiving your recertification application.  Re-certification applicants will have up to 90 days after they receive the exam to return it to PTC.  It would be to your advantage to complete the self-assessment as soon as it is convenient so as not to inadvertently miss the deadline. Back to Top^

 


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The CCWS