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 $275.00. Click here for your official CWS® Re-test application. Back to Top^ |
3. |
Where is the CWS® examination
offered?
To find a testing center nearest you, visit www.psiexams.com and follow these instructions:
- Click on Certification/Professional Associations
- Select American Academy of Wound Management as the sponsor
- Click on Test Centers under Information Links section on right
- Fill out the form to see up to 20 Testing Centers matching your specified criteria
- For additional questions, contact PSI at
1-800-733-9267
Back to Top^
|
4. |
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^ |
5. |
Can individuals outside of the
United States sit for the Board Certification
Examination?
Testing locations are offered in the United
States, Canada, and Pueto 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 institution, faculty contact, and
two desired dates within the testing period.
Back to Top^ |
6. |
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 4 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^ |
7. |
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^ |
8. |
May I have my test hand-scored?
Yes, please email info@aawm.org.
AAWM will forward your request on to PTC
and they will mail you their results. Back
to Top^ |
9. |
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^ |
10. |
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^ |
11. |
When do I renew?
How many Continuing Education hours do I
need each year to remain certified?
CWS® Renewals are due
at the end of January of each year.
The renewal fee is $150.00.
A 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 during the calendar
year of the preceeding renewal. Back to
Top^ |
12. |
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^ |
13. |
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 info@aawm.org with your
updated address. Back to Top^ |
14. |
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^ |
15. |
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^ |
16. |
Do you have a list of CWS®s in
__________ city or _________state?
Please visit the website (www.aawm.org)
and click on "Find A Specialists"
and search for CWS™s in a particular area
of the country. Back to Top^
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17. |
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 info@aawm.org and the questions
will be forwarded to the Exam Committee
for review. Back to Top^ |
18.
|
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^ |
19.
|
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^ |
20.
|
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. Back to Top^ |
21.
|
When do I re-certify?
Each CWS® will recertify 10 years
after their certification date. The re-certification
process requires you to sit for the CWS® Exam, which is offered in April and October
of each year. The re-certification fee is
$550.00. An application is available here.
Diplomates must achieve a passing score
on the exam. 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 examination results to
you within four to six weeks of taking the
exam. Back to Top^ |
