Nursing & Allied Health Professionals

RN, LPN, PT/PTA, OT/OTA, RDN

ELIGIBILITY

TESTING

CREDENTIAL

To be eligible for the CMET Specialist Certification exam, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Must hold a valid unrestricted license as an RN, LPN, PT, PTA, OT, OTA, RDN, with no disciplinary actions on their record.

  • Have a minimum of two (2) years of experience in wound healing in patient care, research, or academia.

  • Candidates must complete a comprehensive, CE-accredited education course that is at least 30 hours. The course should cover essential topics, such as wound assessment, wound management techniques, infection control, patient education, and ethical considerations.

Nursing & Allied Health Certification Fees: $395

The exam is a comprehensive test spanning various aspects of wound care.

  • Format: 100 multiple-choice questions.

  • Duration: 2 hours.

  • Platform: Online or at designated Prometric centers.

Individuals who pass the certification exam successfully are entitled to use the designation CWHS (Certified Wound Healing Specialist) for a period of 5 years.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for the CMET Specialist Certification exam, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Must hold a valid unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapist, or Occupational Therapy Assistant or Registered Dietitian, with no disciplinary actions on their record.

  • Have a minimum of two (2) years of experience in wound healing in patient care, research, or academia.

TESTING

The exam is a comprehensive test spanning various aspects of wound care.

  • Format: 100 multiple-choice questions.

  • Duration: 2 hours.

  • Platform: Online or at designated Prometric centers.

    Domains Covered

  • Skin Anatomy and Physiology

  • Skin Assessment

  • Skin Lesions, Conditions, Diseases

  • Maintain Skin Health

  • Moisture-Associated Skin Damage (MASD) and Medical Adhesive-Related Skin Injuries (MARSI)

  • Acute Wounds: Burns, Surgical, Traumatic

  • Skin Tears

  • Wound Assessment

  • Wound Healing and Nutrition

  • Wound Infection

  • Wound Bed Preparation

  • Pressure Injuries

  • Tissue Load Management

  • Diabetic Wounds

  • Lower Extremity Venous Disease (LEVD)

  • Lower Extremity Arterial Disease (LEAD, PAD)

  • Lower Extremity Neuropathic Disease (LEND)

  • Lymphedema

  • Atypical Wounds

  • Advanced Topical Skin and Wound Interventions

  • Wound Closure: Skin and Tissue Substitutes

  • Adjunctive Wound Modalities

CREDENTIAL

Individuals who pass the certification exam successfully are entitled to use the designation CWHS (Certified Wound Healing Specialist) for a period of 5 years.

seal

2024 Credential Update

CMET has recently revised examination eligibility, recertification criteria, and available credentials for the year 2024.

For those Certified Before 2024:

  • Holders of an active FAPWHc or DAPWHc credential are eligible to utilize the CWHP or CWHAP credential.

  • Active APWH members can now combine their APWH designation with the FAPWHc or DAPWHc credential alongside their CMET certification.

  • The recertification period remains at 7 years until recertification, after which it will convert to a 5-year cycle.

Eligibility

Candidates may recertify up to 1 year before the recertification due date. To be eligible to sit for the exam:

  • Active unrestricted license.

  • Obtained 7 accredited CMEs each year, totaling 35 during the 5-year certification period.

  • Complete the recertification application and pay fees.

  • If required, pass the certification exam.

  • If required, submit supporting documentation.

Lapsed Certification

Candidates who fail to recertify before the due date are considered lapsed and will no longer be permitted to use the credential(s).

A grace period of up to 90 days may be awarded when pre-arranged before the expiration date. Lapsed candidates must reapply as new candidates.

Recertification

Path 1

By Examination

Simply re-take and pass the Certification Exam.

Path 2

By Education

No exam needed. Complete a minimum 19-hour wound care education course. CME-accredited programs are preferred for physicians. Non-CME options may be accepted upon review.

Path 3

By Presentation/Publication

Complete and submit two from any of the choices (A-D) below. Case studies, articles, lectures, and posters/abstracts are accepted. Materials must be submitted in digital format. (PDF, PPT, MP4, or other digital formats).

A. Case study presentation / documentation of five complex wound cases.

• Patients must have been seen and treated within the past five years. CMET prefers the past year. (reference appendix: Submission guidelines).

B. Publication of one (1) wound care article in a peer-reviewed journal, PubMed indexed and approved by CMET.

C. Presentation of two lectures at two different wound care events.

• The same lecture cannot be used twice.

D. Presentation of a poster or oral abstract at a wound care event.

• If submitting two abstracts, they must be on different wound care topics such as two different treatments for infection.

• The two abstracts can also be on the same topic if they demonstrate the continuation of primary research.

Lapsed Certification

Candidates who fail to recertify before the due date are considered lapsed and will no longer be permitted to use the credential(s).

A grace period of up to 90 days may be awarded when pre-arranged before the expiration date. Lapsed candidates must reapply as new candidates.

Path 1

By Examination

Simply re-take and pass the Physicians Certification Exam.

Path 2

By Education

No exam needed. Complete the APWH Prescribers Advanced Wound Management Course.

Path 3

By Presentation/Publication

Complete and submit two from any of the choices (A-D) below. Case studies, articles, lectures, and posters/abstracts are accepted. Materials must be submitted in digital format. (PDF, PPT, MP4, or other digital formats).

A. Case study presentation / documentation of five complex wound cases.

• Patients must have been seen and treated within the past five years. CMET prefers the past year. (reference appendix: Submission guidelines).

B. Publication of one (1) wound care article in a peer-reviewed journal, PubMed indexed and approved by CMET.

C. Presentation of two lectures at two different wound care events.

• The same lecture cannot be used twice.

D. Presentation of a poster or oral abstract at a wound care event.

• If submitting two abstracts, they must be on different wound care topics such as two different treatments for infection.

• The two abstracts can also be on the same topic if they demonstrate the continuation of primary research.