2026 Career Planning Guide
NURSING SPECIALITIES KEY: n Minimum Education required n Certifications required n Experience needed n Certification credential n Possible employment n Professional Organization n References / Resources
nal, genitourinary, and integumentary systems disorders. They provide direct care to people with abdominal stomas, wounds, fistulas, drains, pressure injuries, and / or continence disorders and can serve as educators, consultants, researchers, and administrators.
n RN, BA degree or higher- all Baccalaureate degrees applicable n Wound, Ostomy, or Continence( WOC) certification exam
n Experimental Pathway: 50 Contact Hours( CEs or the equivalent college coursework) in each specialty within 5 years of applying to a WOC Nursing Education Program( WOCNEP). 1,500 practice hours with at least 375 practice hours in the past year for each specialty. Sit for the certification exam in each of the three areas. Traditional Pathway: 1Graduate from an accredited WOC Nursing Education Program( WOCNEP). For the most current list of programs, visit the WOCN Society website: www. wocn. org / become-a-woc-nurse / accredited-programs /
The WOCNEP must have been completed within the past 5 years( from date of exam application). n Varies – see www. wocncb. org
n Hospitals( acute cared settings), continuing care( e. g., long term and assisted living center), ambulatory care centers, out-patient surgery centers, home healthcare, military service n Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society( www. wocn. org)
n Resources: www. wocncb. org / certification / wound-ostomy-continence www. wocn. org / page / become _ a _ woc _ nurse
January 20226 65