Colleagues,

I would like to thank all the dedicated ABWM volunteers that help craft and review our ABWM exams. Their help and insight allows ABWM to continually update our exams which keep our certifications current and relevant. An interdisciplinary team of CWS's, CWCA's and CWSP's, supervised by the Exam Chair and Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP), constructs the items included in the examinations.

Most recently the CWS Exam Sub-Committee held a New Item Review meeting February 7 - 8, 2013 in Las Vegas. The committee reviewed a total of 79 new items (questions) for use on future exams. Of those items, 62 were approved for pretesting, 15 were deleted and 2 were referred to the CWSP Sub-Committee for consideration on the CWSP exam. Additionally, the committee reviewed all images and deleted 27.

The Exam Committee is chaired by Joe McCulloch, PhD, PT, CWS, FAPTA. The CWS Exam Sub-Committee is chaired by Ed Mahoney, DPT, CWS. Thanks to all those that participated in the most recent Exam Committee meeting.

Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) Exam Committee:

Joe McCulloch, PhD, PT, CWS, FAPTA - Exam Chair

Ed Mahoney, DPT, CWS - Exam Committee Sub-Chair

Dawn Franceschina, DPT, CWS

Amy Pierno, PT, CWS

Libby Ketchem, BSN, MS, CWS, FACCWS

Sharon DeMarco, CRNP, CWS

Ray Prior, MD, CWS

Edward Scheel, MD, CWSP

Jon Oliverio, DPM, CWS

If you are certified and are interested in becoming a volunteer or submitting a question for review, please contact info@abwmcertified.org. Thanks again to our volunteers.

Sincerely,

Walter Conlan, III, MD, CWSP

ABWM President 

All current CWCA's, CWS's and CWSP's who received their certification on or before June 30, 2012 are required to complete their Annual Renewal for 2013. Renewal is due each year on or before January 31. Certificants renewing at this time will be charged an additional $75 late fee on top of the $150 renewal fee. Beginning on March 1, the late fee will increase to $150 for a total cost of $300.

To complete the Annual Renewal, all certificants must submit the appropriate renewal fee and document 6 hours of continuing education related to wound management. Certification status will be revoked if renewal is not received by March 31, 2013.

To submit continuing education information, certificants must login to the My Certification Portal and click on the Annual Renewal tab. Certificants may choose to pay the renewal fee online by credit card, or they may mail the fee in by check with a copy of their invoice. Receipts will typically be available in the My Account section of the Portal after one business day.

Login information for the My Certification Portal was sent by mail on 11/26/12 and 1/11/13, as well as by email on 11/30/12, 12/10/12, 1/14/13, 1/29/13 and 1/31/13. For any questions about your Annual Renewal, please email info@abwmcertified.org. 

ABWM requires at least six hours of continuing education annually to maintain certification. ABWM conducts annual audits of 5% of renewals. Diplomates and Associates may be randomly selected for a Continuing Education Audit. Completing the audit is easy to do! If you are selected you will be notified by U.S. mail and asked to provide documentation (attendance certificate, letter of attendance, program from course, etc.) of your continuing education. If you fail to respond or provide the requested documentation your certification could be revoked. The purpose of the audit is to help maintain the integrity of the ABWM and our certifications.