A 40-hr clinical practicum with an approved preceptor is required to complete each Scope of Practice. A full scope of practice requires 120 hours of experience with the preceptor.

UPDATE – October 17th, 2022:

Unfortunately, the WOCN® Accreditation Committee has communicated we can no longer provide the Virtual Clinical Practicum (VCP) option starting January 1st, 2023 since the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer an issue.   If you have any questions, please contact Admissions at admissions@webwocnurse.com

The WOCN Certification Board administers the Experiential Pathway.  Learner finishes the theory course through WEB WOC to earn the Contact Hours.  Learner does not complete the practicum but works directly with the WOCN Certification Board. 1500 hours of clinical experience in each scope is required for this route of the practicum completion.  For more information on eligibility, please visit http://wocncb.org/certification/wound-ostomy-continence/eligibility

The WEB WOC Program is here to support learners when identifying potential preceptors.  While learners are responsible for identifying potential preceptors, we can help you!  Most WEB WOC learners are able to find preceptors in large medical centers near home, but occasionally learners have to travel to access a preceptor or facility.  The Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurses Society Member Directory may also be a useful resource. The WOCN® Preceptor Directory is not affiliated with the WEB WOC Nursing Education Program.

• Be prepared to work around the preceptor’s schedule vs asking the preceptor to work around your schedule.
• Contact preceptors at least 2-3 months prior to when you expect to complete your didactic courses and begin your clinical hours.
• We recommend that you plan to spend at least 2-3 days per week with your preceptor, so the progress of a patient can be noted over multiple visits.
• Full Scope learners should plan to complete their clinical hours one semester (approximately 16 weeks) after completing theory.

Approximately 80% of our learners report that they do not pay preceptors for their time in the clinical practicum. However, many preceptors do charge for that service. Any financial arrangements made between the preceptor and learner is separate from the WEB WOC Nursing Education and not included in the listed program costs.

Please contact us directly if you have any additional questions.

Clinical Contracting Information Form. Learners: If your preceptor has not already submitted this information to WEB WOC, please click the link and it will take you to a digital form to be completed. A contract between WEB WOC Nursing Education Program and your preceptor’s facility is required prior to beginning your clinical experience. WEB WOC will facilitate this process but requires the contact information for the person in charge of contracting at your preceptor’s facility (someone with the authority to review and sign legal contracts for the facility). The contracting process can take eight to ten weeks so please complete and submit this form as soon possible.

Full Scope learners (wound, ostomy and continence) are required to complete 120 clinical hours (40 hours per scope). Ten (10) of every 40 hours may focus on foundations of professional practice, and can be utilized in the area of most need, an area of special interest, or in observation of unique practices, settings or procedures.

Learners participating in a Wound and/or Ostomy practicum should plan to see patients primarily in acute care settings.  Other care settings such as outpatient clinics, home or long-term care may qualify if evidence of adequate patient diversity, complexity, and volume. Learners completing a Continence practicum may work with preceptors whose primary care setting is the outpatient clinic.

To ensure learners receive the best possible Clinical Practicum educational experience possible, the WEB WOC Nursing Education Program requires that Preceptors meet the following standards:

1. Baccalaureate degree in nursing or a registered nurse with a baccalaureate degree in a health-related field or unrelated field with competency demonstrated in assessment, public health, leadership and research/statistics.
2. Certification: Board certified in tri-specialty as a CWOCN® or has current WOCNCB® specialty certification in the specialty in which they teach/precept or has certified through a national nursing organization or national nursing credentialing center for their specialty area.  (Clinical practicum preceptors for wound and ostomy scope of practice MUST be certified by the WOCNCB.  Clinical practicum preceptor for continence scope of practice may use alternate clinical providers who specialize in bowel and bladder control including but not limited to physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistance, physical therapists, and urological technicians if there is no CWOCN or CCCN in the area that does this.)
3. At least 2 years of clinical experience in the specialty with one year of experience after certification.
4. Evidence of adequate patient diversity, complexity and volume.
5. Evidence of previous experience as a preceptor or clinical nursing educator experience OR completion of a formal preceptor preparation program/seminar including: principles of adult learning, clinical teaching strategies and clinical evaluation methodology.
6. The Advance Practice Nurse who specializes in continence care must be certified as an NP or CNS. Continence certification is desirable but not mandatory.

Prior to beginning your clinical practicum, please review the following required clinical experiences with your preceptor.