CWS certification cost and how to register
Source: ABWM's Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook Verified Nov 6, 2026
The CWS costs $595 for a first application, paid to ABWM, which reviews your file before Pearson VUE releases a seat. From eligibility the clock is 90 days, and every sitting is in person at a center.
On this page · 7 sections
CWS fees and booking, with dates
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $595 for a first-time application The application fee rose from $575 in the 2024 handbook. An ineligible applicant is refunded less $100. | Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook |
| Discounts and bundle prices | One price for all applicants; testing outside the USA, Canada and Mexico adds $175 | Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook |
| Retake fee | $275 per retest in the fee table; the same handbook's retest section says $150 The June 2026 handbook gives both figures. Confirm the amount with ABWM before you pay. ≈ as of Nov 6, 2026 · the handbook gives $275 and $150 | Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook |
| Other fees | $150 rescheduling fee; $175 for international testing | Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook |
| Renewal fee | $175 a year; $595 to recertify by exam at 10 years A renewal more than 30 days late can lead to revocation. | Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook |
| How to book | Apply online to ABWM with a CV, personal statement, licenses and 3 professional references; after approval, schedule with Pearson VUE Processing takes at least 10 business days; the eligibility notice from Pearson VUE follows within about 15 business days. | Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook +1 |
| Test provider | Pearson VUE | Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook |
| Where you test | Pearson VUE test centers (more than 300 in the Americas), by appointment; no remote proctoring | Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook |
| Window to test | 90 days from eligibility Missing the window or not showing up forfeits the application and its fees. | Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook |
| Rescheduling | Free at least 48 hours before the appointment within the 90-day window; otherwise $150 | Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook |
Every row verified Nov 6, 2026.
The CWS bill, line by line
- First application: $595, the same for every applicant testing in the USA, Canada or Mexico.
- Rescheduling: free with enough notice inside the window, otherwise a fee (both in the table).
- Retest: the same handbook gives two different amounts (both are in the table), so confirm the amount before you pay.
- Keeping it: $175 a year, plus the full exam fee again when you recertify by exam.
Applying to ABWM, then booking
- Confirm your license is on the board's list and that you have the experience or a fellowship (eligibility). With less experience, apply on the Candidate track.
- Apply online to ABWM. A CV, a personal statement on your experience, your licenses and professional references go with the application.
- Allow time: processing and the eligibility notice from Pearson VUE together take a few weeks.
- After approval, book with Pearson VUE and sit before the window closes (90 days).
Eligibility lasts 90 days. Missing it costs the application, so apply when you can test soon after approval rather than months ahead.
Where the CWS is given
Every sitting is booked at a Pearson VUE center; the handbook offers no remote proctoring. If you expected a remote sitting like the one offered for the WCC, plan travel to a center.
Related CWS pages
/cws/CWS practice testA free CWS set weighted by ABWM's item counts/cws/practice-test/CWS exam factsCWS item count, time, how the cut score works and the retest rules/cws/exam-info/CWS study guideABWM's five CWS content areas, their item counts and traps/cws/study-guide/Sources
- [1]ABWM: Certified Wound Specialist Board Certification Handbook, updated June 2026 (PDF) abwmcertified.org, re-read Nov 6, 2026
- [2]ABWM: How to apply abwmcertified.org, re-read Nov 6, 2026
CWS fees and scheduling
Why do older pages list a lower application fee?
The 2024 handbook charged less; the June 2026 edition raised the first-time application fee to $595.
What if I miss the Pearson VUE appointment?
You lose the application and its fees, the same as letting the window run out. Moving the appointment with enough notice inside the window is free.
Is there a fee for testing outside the USA, Canada and Mexico?
Yes: $175 on top of the $595 application fee.