CFCN Certification: Overview and FAQ

If you’re a nurse interested in helping clients take better care of their feet, consider becoming a Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN). This specialty certification shows your commitment to promoting foot health, preventing complications, and managing conditions such as diabetes-related foot issues, infections, and injuries. What’s the process for earning this credential? Here’s an overview and answers to common questions.

Offered by the Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB), this credential is one of several that focus on wound, foot, and ostomy care. WOCNCB also offers these credentials for nurses:

• Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN)
• Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON)
• Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN)
• Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN)
• Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN)

Specialty credentials show that a nurse has gone above and beyond to promote excellence in patient care. While they’re typically not a requirement for practice, certifications can open doors to new opportunities and enhance your confidence. Plus, research shows that certified nurses offer patients better outcomes, lower infection rates, and reduced mortality. Being certified is a win-win for you and the people you care for.

What Is a CFCN?

A Certified Foot Care Nurse specializes in helping patients heal and maintain their feet. Patients with diabetes, peripheral arterial and venous disease, clotting disorders, and more are at risk for foot issues. They may be more susceptible to injury, slowed healing, and infection.

Foot health is linked to overall mobility, which affects quality of life and activities of daily living. CFCNs have specialized training that allows them to offer deeper education and care management for these patients.

Common skills that a certified foot nurse might use in a day include:

• Foot assessments: Evaluating patients’ feet to identify infections, ulcers, or deformities.
• Wound care: Caring for foot wounds, including cleaning, dressing, and monitoring for signs of infection.
• Nail care: Routine nail care, including trimming and filing, to prevent complications such as ingrown toenails.
• Education: Helping patients understand foot hygiene, footwear choices, and self-care practices to maintain foot health.
• Collaboration: Work with other healthcare professionals, such as podiatrists and endocrinologists, to coordinate comprehensive care for patients with complex foot health needs.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate and detailed records of patient assessments, treatments, and progress to ensure continuity of care.

CFCNs may work in several clinical areas, including the following:

• Foot care and podiatry clinics
• Home health
• Diabetes specialty centers
• Acute care hospitals
• Long-term care
• Post-acute care
• Private practices

How to Become a Certified Foot Care Nurse: 4 Steps

Step 1: Meet Eligibility Requirements

To start your journey toward becoming a Certified Foot Care Nurse, you’ll need to meet WOCNCB’s eligibility criteria. These include the following:

• A current RN license
• A bachelor’s degree or higher
• At least 24 contact hours of foot care education. At maximum, 8 hours can be in basic skin and wound care. These hours must have been completed within the past 5 years.
• At least 40 clinical hours under the supervision of a foot care provider (i.e., certified foot care nurse, podiatrist, physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant). Skin and wound care can comprise 12 of these hours, and they must have been completed within the past 5 years. See WOCNCB’s directory of preceptors to get connected with supervising clinicians.

Step 2: Apply for the Certification Exam

Once you meet the requirements, the next step is to make a WOCNCB account and apply. Have this information ready:

• Proof of your nursing license
• Proof of bachelor’s degree or higher education
• Proof of contact hours
• Verification from a clinical supervisor that you have completed the experience requirement

You’ll also need to pay an application fee when you submit your documents. If you’re only applying for CFCN, the fee is $395. With WOCNCB, you can apply for more than one certification per application, and the fees will go up if you choose to add on wound care or ostomy certification.

Step 3: Pass the Certification Exam

When your application goes through, you’ll get an email to schedule your exam appointment. Test slots are first come, first served, so pick your window early to avoid scheduling conflicts.

The test is offered year-round on weekdays at designated test sites, and seven days a week via live remote proctoring. If you need to change your exam after you’ve set it, there’s a $50 rescheduling fee.

Make a study plan around the exam content outline to prepare. Here’s what the test covers:

• Assessment and care planning: Collecting health history, conducting focused lower extremity assessments, developing care plans, and performing ongoing evaluations and plan modifications.
• Prevention, intervention, and treatment: Providing preventative care, treatment recommendations for skin and wounds, nail care, and offloading interventions.
• Education and referrals: Instructing on risk factors and care and collaborating with other health professionals.

Step 4: Maintain Your Certification

Once certified, you’ll need to renew this credential every five years to remain active. There are two ways to recertify: via exam or by completing a Professional Growth Program (PGP). In order to qualify for PGP recertification, you’ll need to complete the following requirements:

• At least 10 specialty continuing education credits
• A qualifying portfolio with at least 80 points, but no more than 90 points
• At least half of your portfolio must pertain to the foot care specialty

You’ll also need to pay a fee, whether you recertify by PGP or exam. The recertification fee is $395 per specialty credential.

FAQs About Foot Care Nurse Certification

How much does a certified foot care nurse make?

The average base income for foot care nurses in the U.S. is about $50,000 per year. You could earn more with additional training, experience, and certifications. Some states also have higher pay for nurses, such as California, Hawaii, and Oregon. Learn more about states where nurses earn the most income.

CFCN vs CFCS: What’s the difference?

CFCS stands for Certified Foot Care Specialist, and it’s another foot care credential for nurses. While CFCN is offered by WOCNCB, CFCS is managed by the American Foot Care Nurses Association. Their eligibility requirements are similar, however, they also accept LPN and LVN applicants, and you do not need a bachelor’s degree to apply. They’ve also created a credential transfer track, so if you earn CFCN, you can qualify for CFCS without taking the exam.

Related Certifications

• Certified Foot Care Specialist (CFCS)
• Foot Care Certification (FCC)
• Wound Care Certified (WCC)
• Certified Wound Specialist (CWS)

Find Roles for Foot, Wound, and Ostomy Nurses

Seeking a specialty role? IntelyCare can help. Whether you’ve earned CFCN certification or not, we have the latest nursing roles hiring right now. Learn more with personalized job notifications.