Ostomy Certification FAQ

Candidate Exam Handbook

*ADDITIONAL COURSE FEE APPLIES FOR EDUCATIONAL PROVIDER.

Question:

Why do I need to become certified?

Answer:

OMS board certification makes a statement regarding your professional skill set to patients, colleagues, and employers. By meeting the requirements of certification, you have elevated yourself professionally. Most of all, OMS certification will validate that you have the knowledge and skills to care for an underserved patient population, the ostomy patient.

Question:

Are stoma cases increasing in the United States?

Answer:

Stoma cases continue each year. There are simply not enough skilled health care professionals to provide a continuum of care for these patients. Patients need more support, including pre-operative education, post-operative training and continued counseling throughout the life cycle of their ostomy and/or fecal/urinary diversion.

Question:

What is the difference between OMS certification and CWOCN^®, COCN^®, CWON^®?

Answer:

Each certification confirms that the individual certified has completed all course requirements along with passing a certification exam. The certification asserts that the individual holds the knowledge and skill set to provide quality, efficacious therapy, treatment and counseling for ostomy patients and caretakers.

Being a multidisciplinary certification, OMS offers the opportunity to all levels of Nurses, Physicians, and Therapists to provide specialized ostomy care within their scope of practice and across the continuum of care.

The CWOCN, COCN, CWON certifications are only for RNs with a Bachelors degree or higher. As a result, there simply aren’t enough certified ostomy professionals nationally to care for patients with ostomies.

Question:

How can you certify different types of professionals with the same examination and credential, since they all practice at different levels?

Answer:

Successful ostomy patient education, teaching, training, and management require the skills of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. Therefore, all members of the team should have a thorough knowledge of ostomy management including all factors of healing and self-care required for the patient to resume the “new normal” quality of life. The educational sessions are comprehensive and inclusive of physical, systemic and psychosocial factors faced by ostomates.

Question:

Do I need a bachelor’s degree to qualify for OMS certification?

Answer:

No. Health care providers with one year of experience and an active unrestricted license may apply for the OMS certification examination. See chart above for eligibility requirements.

Question:

What will OMS board certification do for my career?

Answer:

In today’s healthcare environment, the typical patient that is hospitalized for ostomy surgery receives the most basic patient education regarding their stoma and pouching systems. Much of the post-surgical care is provided in alternative healthcare settings. First and foremost, you will become a very important resource for the ostomates in your community. Secondly, your services will become essential to the health care providers in your facility, institution or agency. You will be able to add a new credential to support your scope of practice as determined by each respective professional state licensing board.

The sky is your limit as far as personal career satisfaction.

Question:

I am a good student but I do not test well. If I  fail to pass the exam, may I re-take it again?

Answer:

If you do not pass the test, you may re-test. There will be a $380 charge for each additional test session. (see OMS CANDIDATE EXAM HANDBOOK)

Question:

Will my employer automatically pay me more if I get this certification?

Answer:

Negotiation skills will be important here. This will be up to you to leverage your increase of knowledge and certification to make more money.

Question:

At a Prometric Test Center may I skip questions and go back to answer those questions later?

Answer:

Yes, as long as you have time remaining and do not close out of the exam.