CCCN Exam - Certified Continence Care Nurse
About the CCCN Exam
The Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN®) credential, granted by the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB®), certifies registered nurses in the specialty of continence care. It assesses a nurse’s knowledge, skills, and judgment in managing urinary and bowel dysfunction, incontinence, and associated conditions. Earning the CCCN credential communicates advanced expertise in continence care; covering assessment, interventions, collaboration, education, and evidence-based practice. Nurses certified in this specialty help elevate care for individuals with urinary and fecal dysfunction, contribute to better patient outcomes, and lead in the integration of best practices in continence nursing.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Name | CCCN stands for Certified Continence Care Nurse |
Exam Description | A certification exam for nurses specializing in continence care, focused on the assessment and management of urinary and bowel continence issues. |
Credentials Earned | Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN®). |
Eligibility Requirements | Candidates must hold an active RN license and have documented clinical experience in wound, ostomy, or continence care as defined by the WOCNCB®. This includes 50 continuing education hours and 1,500 practice hours in each specialty within the past five years, or graduation from an accredited WOC or WCET program within the last five years. |
Completion Time | 2 hours to complete the exam. |
Subjects Covered in the Exam | Topics include assessment, interventions, treatment, care planning, education, and referral related to continence care. |
Number of Questions | 120 multiple-choice questions, including 10 unscored pretest items. |
Exam Format | Multiple-choice, computer-based test. |
Exam Proctoring | Administered through approved testing centers or online proctoring using internet-based testing via the contracted testing agency, PSI. |
Recertification Details | Certification is valid for five years and must be renewed by meeting continuing education and clinical practice requirements or by retesting or portfolio submission, per WOCNCB policy. |
Pass/Fail Rates | Pass rates vary by year, with an average of approximately 79%. |
Difficulty Level | Challenging. |
Study Material | BoardCerts CCCN Exam Prep. |
BoardCerts CCCN® Question Bank
The BoardCerts Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN®) practice question bank provides a comprehensive review for the CCCN exam. The content is developed in accordance with the official WOCNCB® CCCN exam blueprint and is reviewed by experienced clinicians, to confirm accuracy and relevance. The practice exam comes with timed predictor exams that mirror the exam conditions and help prepare for the exam. Moreover, the questions are designed to reinforce clinical reasoning skills and application of evidence-based principles. The detailed explanations focus on key domains tested on the exam that include continence focused assessment, planning, treatment, and patient education and referral.
Content Outline of CCCN Exam
The WOCNCB provides the following content outline for the CCCN exam:
I. Assessment (24.5%): Focuses on collection and interpretation of data related to patients’ health status and continence issues, including health history focused assessment.
II. Intervention (17.3%): Involves planning and implementation of non-invasive, preventive, and conservative continence care strategies, along with complication prevention.
III. Treatment (20.9%): Includes implementing clinical management strategies for management of continence disorders through evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
IV. Care Planning (13.6%): Emphasizes on development of patient-centered plan of care with the help of assessment and establishing goals of management.
V. Education and Referral (23.6%): Patient and caregiver education on continence management, health promotion, and complication prevention, along with appropriate referral guidance to other healthcare and support services.
For a more detailed blueprint outline, please refer to the AMB-BC exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources
Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution
CCCN Exam Eligibility Requirements
Candidates are required to fulfill specific requirements to be eligible for the CCCN exam. To take the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB®) CCCN exam, candidates can take any one of the two main pathways: the Traditional Pathway and the Experiential Pathway.
1. Traditional Pathway:
- Educational Requirement: Candidates should complete a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (WOC) Nursing Education Program accredited by the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN®) within the past five years from the date of exam application.
2. Experiential Pathway:
- Educational Requirement: Should have at least a bachelor's degree in nursing.
- Clinical Practice Hours: Candidates must have completed at least 1,500 hours of clinical practice within the last five years for each specialty area (wound, ostomy, and/or continence), additionally, a minimum of 375 of those hours should be accrued within an year from the date of the exam.
- Continuing Education: A minimum of 50 continuing education (CE) credits or contact hours directly related to each specialty area within the past five years.
Attainment of these requirements ensure that the candidates have both the theoretical knowledge and the practical experience required to pursue a specialized career wound, ostomy, and continence nursing. For comprehensive details on eligibility criteria and application procedures, candidates should refer to the WOCNCB®'s official page.
CCCN Application Process
Online Application: Apply for the CCCN exam through the WOCNCB official website. Apply | WOCNCB.
- Application Submission: Submit the application along with the application fee and proof of eligibility. The application will then be reviewed by WOCNCB and PSI.
- Scheduling the Exam: It usually takes up to 30 business days to review and approve the application. After approval, you can schedule your exam up to 6 months from the time of application submission (or 12 months prior to current credentials expiration). Testing sessions are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. For a listing of test sites, refer to the official WOCNCB page.
- Preparation: The BoardCerts CCCN® Question Bank is specially designed to make the most of your preparation. It aligns closely with the official exam blueprint and matches the complexity and composition of the actual exam. You can also find additional resources in the WOCNCB candidate handbook.
CCCN Exam Dates and Costs
The Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN) exam is available year-round, however, the testing windows vary by location and scheduling availability
For the most current information on exam dates and fees, please refer to the official WOCNCB Certification Website.
CCCN Exam Format
Number of Questions: The CCCN exam comprises 120 multiple choice questions, out of which 110 are scored, and 10 are unscored pretest items.
Exam Response Options: Each question offers four response options (A, B, C, D).
Testing Options: The exam is administered at designated PSI testing centers, or via Live Remote Proctoring.
Time Allotted: Candidates have 2 hours to complete the exam.
Passing Score for CCCN
Difficulty Level: The CCCN® exam is considered challenging, reflecting the advanced clinical knowledge, continence-specific knowledge, and good clinical judgment required in nursing practice. Candidates are advised to take time to review and understand the official CCCN exam content outline to prepare in the most effective manner.
Passing Score: The passing scores for the WOCNCB exams are subject to change from one examination to the next due to differences in content/difficulty levels, WOCNCB does not publish the passing score or the number of questions required for it.
Score Reporting: Candidates receive an immediate pass/fail result on-screen upon completion of the exam. An official score report is also sent via email.
Exam Statistics: While the CCCN exam pass rates vary by year, they average at around 79%. The statistics highlight the importance of rigorous preparation and use of blueprint-aligned preparation using reliable, exam-focused study resources.
CCCN Exam Proctoring
The Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN®) exam is administered by the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB®) in partnership with PSI. Candidates have the flexibility to take the exam either at an approved test center or through live remote proctoring.
Live Remote Proctoring: This option allows candidates to complete the CCCN exam from a convenient location such as their home or office. During the exam, a trained proctor monitors the candidate in real time using the computer’s webcam and microphone to maintain exam security and integrity. Live remote proctoring provides added convenience for candidates who may have limited access to testing centers or prefer a remote testing environment.
CCCN Preparation and Resources
At BoardCerts, our CCCN practice questions are fully aligned with the official exam blueprint and based on authoritative hospice and palliative care references.
Exam Topics: Assessment, planning, treatment, interventions, and education and referral. More info visit: Preparation and Resources - CCCN
Question Bank: Our comprehensive CCCN Question Bank includes detailed rationales and predictor exams to help you assess readiness, reinforce key concepts, and build confidence for exam day.
CCCN Certification Renewal
The CCCN® certification is valid for five years. To maintain your credential, you must complete the recertification process before your current certification expires. The WOCNCB® offers two pathways through which you can get recertified:
- Recertification Exam: Successfully pass the recertification exam for your specialty area(s). You may apply for the exam up to 12 months before your credential's expiration and must test before it expires.
- Professional Growth Program: Candidates must have at least 10 CE's in the clinical specialty. The portfolio must have at least 80 points, but no more than 90 points and at least half of the portfolio must pertain to the clinical specialty. A maximum of 40 points for practice hours are allowed in each speciality portfolio, corresponding to 2000 practice hours per speciality in the past five years.
CCCN Practice Questions
The most vital part of CCCN or any WOCNCB exam preparation is practicing questions. These questions allow you to become familiar with the exam format, question style, and key content domains. With high-quality, faculty-approved, exam-focused sample questions that align with the CCCN exam blueprint, BoardCerts ensures that you are well prepared for your test day.
Access Sample Questions: You can find sample questions from the BoardCerts question bank here. These questions are designed to reflect the level of difficulty and the topics found on the CCCN exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
