Membership is open to physicians and allied medical specialists who are involved in treating patients with non-healing or complex wounds. These include: diabetologists/endocrinologists, general surgeons, infectious disease specialists, internists, wound care nurses, nutritionists, orthopedists, pedorthists, physical therapists, plastic surgeons, podiatrists, vascular surgeons, and all specialists involved in the management of wounds and the related complications!

There are a total of six types of membership. Four types of membership are designated  as credentialed members and have the following requirements as specified in items 1-4 below as well as the descriptor provided with each designation.

The four designated as credentialed members include Fellow, Diplomate & Associate all of which have the following basic and essential requirements listed immediately below . The fourth credentialed members is the *Master Designation as noted with the 4th bullet below. Masters with a clinical degree must also maintain the following requirements (1 through 4). However, Master Designees with a PhD involved in scientific research and not involved in the clinical treatment of patients would not have to maintain  items 1-3 of the following as these items would not be applicable.

1. Maintaining state license to practice.
2. Minimal of two years of experience providing wound care. This may include residency training for physicians.
3. Obtaining the minimal requirement of 21 hours of continuing medical education in wound care every three years through educational programs provided by the APWCA or programs provided by other organizations that are approved for CME by the APWCA Scientific Committee
4. Maintaining current status and staying current with annual  membership fees (unless financial hardship and approved by the an APWCA Committee - all such matters are completely confidential).

Credentialed Membership Designations:

• FELLOW: Any Physician (MD, DO, DPM) who is certified in wound care and meeting that stated in items 1-4 above.  From the APWCA inception, April 1, 2001, the APWCA recognized Fellows only based on the following criteria: board certification in their own field of medicine, practicing wound care for a minimum of 2 years, maintaining state licensure, paying annual membership dues, and obtaining wound care CME credit as required by APWCA.

  All fellows, independent of when they joined the Association and the pathway utilized to become a Fellow, must continue to maintain state licensure, maintain annual membership dues, and obtaining wound care CME credit as required by APWCA.
   

• DIPLOMATE:  A non physician (i.e.; NP, RN, PT, etc)  certified in Wound Care by an organization recognized by APWCA [eg. WOCNCB, AAWM (CWS), NAWC (WCC)] and a PhD involved in wound care related research (Items number 1 and 3 above are not required for PhD.  All other Diplomates must  meet  requirements stated in items 1-4 above.)
   

• ASSOCIATE: A member in any medical discipline that is not board certified but attains a minimum of 21 hours in Wound Care education every three year
   

• MASTER: The “Master” designation was initiated in 2010 and serves as a mechanism to recognize key opinion leaders who have impacted wound care through education, research and advocacy. These honorees are selected by an appointed APWCA committee and then approved by the Board of Directors.

The above are credentialed members and able to use the following designations after their degree with their signature as: FAPWCA (Fellow), DAPWCA (Diplomate), AAPWCA (Associate) or MAPWCA (Master), eg.: John Doe, MD, FAPWCA.  Non-credentialed members are also welcome as an integral aspect of this Association and have the same rights and privileges but do not have designated pneumonic abbreviations to use with with their signature. There are two such member categories:

• Affiliated Member – a member in any medical discipline. This category does not have a CME/CE minimal requirement and is for those who choose to join the APWCA to attain the related educational benefits and to support the mission, goals and objectives of the Association.
   

• Industry Member– Any individual representing a company or business involved in any aspect of Wound Care (e.g.: services, supplies, research) and who chooses to support the mission, goals and objectives of the APWCA and attain the related educational benefits

Benefits of membership are many and are available to all 6 member categories. These include: receiving monthly the Medline indexed, peer reviewed Journal, "Advances in Skin and Wound Care", endorsed by the APWCA; "E-Alert" a monthly email publication on the latest developments in wound care news (associated with Advances in Skin and Wound Care, published by Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins); monthly APWCA E-Mail News updates, printed newsletter SYNERGY, Regional and National seminars at reduced rates, legislative representation,  informational resource for providers,  patients, and their caregiver.  such as newsletters, reduced registration fees for seminars and the offer to purchase texts, journals, equipment or other material that the APWCA may, at times, be able to present to its membership and many more. Membership category does not affect the ability to participate with committees or be an officer in the organization

Dues are payable annually at $195.00 for physicians and $135.00 for all non-physicians. The non-profit APWCA is proudly one of the best dollar value organizations in wound care available. Credentialed Members are required to maintain continuing medical education credit (CME/CE) in the area of wound care (21 hours over a three year period) by attending educational activities administered by the APWCA or other conferences approved by the APWCA Board of Directors (i.e. or sponsored by a university, or specific medical organizations). In lieu of attending a seminar every three years, members may also maintain their active status by publishing one or more scientific "wound-related" article(s) in a peer reviewed, Medline indexed journal that is accepted by the APWCA Credentials Committee and the Board of Directors.

One may include membership designation or credential in his/her curriculum vitae, professional card, or other listing as Fellow, Diplomate, Affiliate Member or Industry Member of the American Professional Wound Care Association.

NOTE: ALL MEMBERS irrespective of membership category are treated equally within the APWCA. All have equal rights, privileges and opportunity to have input, serve on and chair committees or run for office. Name badges at our seminars reference APWCA attendees as "members" and do not differentiate category emphasizing the synergy encouraged between members in different disciplines and those of different "credentialed and academic" backgrounds.