Membership is open to physicians and allied medical specialists who are involved in treating patients with chronic 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 four membership categories as noted below with describe requirements for each designation effective through December 31, 2008. The new criteria for each is found by scrolling down below. Changes effect only physicians (MD, DO, DPM) and PhD degree members.

• Fellow – any physician, as per CMS guidelines (MD, DO, DPM) that is board certified in their chosen specialty or in Wound Care and maintains a minimum of 21 hours of CME in wound care every three years. Members with a PhD involved in research or education and not clinically active, are not required to attain the CME policy described herein, but are also classified as Fellows.

• Diplomate - any non physician (i.e.; NP, RN, PT, etc) board certified in their chosen specialty or in Wound Care. Diplomates are required to attain at least 21 hours of CME/CE in Wound Care every three years

• Associate – a member in any medical discipline that is not board certified but attains a minimum of 21 hours in Wound Care every three years.

• 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.

• Fellows, Diplomates, Associates and Professional Members that are clinically active and treating patients must all maintain active state licensure and meet any regulatory requirements that are specific to their field.

• Member-in-Industry – 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

The certifying board must be recognized by an official oversight body such as a council of medical education or a council overseeing medical specialty boards and must be recognized by the Board of the APWCA. All members (associates and diplomates and fellows) are offered the same benefits from joining the organization 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. Membership category does not affect the ability to be an officer in the organization

Dues are payable annually. Following the initial application, all documentation including a copy of the current license must be updated yearly. Those applying for "Fellow" must submit proper documentation regarding board certification status. The certification status must be current with required date for recredentialing indicated, if any. Members are required to maintain continuing medical education in the area of wound care by attending a seminar every three years administered by the APWCA or another organization approved by the APWCA Board of Directors (i.e. or sponsored by a university or other certifying wound care organization). In lieu of attending a seminar every three years, members may also maintain their active status by publishing a scientific "wound-related" article in a journal that is accepted by the APWCA Credentials Committee and the Board of Directors. Fellows, Diplomates and Associates of the APWCA will be able to attend seminars through the Association at a membership rate.

ASSOCIATES can become "Fellows" or "Diplomates" (dependent upon medical discipline) by notifying APWCA headquarters upon becoming Board Certified by copy of a letter from the respective Board or a copy of the associated Certificate. Notification must include candidate number and expiration date.

To maintain active status, all members must be

• Current with state licensure
• Current with APWCA dues

One may include this credential in his/her curriculum vitae, professional card, or other listing as Fellow, Associate, or Diplomate, 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.

As of January 1, 2009 the requirements to become a Fellow of the APWCA will change. Additionally, PhD members will hence forth be designated as Diplomate members. Physician and PhD members that joined APWCA prior to January 1, 2009 will be grandfathered and maintain their designation of Fellow if they were granted such at the time they joined as long as they continue to meet the criteria numbered 1 through 4 below. The following are the new criteria that will define the categories of Fellow, Diplomate and Associate membership within the APWCA with an effective date of January 1, 2009.

The APWCA provides the following designations of its membership.  Note that the policy for Fellow has changed and I am providing that which is effective and on going as of January 1, 2009.

*Note that all the following membership categories have basic essential requirements which include:
 

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

*FELLOW:  Any Physician (MD, DO, DPM) who is certified in wound care through  the physician specific credentialing process provided by The Council For  Medical Education and Testing (CMET)

 *DIPLOMATE:  non physician (i.e.; NP, RN, PT, etc)  certified in Wound Care by an organization recognized by APWCA [eg. WOCN, AAWM (CWS), NAWC (WCC)] and a PhD involved in wound care related research (Items number 1 and 3 above are not required for PhD)

 *ASSOCIATE: a member in any medical discipline that is not board certified but attains a minimum of 21 hours in Wound Care every three years.

Physician members of the APWCA should note that the open enrollment for physicians to become APWCA Fellows is available through December 31, 2008. Current policy is physicians certified in their field of medicine can be APWCA Fellows. As of January 1, 2009, the CMET certification will be required to become a Fellow of the APWCA. Physicians will still be encouraged to join APWCA as of January 1, 2009 as Associate members. Those who so chose can then sit for the CMET certification process and upon successful completion of same, will be converted in membership designation from Associate to Fellow. There are other simple but important requirements and these can be found on the APWCA web site www.apwca.org  Both designations provide the same rights and privileges of membership with the only distinction between the two reflecting certification in wound care by CMET.  Lastly note that APWCA membership is NOT a prerequisite to the CMET certification. It is an additional aspect of one's professional career that brings added value and benefits.