CFCN Foot Care Eligibility Changes

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[h=4]I received this yesterday from WOCNCB. The requirements for first time CFCN candidates are much stricter than when I tested 3 yrs ago.

Effective May 1, 2015[/h] ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS for Foot Care Exam

Initial (first-time) candidates must:

  1. Have a current RN License
  2. Hold a Bachelor's Degree (or higher) - Effective Jauary 1st, 2015
  3. Complete BOTH of the following:

    1. Accumulate a minimum of 25 CE/CME credits (contact hours) specific to foot care, and
    2. Accumulate a minimum of 40 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an expert in foot care for example: Physician, Podiatrist, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, or a CFCN®. The expert MUST HAVE experience relevant to foot care.
      • Both the CE/CME credits (contact hours) and clinical hours must be specific to foot care and must be completed within the previous 5 years from the date of the application while functioning as an RN.

      3. Click the link below to download the Exam Handbook for complete information.

      http://www.wocncb.org/pdf/WOCNCB_handbook.pdf

I was on the original exam development committee. I am very sad to see them eliminate the AA degree nurse. There is no reason in the world you need a BSN to be a great foot nurse. I am happy to see that they have increased both the didactic and the hands on though.

I agree with you. I thought 8 clinical hrs was lacking. I worked as a foot care nurse (non-CFCN) for one year FT before I took the exam. I received training with a foot care company for a month and got to see many types of feet/nails.

I think the decision to have a BS is a bit much. However, it does NOT state that you need a BSN, simply a BS. I have a BS in biology from 20 yrs before I became an RN (ADN). Hopefully, I'll be grandfathered in anyway since it states these requirements are for first-time testers.

We are so in need of foot care nurses. I turn clients away all the time because they live too far away.

Some fields are going overboard with degree requirements! I heard PT's will now need a DOCTORATE! That's a lotta school and $$ for a PT degree!!

Specializes in Foot care.

I think the requirement for BS is a bit much as well. I've got the BSN thank goodness, as I am just beginning the process to get certified, and while I also agree that the current requirements are lax, I will be personally happy if I happen to squeak under the wire. It's putting the cart before the horse, but I hope to become employed in a setting that will allow me to see and care for many, many feet. That's my plan, anyway.

footqueen, what is a "foot care company"?

LOL, the reason I posted the new requirements is for those who are planning on taking the exam- do it sooner rather than later!

By "foot care company" I simply meant the home care agency who trained me in performing foot care. I now have my own "foot care company." I am sole proprietor of a business that performs medically-based foot care :)

Specializes in NICU/L&D, Hospice.

Sadly, this will just keep skilled foot care nurses from getting their certification. I do not have a BSN but I am MORE than capable of performing this wonderful skill. Even started my own business. Why do the colleges even offer the ASN if we aren't "good enough" anymore to provide excellent care? I receive compliments all the time as a nurse!

Specializes in Foot care.

I agree. And from what I've seen in the job ads, I will be competing with medical assistants for a position at a podiatry office. They may not have the same scope of service (I don't know what they are allowed to do, I haven't researched it) but from the job descriptions I've read, it sure sounds like they do most of what I might do as a foot care nurse in a podiatry practice; visually, MAs and RNs are like two overlapping circles. From what I've seen, outside the hospital setting, MAs and (to a lesser extent) LPNs fill the traditional role of nurse, i.e., someone who works under the direction of an MD.

It's getting way off-topic but I can't resist: "Why do the colleges even offer the ASN if we aren't 'good enough' anymore to provide excellent care?" They offer it because it is one of the avenues towards RN and they want students. Why does RN allow two vastly different pathways toward the license? That's a big 'ole can of worms! I think nursing education and preparation is way out of whack.

Specializes in NICU/L&D, Hospice.

They aren't "vastly" different routes. My ASN didn't include a chemistry class, stats, research, or community health. That was it. In my city, the ASN's were hired over the BSN's d/t the EXCELLENT education and hands-on we received.

Specializes in Hospice, Geriatrics, Wounds.

Hotflashion: Its a little ridiculous that medical assistants will be your competition. ....however; a doctor can teach ANYBODY a skill, and as long as the Dr says that particular ANYBODY is proficient in performing that skill....the ANYBODY can legally perform that skill (of course as long as supervised (though doesn't have to be direct supervision) by the Dr who reported competencey). Wild & sad, but true. I have a feeling we will bed seeing more and more medical assistants in a physician office setting. Medical assistant is an associate degree.....why anyone would go to school for MA rather than LPN or RN is beyond me...

I've worked around ASN & BSN nurses for awhile. Can't tell them apart. BSN encompasses 2 yrs of "general education" , and 2y of nursing. BSN nurses don't get any additional nursing training compared to an ASN. This is going to be a long-standing battle though....never going away.

From a person who attended Emory's program, and an additional weekend foot care program, I actually disagree with increasing the amount of clinical time. Not to offend anyone, but we are talking about FEET & TOENAILS people.....this isn't a difficult skill to grasp. Considering we take CPR for 1-2 hours, which is LIFESAVING. .....just my two cents. Of course, I feel if a nurse feels she needs additional training for competence, then she's an adult.....as a professional it's up to her to make the effort to seek out additional training before performing independent foot care.

I have an associate's as well. Paid to take the foot exam in February, but still haven't scheduled the exam (you have a yr). I just haven't had the time to put forth the studying I feel I need to pass. Gotta get moving though! !! thankfully I will be grandfathered in, and not be required to have a BSN. Which is great news considering the thousands of dollars I've invested for the training and start up equipment.

Anybody else get a nice letter from Emory indicating the staff member responsible for collecting the money for their foot classes was caught using our credit card info to shop online? Nice.....huh? Looks like even the "prestigious" schools have thieves ....sadly

You make some EXCELLENT points NC29mom and this is a warning and heads up to any nurse, particularly ADN's, who took a course in the latter part of 2014.. yes, the wocncb tells you, at time of signing up, that you have 1 year to complete the exam...BUT...obviously if you should not pass you are no longer qualified due to the changes of #1 needing a BSN. And here's the real clincher....you sign up in 2014...your money is accepted....then in January 2015 the big changes roll out.... yet you still can take the prior exam correlating to the prior curriculum...BUT..if you did NOT take that exam before May 2015..the NEW exam (now correlating with the new guidelines, requirements and curriculum)...is now being given ...Let me tell you from personal experience....another nurse friend and I took the course in the latter part of 2014....we were happy to be on our way to being credentialed in foot care and providing it... but real life happens (family sicknesses and deaths) and despite the fact that we studied, studied, studied and got our hands in there...we were both unable to take the exam until almost 1 year after signing up....which brings us to Oct 2015; This exam is grueling and we BOTH thought, what exam am I taking..?? We were first not aware of these very "extensive" changes made; Even with not knowing, we were cautiously optimistic yet both felt we knew our stuff; that did not matter as the extensive changes made were NOT AT ALL in the previous course/curriculum we'd taken...it has changed extensively and the new requirements to take this exam/course is MUCH more in depth both in both didactic and clinical..Sadly..we are both now out of the running....as we did NOT pass the test... though considering the content of it...in conjunction with our clinical experience and background..we did not do bad...just not enough....In our opinion..there should have been provisions made and cutoffs for those who paid for and took the previous course/curriculum in 2014 and ALSO provisions made for those, to take the correlating exam (up to 1 year) (before all the changes were made!!) It would seem ethical to not accept ppls money, knowing that the changes being made were coming soon!! It also baffles me...that I have wound care background and have provided foot and wound care to the feet, always with the ability to refer out to our wound care nurse as needed for complicated wounds; yet now as "only" an ADN, I'm unable to even be considered for this certification; We don't know where we stand now...no pun intended....any similar stories or suggestions?.....

How do I go about getting the "rest" of my CE/clinical hours for the CFCN exam? I completed the UWEC course, but it only offered 8 clinical hours because it originated before the requirements changed for the test. Anyone else having trouble completing the requirements? Thank heavens I have a BA already b/c I'm an ADN nurse. I'm about to start my own foot/nail care business, but I would like to have the CFCN as additional credibility.

I'm interested in starting a foot / naiil care business. I have an ADN. Is this certification required to run a business?

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