WOC Institute Launches New Canadian Nurse Continence Advisor (NCA) Course: Now Open for Applications
- WOC Institute
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
February 7, 2026— The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute is pleased to announce the launch of the Canadian Nurse Continence Advisor (NCA) Course—Canada’s only Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)–accredited advanced continence management course for registered nurses.
This rigorous, paced, 12-month course prepares baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses for the specialized role of a Nurse Continence Advisor (NCA), equipping graduates with the knowledge, clinical judgment, and practical skills required to deliver safe, ethical, and evidence-informed continence care across diverse healthcare settings.
Grounded in nationally recognized nursing standards and competencies, the course supports learners to translate theory into practice through a structured blend of online learning and clinical experience. Participants complete a six-month paced theoretical component followed by supervised clinical preceptorship and applied learning in practice settings.
Program Overview
The NCA Course combines structured online learning with practice-based clinical experience. Participants complete a six-month paced theoretical component followed by 75 hours of supervised clinical preceptorship and applied learning, including case-based integration within their own practice environments. This blended structure ensures learners are able to translate knowledge into real-world clinical decision-making and patient care.
The theoretical component of the course focuses on:
Normal and altered bladder and bowel function
Continence assessment frameworks
Types of urinary and fecal incontinence
Contributing risk factors
Conservative management strategies
Product selection
Skin protection
Documentation
Quality-of-life considerations
The course is designed to support learners in developing the competencies required for effective Nurse Continence Advisor (NCA) practice, including the ability to:
New knowledge, skills and attitudes and integrate them with prior knowledge, skills and attitudes to prepare the learner to become a competent NCA;
Familiarity with the literature in the field of
Specialized Continence Nursing;
The skills to critically analyze practice in the field, differentiate it from best practice and disseminate standards of NCA practice; and
Problem solving skills through case-based learning and participation in a strong learning community.
CNA Accredited for 160 credits
Accredited by the Canadian Nurses Association for 160 educational credits, the NCA Course represents a nationally recognized standard for advanced continence nursing education. This accreditation signals to employers, professional bodies, and the public that graduates have completed a comprehensive, competency-based program grounded in evidence and best practice.
Key Topic Areas
Bladder and bowel anatomy, physiology, and dysfunction
Continence assessment frameworks and clinical decision-making
Types of urinary and fecal incontinence and contributing risk factors
Evidence-informed conservative management strategies, including behavioural and lifestyle interventions
Skin integrity preservation and prevention of complications
Appropriate continence product selection and evaluation
Patient, client, and caregiver education
Psychosocial considerations and dignity-preserving care
Interprofessional collaboration and system navigation
Registration Now Open: Apply before February 27, 2026!
Registered nurses interested in advancing their expertise in continence care are encouraged to apply now.
Applications are open for the first cohort beginning in March 2026. The application deadline is February 27.
For questions, contact:
Toll Free: 1-877-614-1262
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