SWAN Program Application Information

Who can apply?

Practical nurses and diploma RNs practicing in Canada are eligible to apply.

WOC Institute Program Logos_SWAN-2025.png

Apply today!

Application Process

Step 1

Register as a SWAN Student Associate

Make sure to enter your full contact and work information. Your personal email will be the email you'll use to log into your membership account in the future.

The personal information collected during application and maintained as part of a student’s records will be used for the purposes of admission, registration, and issuing receipts, graduation certificates and for SWAN Program research and planning. Contact information will also be disclosed to NSWOCC for the purpose of providing membership information. Personal information will not be shared with any other business or organization.

Click here to register

Step 2

Register for the SWAN Program

After you've completed your SWAN Student Registration, click on "Register for Courses" in the left-hand sidebar.

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Sign into your account

Step 3

Find the course & cohort, then "Add" and "Register"

You will be shown all the current courses available. Please locate the course(s) you wish to register for and click the Add button. Then, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Register.

Sign into your account

Step 4

Pay the $50 Application Fee

After you click Register, you will be brought to a page to pay your registration fee. Please complete this then continue back to the main page of your membership account.

This must be paid prior to submitting any pre-requisites or documents.

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Sign into your account

Step 5

Complete the course prerequisites

Once you return to your membership account, click on "Review my course registrations", in the left-hand sidebar then complete the pre-requisites by clicking each item in the checklist.

For those items that require copies of scanned documents, you can upload them within the main Members area page by clicking "Upload Documents to NSWOCC" and following the instructions.

Sign into your account

After application is complete

Application will be reviewed by the admissions committee after the application deadline date.

Once all your prerequisites have been submitted, your application will be submitted to our admissions committee.

All completed applications will only be reviewed after the application deadline regardless of when your application is completed.

Offers of admission will be emailed after the application deadline date.

Thank you for applying!

Questions about your application?

Please contact the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute registrar at 1-877-614-1262 or email administration@wocinstitute.ca

Application Checklist

Entrance to the program is competitive. After you register with NSWOCC as a SWAN Student Associate, please follow the application procedures carefully, and complete and submit all materials for application by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Application Review Process & Offers of Admission

For all cohorts: Completed applications are reviewed after the application deadline, and admission offers are sent by email following the deadline.
NEW for the Winter 2026 Cohort only:
- Early applications: Completed applications submitted by October 1 will be reviewed early and admission offers will be sent starting October 15.
- Regular applications: Completed applications submitted after October 1 will be reviewed only after October 31. Admission offers will be emailed following the October 31 deadline.

Current Resume

Your resume should include the following:

Your name appears at the top of each page
Formal educational achievements (most recent listed first), including any credentials (degrees, certificates, diplomas, etc.) awarded
Other training/educational experiences (for example, courses, workshops, etc.) that relate to Specialized Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing
Professional employment history (most recent listed first), with enough detail to adequately describe the experiences and your level of responsibility including total full-time years as a Registered Nurse
Publications, professional presentations, and research activities;
Membership and leadership involvement in professional organizations and governance activities (for example, participation in work committees);
Grants, scholarships and awards you have received; and
Your volunteer, important hobby and community activities.

Proof of valid Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or Registered Nurse license

Proof of valid RPN, LPN, or RN license for the year you are applying for the program. Please do not send your RPN, LPN, or RN certificate.

Statement on why you want to become a Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN)

(max 500 words)

2 Letters of Reference

Applicants must submit two letters of reference from the following sources:

A previous educator, supervisor/manager, or professional colleague
The two references must come from two different categories (e.g., one educator and one colleague, or one manager and one colleague).

All references must be from Canadian professionals who can speak to your Canadian employment and/or educational experience. References cannot be related to the applicant.

Please ensure you notify your references in advance before requesting a letter of reference.

Access the reference form at: https://membersnswoc.ca/reference.phtml

Costs & Tuition: Total $3,186

If accepted into the SWAN™ Program, students will have the option to pay the full program fee of $3000 or pay in instalments of $1000 at the beginning of the program and prior to the continence and wound courses of the SWAN™ Program. SWAN™ Program students are also required to purchase a subscription to the Journal of Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing (JWOCN) for a fee of $46. If students are not accepted into the SWAN™ Program they may contact administration@wocinstitute.ca to request a refund for their $90 associate membership fee.

$3,000

Program Fee (Academic Tuition)

If accepted into the SWAN™ Program, students will have the option to pay the full program fee of $3,000 at the beginning of the program or in instalments prior to the start of each course.

$90

NSWOCC Associate Registration Fee

All Wound, Ostomy & Continence Institute students must become associate members of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy & Continence Canada (NSWOCC) by registering as a "SWAN Student Associate" during the application process for a fee of $90. This associate membership fee provides access to the discussion forum, a national conference discount, the NSWOCC and more (click here to view the full list of benefits).

If students are not accepted into the SWAN™ Program they may contact administration@wocinstitute.ca to request a refund for their $90 associate membership fee.

$46

JWOCN Subscription

All Wound, Ostomy & Continence Institute students are also required to purchase a subscription to the Journal of Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing (JWOCN) for a fee of $46, which is added on to your NSWOCC Registration Fee during the registration process.

$50

Application Fee

All Wound, Ostomy & Continence Institute students will also pay a $50 non-refundable application fee during the application process. Ensure you have all your information readily available prior to starting the application. E.g. contact information of references.

Textbooks

NOTICE: The SWAN Program uses the new Core Curriculum texts produced by the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society.

Wound, Ostomy & Continence Institute students are able to purchase these books directly from the publisher at a discount. Students are encouraged to purchase their books early, to ensure that they have them at the opening of the course. Students are may go directly to Login Canada and purchase their textbooks at a discount. Please go to lb.ca/wocinstitute

If you have questions please contact administration@wocinstitute.ca

Ostomy

Carmel Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society™ Core Curriculum: Ostomy Management [2E]

ISBN-13: 9781975164560

Book#: EFMC5 (2022)

Wound

McNichol Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society™ Core Curriculum: Wound Management [2E]

ISBN-13: 9781975164591

Book#: OKQC5 (2022)

Continence

Ermer-Selturn Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society™Core Curriculum: Continence Management [2E] ISBN-13: 9781975164539

Book#: EFMC4 (2022)

Funding Opportunities

Please check your provincial nursing association for potential funding opportunities!

Is the SWAN Program right for you?

Practical nurses and diploma RNs practicing in Canada are eligible to apply.

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute

SWAN Program Application Information

Who can apply?

Practical nurses and diploma RNs practicing in Canada are eligible to apply.

Apply today!

Application Process

Step 1

Register as a SWAN Student Associate

Step 2

Register for the SWAN Program

Step 3

Find the course & cohort, then "Add" and "Register"

Step 4

Pay the $50 Application Fee

Step 5

Complete the course prerequisites

After application is complete

Application will be reviewed by the admissions committee after the application deadline date.

Questions about your application?

Please contact the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute registrar at 1-877-614-1262 or email administration@wocinstitute.ca

Application Checklist

Entrance to the program is competitive. After you register with NSWOCC as a SWAN Student Associate, please follow the application procedures carefully, and complete and submit all materials for application by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.​

Application Review Process & Offers of Admission

NEW for the Winter 2026 Cohort only:

Current Resume

Proof of valid Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or Registered Nurse license

Statement on why you want to become a Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN)

2 Letters of Reference

Costs & Tuition: Total $3,186

$3,000

Program Fee (Academic Tuition)

$90

NSWOCC Associate Registration Fee

$46

JWOCN Subscription

$50

Application Fee

Textbooks

Ostomy

Wound

Continence

Funding Opportunities

Please check your provincial nursing association for potential funding opportunities!

​

Is the SWAN Program right for you?

Entrance to the program is competitive. After you register with NSWOCC as a SWAN Student Associate, please follow the application procedures carefully, and complete and submit all materials for application by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.