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WCEI Company History

Origins and founding 

The Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI) was founded in December 2002 by two nurses who identified a need for accessible education in wound and ostomy management for healthcare professionals. 

Before starting WCEI, these two nurses operated a consulting business, Wound Consultants, Inc., which provided clinical wound care services. This business was started in April 2002 and ran concurrently with WCEI until December 2011. Their experience in that setting influenced the creation of WCEI as a training organization focused on providing structured wound care education. 

Mission statement 

WCEI’s mission is to provide wound and ostomy care education based on current standards of practice and evidence-based research for healthcare professionals. 

Early growth and focus 

In its early years, WCEI developed courses aimed at nurses, therapists, dietitians, and other clinicians involved in wound and ostomy care. The initial programs included Skin and Wound Management, Diabetic Wound Management, and Ostomy Management. Courses were offered in person and later through online delivery. 

WCEI’s coursework prepared clinicians for certification exams administered by organizations such as the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO) and the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM). 

Key milestones and developments 

There have been several key developments in WCEI’s evolution: 

  • Over 40,000 clinicians have been wound care-certified or recertified after taking our courses.
  • Course types have expanded to include classroom sessions, live online instruction, and online self-paced options.
  • The organization developed educational events and conferences, including the “Wild on Wounds” national conference. This conference was discontinued in 2025.
  • WCEI also began publishing articles and blog content addressing clinical wound care topics and professional development. 

Acquisition and integration 

In January 2018, WCEI was acquired by OnCourse Learning’s healthcare division. Later that year, Relias acquired OnCourse Learning’s healthcare education business, which included WCEI. 

After the acquisition, WCEI became part of the Relias group of healthcare education brands, alongside Nurse.com, Relias Academy, FreeCME, and Clinician.com. This integration placed WCEI within a larger corporate structure focused on healthcare education and workforce development. 

Focus after acquisition 

Following the Relias acquisition, WCEI maintained its focus on wound care, ostomy, and diabetic wound management education. Its offerings included preparation for certification exams such as WCC, DWC, OMS, and CWCMS.  

Courses continue to be available in person, live online, and on demand. 

Under Relias, WCEI now operates within a broader education framework, using shared technology (such as the Relias Live Platform), compliance systems, and analytics across related healthcare training programs. WCEI continues to publish clinical content and offer educational resources for clinicians.