Instructor Application
Dates: November 8-25, 2024
Location: SLC, UT
​$1,400
Application deadline: June 1, 2024
Submit anytime, spaces in the course open until filled
Questions?
Contact us at 
509.996.2502
[email protected]

Introduction

The Wilderness Medicine Training Center International (WMTC) is a privately-owned company well known for its excellence in course design and delivery. WMTC certifications are recognized by Outward Bound (OB), National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), American Camping Association (ACA), the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and all state and federal guide licensing agencies. We have some of the best instructors in the world. Our application and training process is rigorous. Please read our mission, vision, and educational strategies before applying.

WMTC is unusual within the wilderness medicine industry as WMTC instructors are employed by a WMTC affiliate organization, licensed as a WMTC provider, or contracted by a WMTC licensed provider. As such, all WMTC instructors are independent contractors trained by WMTC to deliver medical, and in some cases, risk management courses, curriculum, and certifications. We believe that instructors should be paid a living wage commensurate with their experience, training, and skills. We also believe that as business owners, instructors have a greater incentive to maintain their equipment, knowledge base, and high instructional standards. As such, our instructor community is rather small compared to other organizations but highly trained, well-knit, and completely committed to high quality education. Our instructors are with us for the long haul. WMTC supports its instructors and courses in the following manner:
  • Nationally recognized certification in wilderness medicine (WFA, WAFA, WFR, & WEMT) that meet or exceed the Wilderness Medicine Education Collaborative (WMEC) scope of practice guidelines.
  • Ongoing research & development
  • Ongoing instructor training & development
  • High quality course materials
  • National marketing, calendar listings on sponsor & partner websites, blog posts, and quarterly newsletters
  • Online sales of wilderness medicine supplies
  • Guidance and resources for setting up a business
  • Competitive per-day income
  • Opportunities to participate in committees and projects that develop WMTC materials and curriculum

WMTC has three organizational tiers for instructors designed to develop and retain staff: Instructor in Training, WMTC Licensed Business, and Affiliate Instructor. WMTC annually accepts a maximum of six instructors to their annual Instructor Training Course.
  • Instructor in Training. Instructors in Training have successfully completed the 18-day WMTC Instructor Training Course and enter into and remain in a non-paid apprenticeship until ready to solo instruct. Expenses (travel, lodging, & meals) are paid during the apprenticeship.
  • Affiliate Instructor. Affiliate instructors are employed and paid by their organization, typically a school, college, or university; they may also own a WMTC Licensed Business.
  • WMTC Licensed Provider. Upon completion of their training, instructors may become licensed to teach WMTC courses. WMTC Licensed Providers may contract, sponsor, and deliver WMTC courses in accordance with the licensing agreement.

WMTC Instructor Training Course
Instructor applicants must successfully complete our 18-day Instructor Training Course (ITC); the course is intensive and will prepare you to enter our apprentice program. Preparation for the ITC is challenging and requires ~80+ hours of work. In addition to general instruction, candidates are preassigned specific lecture topics, skill sessions, and simulations to present during the ITC. The course culminates with the ITC students teaching a standard Wilderness First Aid course with the instructor trainer.

Successful Instructor candidates have demonstrated a mastery of:
  • Wilderness medicine
  • Professional trip leading experience
  • Didactic and experiential teaching
  • Basic outdoor expedition skills
  • Advanced outdoor skill in at least one of the following areas: climbing, mountaineering, whitewater paddling, sailing, skiing, canyoneering, sea kayaking or other equally technical skill.

In most cases, new lead instructors are required to maintain, at minimum, a current EMT-B license in their state of residence and be certified as a WEMT or WFR. We encourage currently certified WMTC WFR graduates—especially those who have taken multiple courses from us—to apply with the understanding that they may not become WFR or WEMT lead instructors until they successfully complete an EMT course and receive their license. Licensed nurses, physicians, and veterinarians with emergency room training and experience exceed our minimum requirements and are encouraged to apply.

All applicants must complete the WMTC Instructor Application Form (below). At minimum, candidates must be a WMTC WFA graduate to apply. We give preference to applicants who are graduates of a WMTC Standard WFR course. The WFR provides an opportunity for a pre-ITC evaluation and experientially exposes applicants to the full WMTC curriculum and our teaching methodology.

WMTC Apprenticeship
ITC graduates enter and participate in an apprenticeship until they are ready to instruct. The apprenticeship is a non-paid training position. During an apprenticeship, the instructor-in-training's travel, expenses, and room & board are covered. When ready, the apprentice is certified by WMTC to instruct. The length of the apprenticeship varies for each individual. In most cases, apprentices are ready to instruct WFA courses after apprenticing one or two courses. Most apprentices assist three to six WFR courses before they are ready to instruct WAFA, WFR, Review & Recertification, and WEMT courses.

WMTC Instructors
Instructors are certified and licensed according to the type of course they can lead (e.g.: WFA, WAFA, WFR & Review, and WEMT); they are expected to instruct a minimum of 15 days per year to maintain their instructor status. New instructors should anticipate instructing more days during their first 1-3 years to develop and refine their skills.

WMTC Licensed Providers are expected to purchase and maintain their own equipment and supplies in accordance with WMTC policies; this is a federal requirement for independent contractors. Equipment cost varies, but expect to invest roughly $3000-$4000; in most cases, the investment is fully recovered within 1-3 courses. Consumable costs average $0.50/student/student day. The process and cost of maintaining your medical license/certification varies from state to state; check with your state Depart of Health for details.

WMTC Licensed Providers are also required to carry their own insurance. There are three types of insurance policies instructors may wish to obtain:
  1. a General Business Liability policy (required) with a minimum coverage of $2,000,000 insures the instructor or business against injuries or death that might occur on a course; the policy should come with a Teaching or Consulting endorsement and WMTC should be listed as additional insured. A current Certificate of Insurance (COI) verifying coverage must be on file with the WMTC office.
  2. a Professional Liability policy (optional) insures the instructor or business against lawsuits arising from the material presented during a course and is also know as an “Errors & Omissions” policy. 
  3. an Inland Marine policy (optional) provides coverage against equipment loss or damage. Cost varies considerably between carriers and policies.

    Instructor Application Form
     All Instructor applicants must be a WMTC graduate. 
    Max file size: 20MB
    Please answer all the questions below as thoroughly as possible - give examples, details, etc.. Consider using a text file to prepare and edit your answers for each field, then copy and paste. Upon receipt of your application, and if you meet our instructor requirements, we will contact you via e-mail to schedule an interview (likely online). The purpose of the interview is to review your interest and qualifications, answer any questions or concerns you might have, clarify questions we might have, and ensure that we all feel like the Instructor Training Process is a good next step for you. Depending on your wilderness medicine qualifications, we may ask you to take our online WFR or WEMT exams.

    All applications, tests, and interviews must be completed by July 1st, so please apply early. Final selection will be made during July and successful first-round candidates will be notified by e-mail; any remaining candidates will be placed on a waiting list. Confirmation and payment for first-round candidates is due by August 1st. Occasionally, a first-round candidate is unable to attend the training. In that event, acceptance e-mails will go out to any candidates on the waiting list late July; confirmation and payment are due upon acceptance of second round candidates no later than August 15th. Assignments and access to the ITC website will be sent no later than the first week in August via e-mail to all confirmed candidates. All confirmed candidates must sign a contract that includes non-compete and confidentiality clauses prior to receiving course materials; an apprentice contract will be sent to you with your acceptance and is due with your payment. There is no refund unless the ITC cancels.

    Tuition is $1,400 for the 18-day course - there are no refunds for tuition. Upon acceptance to the ITC, our office will send you an payment link via e-mail. Tuition is for instruction only and does not include room & board. Candidates often choose to rent a house or apartment together and we're happy to provide recommendations.
    Please hand-print your answer to the following question on a piece of blank, unlined paper. Then scan (or take photo) and upload (right). We'd like to see what your writing will look like during a whiteboard lecture or debrief.

    Why do you want to instruct for the Wilderness Medicine Training Center?
    Max file size: 20MB
    Please list your technical outdoor skills and level of competency.

    For example:
    • Trad Climbing:  5.10 lead
    • Whitewater kayaking: Class IV-V
    • Expedition canoeing
    • Backpacking
    Please list personal trips or expeditions that you have taken that required you to use the technical outdoor skills listed above. Include any first ascents or descents. Please note the length and difficulty of each trip.

    For example:
    • Whitesides, NC. 10 pitches, 5.9, full day rock climbing
    • Grand Canyon, AZ. Class IV, 24 day rafting
    • Mississippi River, Lake Itasca, MN to New Orleans, LA; 64 days flatwater kayaking
    • Appalachian Trail, GA to ME, 101 days backpacking/through-hiking
    Please list your professional trip leading or guiding experience. Include the name of the organization, length of the trips and the participant group details.

    For example:
    • North Carolina Outward Bound School, Instructor for 21-day adult  courses (9) from 2004-2008
    • Chadwick School, Instructor for 10-day spring break canyoneering trips (4) from 2004-2008
    Please list all academic & professional degrees or other noteworthy certifications and accomplishments/awards that you hold.

    For example:
    • Bachelor of Science, Geology
    • Teaching Fellow, Field Studies School in Costa Rica
    The United States WMTC Instructor Course is taught in English. Besides English, what other languages do you speak well enough to teach a wilderness medicine course? Consider the technical terminology required for instruction. Contact WMTC Japan or WMTC Colombia if you're looking to instruct in those countries.
    Give three references who might be able to speak to the skills and experience that you outlined above. Please list: their name, title, phone number, and e-mail address. Briefly explain your relationship to each person. One reference must be from a WMTC instructor.
    Sample Videos
    Please send two 10-20 minute videos to [email protected] and [email protected] on the following topics using Wetransfer.com (a large file transfer software company), use of the service is free. Typically, the simpler the better. We want to understand who you are or might become as a WMTC instructor: How you communicate potentially complex ideas and concepts to a learner.
    • Video 1: Deliver a classroom-based lecture on a topic you are familiar and have taught before on a large whiteboard.
    • Video 2: Demonstrate an outdoor skill you are familiar with and have taught before. 
    ​Go here for detailed directions.
    The ability to give and receive both reinforcing and developmental feedback is critical to becoming a effective instructor. Please give three examples of developmental (or constructive) feedback you have received in the past, how you responded, and the ultimate result.
    What did you like about your WMTC course?
    ​What would you change, how, and why?
    Remember:
    • Affiliate instructors teach WMTC courses as an employee of an affiliate organization (typically a college or school) that maintains an agreement with WMTC
    • Licensed instructors run their own business, contract, and sponsor, their own courses
    Instructors can teach as one or both types. Which model do you see yourself instructing within most often? If you have plans to become an affiliate instructor, tell us your thoughts about also running your own business to contract and teach courses outside of your affiliate organization. If you don't have ties to an affiliate organization, tell us your thoughts about starting and running your own business as a licensed instructor. 
    How many courses—include course type & format—per year can you work? When are you most available? What do you do for work the remainder of the year?
    Current WMTC digital lectures and other course resources are often built in Mac Keynote and typically require access to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer.
Upon receipt of your application, you will be notified via email. If you meet our requirements, we will schedule an interview with you. Initial notification of acceptance to the ITC will be sent to qualified applicants early July via email. Accepted applicants have two weeks to respond and pay the course tuition. If necessary, a second round of acceptance notifications will be sent mid-late July. Accepted ITC candidates will receive access to the candidate website, which contains detailed information, resources, and assignments for the November ITC.