Specialty Courses: INSTRUCTOR TRAINING | ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY & WILDERNESS MEDICINE | EFFECTIVE OUTDOOR PROGRAM DESIGN & MGMT
Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
Our Wilderness First Aid course is designed for people taking half- or full-day trips, those traveling with reliable cell phone coverage, and where outside assistance is typically available within a few hours. WFA courses are an introduction to wilderness expedition medicine, focusing on general concepts and basic treatment skills. Many of our WFA graduates come back to take a longer, more intensive course. Our WFA course exceeds the minimum standards set forth by the WMEC as well as the American Camping Association & Scouts BSA trip leader requirements. People with current WAFA, WFR, & WEMT certifications from approved providers can recertify via WFA + online testing. Learn more about recertification. Each student receives a copy of the Wilderness Medicine Handbook, our pocket-sized waterproof tear-proof field guide. We offer this course in both standard & hybrid formats - learn more.
Learn more about our pedagogy & delivery strategies.
*The amount of time required to complete the hybrid Part 1 online study & testing varies between individuals. |
Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA)
Our Wilderness Advanced First Aid course is designed for people taking half-, full-, or short multi-day trips, those traveling with reliable cell or satellite coverage, and where outside assistance may be delayed for several hours. WAFA courses are a slightly deeper dive into wilderness expedition medicine. Compared to a WFA, WAFAs cover more concepts and additional treatment skills. Our WAFA courses exceeds the minimum standards set forth by the WMEC. People with current WAFA, WFR, & WEMT certifications from approved providers can recertify via WAFA + online testing. Learn more about recertification. Each student receives a copy of the Wilderness Medicine Handbook, our pocket-sized waterproof tear-proof field guide. We offer this course in both standard & hybrid formats - learn more.
Learn more about our pedagogy & delivery strategies.
*The amount of time required to complete the hybrid Part 1 online study & testing varies between individuals. |
Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
Our Wilderness First Responder course is designed for outdoor professionals, those who take multi-day or longer trips, and people involved with high-risk activities (rock climbing, whitewater paddling, mountaineering, etc.) WFR courses provide the ideal training for people who travel in remote locations, in challenging weather, with limited equipment, unreliable communication, and limited or no access to outside assistance. WFR graduates are prepared to care for patients for prolonged periods of time and make independent decisions about evacuation and resources. WFR certification is the industry standard for outdoor guides and instructors; our WFR course exceeds the minimum standards set forth by the WMEC. Each student receives a copy of the Wilderness Medicine Handbook, our pocket-sized waterproof tear-proof field guide. We offer this course in both standard & hybrid formats - learn more.
Learn more about our pedagogy & delivery strategies.
*The amount of time required to complete the hybrid Part 1 online study & testing varies between individuals. |
Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT)
Our Wilderness EMT course is designed for experienced medical practitioners who are expedition medics or trip leaders. Participants must hold a current NREMT certification or state EMT license (basic, intermediate, or paramedic) with patient care experience to receive certification as a WEMT. Similar to our Wilderness First Responder course, our Wilderness EMT course focuses on assessment and treatment of traumatic, environmental, and medical emergencies in a wilderness environment. While the focus remains on expedition medicine, the skills taught during our WEMT course may be applied directly to situations where prolonged EMS transport is unavoidable e.g.: disaster relief, SAR, rural EMS calls, etc. Each student receives a copy of the Wilderness Medicine Handbook, our pocket-sized waterproof tear-proof field guide. We offer this course in hybrid format. People holding current EMT certifications can also take our standard WFR course and receive their WEMT.
How to become certified as a WEMT through WMTC:
How to become certified as a WEMT through WMTC:
- Obtain your NREMT or state EMT license before taking our hybrid WEMT course
- Obtain your NREMT or state EMT license before taking our standard WFR course
- Take our hybrid WFR course and obtain your NREMT or state EMT license within one year of completing Part 2 of the WFR. Notify the WMTC office once you have completed your EMT and send your certification information so that we can upgrade your information in our certification database.
- Take our standard WFR course and obtain your NREMT or state EMT license during your certification period. Notify the WMTC office once you have completed your EMT and request access to our online WEMT exams ($25). Once you've passed the exams, notify the WMTC office so that we can upgrade your information in our certification database.
Continuing Education Units
WMTC is not registered with CBEMS or any other CEU organization for EMTs, nurses, PAs, or physicians. If an EMT is affiliated with a licensed service, the training officer/or education department supervisor can usually approve CEUs. NREMT may grant (but is not obligated to) CEUs to EMTs who have taken a WEMT course based on topics and clock-hours and state approval (see preceding text). Nurses, PAs, and physicians can apply for CEUs through their hospital's education department. Those who are not affiliated with a hospital may be eligible for CEUs and should contact their state licensing/health department for guidance.
WMTC is not registered with CBEMS or any other CEU organization for EMTs, nurses, PAs, or physicians. If an EMT is affiliated with a licensed service, the training officer/or education department supervisor can usually approve CEUs. NREMT may grant (but is not obligated to) CEUs to EMTs who have taken a WEMT course based on topics and clock-hours and state approval (see preceding text). Nurses, PAs, and physicians can apply for CEUs through their hospital's education department. Those who are not affiliated with a hospital may be eligible for CEUs and should contact their state licensing/health department for guidance.
Learn more about our pedagogy & delivery strategies.
*The amount of time required to complete the hybrid Part 1 online study & testing varies between individuals. |
WFR & WEMT Recertification (RECERT)
Our WFR & WEMT Recertification course is designed to provide a thorough review of the material covered in your original course and reacquaint you with any revised assessment and treatment protocols. Graduates with current certifications (or who are in their grace period) from approved providers may recertify with us by successfully completing a Recertification course or by completing a WFA course and passing our online WFR & WEMT Recertification exams. We do not recertify graduates of online-only programs. We offer this course in both standard & hybrid formats - learn more. Learn more about recertification.
Learn more about our pedagogy & delivery strategies.
*The amount of time required to complete the hybrid Part 1 online study & testing varies between individuals. |
Instructor Training Course (ITC)
This course is designed for outdoor and medical professionals intending to instruct medical courses with WMTC. Instructor applicants must successfully complete our 18-day Instructor Training Course. The ITC is immersive, intensive, and will prepare graduates to enter the apprentice program where they practice and fine-tune their instruction until they are ready to lead instruct. Preparation for the ITC is challenging and requires ~80+ hours of work. Instructor candidates are preassigned specific lecture topics, skill sessions, and simulations to present during the ITC. The course culminates with the instructor candidates co-teaching a standard Wilderness First Aid course with the instructor trainer.
Successful Instructor candidates have demonstrated a mastery of:
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.
Applied Anatomy & Physiology and Wilderness Medicine
This 75+ hour online course is designed for anyone who wants to learn how to care for themselves and those around them when physician assistance is unavailable. This could include:
- Those who live remotely.
- Those who wish to be prepared for a natural disaster—flood, severe storm, earthquake, wildfire, etc.—when the 911 system and hospitals are overwhelmed or unavailable.
- Students looking for additional credits or an applied science course.
- Those interested in pursuing a career as a medic, nurse, PA, or physician.
This course does not include certification in wilderness medicine. If, after completing this course, you scored a minimum of 80% on one final exam and are interested in becoming certified, please contact our office; you may be eligible to register for a Part 2 WFA, WAFA, or WFR practical session.