​Student Experience

WHAT TO EXPECT |  HOW TO PREPARE  |  FAQs

What to Expect During a WMTC Course

GOALS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Understanding the student and instructor roles will help students take an active part in learning the course material.

Both students and instructors share the following goals:

• Mastery of material.
• Focus.
• Fun.

Everyone's Responsibilities: 

• Safety - physical & otherwise.
• Time management.
• Be open to feedback.

Instructor Responsibilities:

• Come prepared and present the course material in a clear and practical manner.
• Give clear demonstrations and instructions.
• Design and manage effective skill labs and simulations.
• Assist students as necessary outside of class as time permits. Some instructors will schedule one-on-one time, and others will schedule optional "Question & Answer" sessions for the entire class. Remember that instructors are responsible for presenting material to the whole class and must balance that with their personal needs.

Student Responsibilities:

• Be on time. Students who are consistently late to class may not be eligible for certification and, in some instances, may be asked to leave.
• Ask effective questions.
• Do all the assigned homework.
• Practice all practical skills to mastery.
• Attend ALL sessions; complete attendance and focus are required to pass the course. Students must be present and engaged the entire course to be eligible for certification; if a student misses any portion of a course, they will not receive a full 3-year certification. Instructors may award a shorter or lower-level certificate to students who miss part of a course.
• Bring the required material to each session.
• Take responsibility for learning. Ask for assistance if needed. While instructors do their best, they can't always recognize and provide for everyone's needs during the course.

Participation & Attendance expectations

Students must attend, be engaged in, and fully participate in all sessions; complete attendance and focus are required to pass the course and be eligible for certification. Students who miss any portion of the course will not receive a full 3-year certification. Based on a combination of variables— the amount and content of the missed portions and the student's demonstrated skill level at the end of the course — instructors may award a shorter or lower-level certification. We encourage students to arrive well-rested and have minimal or no outside obligations during the course.​

Evaluation & CERTIFICATION STANDARDS

To receive certification, students participating in a certification course must meet a set of predetermined standards to receive certification. Evaluation during a standard course or the practical session of a hybrid course is an ongoing process that begins when a student walks through the door and ends with graduation.

All Standard courses—except WFA courses—have a final in-class written exam; students must score 80% or greater to pass. Part 1 hybrid students must pass a series of online exams before attending the Part 2 practical session; however, they should keep in mind that there will be evening case studies and worksheets throughout their practical session. Instructors do their best to offer timely and practical feedback throughout the course; students are encouraged to request additional feedback at any time.

Instructors typically assign, collect, review, and evaluate case study homework, quizzes, and worksheets. Failure to complete and turn in assignments may result in not being awarded a certification or receiving a shorter or lower-level certification. Many students feel overwhelmed in the early part of a course. These feelings are normal. It takes time for the concepts to sink in. We encourage students to talk with instructors if they become overwhelmed and concerned about their progress.​

​A DAY IN THE LIFE

WMTC wilderness medicine courses are dynamic, challenging, immersive, and a whole lot of fun. Check out the course syllabuses to get an idea of the topics and skills covered each day. The fundamental difference between a standard and a hybrid course is that in a standard course, an instructor presents lecture topics in person, and in a hybrid course, students learn the same material online. 
A "typical" day in a standard course alternates between lectures, case study reviews, skill labs, and simulations. Mornings tend to be devoted to case study reviews and lectures, while afternoons— and occasionally a full day — are dedicated to skill labs and simulations. Because Part 1 of a hybrid course addresses didactic material, the Part 2 practical session — as its name implies — is significantly more active with mornings, afternoons, and even some evenings filled with skill labs and simulations.
Sessions in both formats are progressive and build smoothly on one another as the course progresses. 

​LECTURES

While instructor-led lectures are unique to standard courses, hybrid students learn the same material online. Both formats, although different, are engaging and teach normal anatomy and physiology before diving into the pathophysiology of a problem. This progression helps students connect their patient's signs, symptoms, and pathophysiology to their assessment and treatment — to understand what's happening inside their patient's body and how to intervene effectively.

Instructors use video, acting, short quizzes, stories, and mini-case studies to further explain lecture topics. Most students leave a presentation having experienced an "Ah-ha!" moment. 

We encourage students to ask questions. Questions and their answers are important, and most, if not all, students have many questions en route to mastering the course material. At the same time, we need them to understand that questions are a double-edged sword. Straightforward, well-timed questions usually benefit everyone. Poorly thought out or poorly timed questions often confuse the issue further while taking valuable class time. If an instructor doesn't know the answer to a student's question, they will say, "I don't know," and may venture an educated guess based on their knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology; ultimately, they will research the topic and return with an answer.

We know that students can't remember or apply the information presented the first time they hear it. That's why key points are repeated again and again throughout the course in case studies, worksheets, quizzes, skill labs, and simulations. While students don't have to remember all the details of a topic as an instructor is speaking, they must understand the underlying concepts. Finally, our field manual is not "just" a book, and our patient notes are not paperwork — they are well-crafted tools designed to guide students step-by-step through the assessment process. At some point, it all clicks, usually during a simulation. 

SKILL LABS

Like lectures, skill labs are a prerequisite for simulations. We encourage students to focus their questions on the skills taught during skill labs and when to use them. Students may need to practice new treatment skills outside of class before using them in simulations or real life. ​

SIMULATIONS

Students learn the most during simulations — it's where everything comes together or falls apart. There is value in both. Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. The goal is for students to learn from their mistakes (and the mistakes of their fellow students). Ideally, everything falls into place by the end of the course.

​Simulations begin on the first day as the Basic Life Support (BLS) Skills Lab leads into BLS Simulations and, from there, into longer, more complex simulations that require students to complete and document their patient's signs and symptoms together with their assessment and treatment. Students use our field manual and patient notes to keep them on track. As the course progresses and instructors introduce new topics and skills, the simulations get progressively more difficult. WFR and WEMT courses often end with a mass casualty simulation. Simulations ALWAYS occur outside in a realistic environment where each student— or student group — has access to a well-stocked first aid kit and expedition equipment (sleeping bags, pads, packs, tarps, ski poles, oars, sticks, etc.) appropriate to the scenario. 
​
There are four phases to each simulation:

1. Patient Briefing (10-20 min). Instructors review the entire scene with the patients before applying makeup to all patients. They will demonstrate how to act, answer any questions, and position each patient. (Rescuers use this time to clean up if they were patients in a prior simulation, prepare their first aid kits and equipment, and review general assessment & treatment guidelines.)
2. Rescuer Briefing (5-10 min). Once the patients are ready, instructors share relevant scene information with their rescuers: the general story and all visible MOI, the size of the evacuation window, the resources available, and when the simulation ends.
3. Action (~1 hr). Everyone — rescuers, patients, and instructors — is responsible for safety during a simulation. Anyone can call a time-out for a safety reason. During a time-out, all activity STOPS until the safety issue is resolved. Upon conclusion of the simulation, patients have a few minutes to clean up as the rescuers restock their first aid kits and turn in their patient notes for instructor review.
4. Debrief (20-30 min). Most simulations are debriefed en mass using a whiteboard and the large patient posters identical to the students' patient notes. In addition to poster debriefs, simulations in WFR & WEMT courses are videoed and reviewed in front of a television or LCD projector and screen. 

While students may find simulations overwhelming initially, they gradually gain familiarity and mastery as the course progresses. In general, their assessment and treatment skills increase with the number of simulations; this is the primary reason WMTC course hours exceed the Wilderness Medicine Education Collaborative's certification standards.​​​

Simulation Guidelines 

• Students divide themselves into patient and rescuer groups every other simulation; roles rotate each simulation. 
• Rescuers must have a watch or smartphone, their handbook, patient notes, a pencil (pens don't write well on the patient notes), a snack, water, a first aid kit, and if directed by their instructor, a sleeping bag, pad, tarp, or other type of expedition equipment.
• To protect their personal space, patients must wear underwear, shorts, or a bathing suit underneath their cuttable simulation clothes.
• Students are responsible for their own emotional and physical safety at all times. If anyone feels threatened, immediately call a time-out, STOP the exercise, and consult the instructor.
• Rescuers are responsible for basic life support treatment, documenting the patient's information, signs, symptoms, assessment, and treatment, and occasionally, applying a splint or helping to load a patient into a litter. 
• Cut only pants and shirts during a simulation. Do not cut a patient's underwear, bathing suit, or socks. Limit cutting where possible.
• All rescuers should wear gloves when treating a bleeding patient.
• Instructors may STOP a scene to offer feedback; and, may "rewind" part of a scene to facilitate student learning.
• Do not remove splints until an instructor has checked them.
• Rescuers must print their name at the top of their patient and turn it in before the debrief.​

​​TESTING & EXAMS

All Standard courses—except WFA courses—have a final in-class written exam; students must score 80% or greater to pass. Talk with the WMTC Office or instructors about any potential testing accommodations. We can't always accommodate all testing requests, so please discuss your concerns with our office before registering for a course.
​
Part 1 hybrid students must pass a series of online exams before attending the Part 2 practical session; however, they should keep in mind that there will be evening case studies and worksheets throughout their practical session. Students who have a large gap between the time they complete Part 1 and begin Part 2 will receive access to an online Review test two weeks before the start of their practical session; the test refreshes critical concepts learned during the Independent Study. Students may review their Part 1 tests until their subscription expires; they will have access to the course website through the practical session.

"This is a hard but rewarding process that I would recommend to any outdoor enthusiast."
- A.K.
​WFR Student 2023

How to Prepare for a WMTC Course 

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​general preparation

WMTC courses are rigorous. Most students may find them mentally, physically, and emotionally demanding and rewarding.​ Students must attend and actively participate in all class sessions to be eligible for certification.
​
Class time may exceed ten hours per day plus evening work. Students should be comfortable reading technical information, writing clearly, and communicating easily with others. Students should be physically capable of lifting and carrying at least 50 pounds without injury and moving safely outdoors in rough, challenging terrain and environments without supervision. Simulations may occur in water, on rocks, on uneven terrain, on steep slopes, on snow, and in rain, snow, wind, or bright sun. Students are responsible for wearing functional outdoor clothing that will protect them from the environment. 

During simulations, skills practice, and some demonstrations, students will act as patients and rescuers; this requires students to touch and be touched by others during a patient exam and subsequent treatment. Lifting and moving patients, thorough bleeding checks and physical exams are necessary for patient assessment. Students must wear undergarments —shorts, swimsuits, jog bras, etc. — under simulation clothes to protect their personal space.​
Lastly, medical training can bring up tough topics — especially for those who have been a part of or witnessed accidents. Students should feel physically and emotionally safe during a course. Talk with the WMTC office or instructors about any safety concerns. Most students will experience some stress during a course, likely during initial simulations. A small amount of stress that resolves with debriefing and time away from the situation is normal. Seek support for ongoing anxiety before it becomes debilitating.

​HYBRID COURSES: PART 1

Our hybrid courses have two distinct parts: Part 1 + Part 2 = Certification. To receive certification, students must complete both parts within a year of registering for Part 1 and register separately for each part. While they must complete Part 1 to attend Part 2, they may register for Part 2 before or after completing Part 1. We recommend students register as early as possible to ensure they have enough time to complete Part 1.

The Part 1 Independent Study section provides the foundation for the Part 2 Practical Session and is delivered online with minimal or no instructor contact. In Part 1, students work at their own pace to learn anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and how to assess patients using our field manual, patient notes, and the same clinical patterns physicians use. In the Part 2 practical session, they learn the physical skills required for treating patients in real-world incidents.

Part 1 requires access to a reliable high-speed internet connection, the course website, and the online tests. Most Part 1 students receive the URLs and passwords to the course website and their online tests shortly after registering and paying for their course, and their handbook typically ships within 48 hours.

​COURSE LOGISTICS

The course contact, or sponsor, is the best resource for logistical information. Expect to receive an email with information regarding lodging, parking, meals, camping, etc., a few months before the course or practical session begins. We recommend contacting the course sponsor if you haven't heard anything and want to start planning your trip. 

Most days begin at 8 am and end around 5 or 6 pm, with a break for lunch. There will be homework, and some courses or practical sessions have evening classes. Remember to check the course syllabus and, if possible, clear your schedule.

​What to bring

​Please bring the following supplies and equipment to standard courses and practical sessions. In some cases, the course sponsor may ask students to bring additional supplies to be used during skill labs or simulations.

Hybrid Courses Only

• Ann Jons Case Study. All hybrid students must read the Ann Jons case study on the course website, assess and document Ann's signs and symptoms along with your assessment and treatment using our patient notes, and come prepared to discuss it on Day 1.
• Wilderness Medicine Handbook. Hybrid students must also bring their handbooks and use a permanent marker to write their names on the cover. Students can also purchase the Digital Wilderness Medicine Handbook, which offers lifetime updates and much more in-depth information than the paper version. (Standard course students receive their handbook on day 1 of their course.)

All Courses
Simulation Clothing. We understand that not everyone has old clothing lying around. Thrift stores are a great option. While we encourage students to have fun during a course, it's critical to take simulations seriously. Please avoid bringing tacky sweaters, loud pajama pants, etc., as they make it difficult for patients and rescuers to remain in their roles. Keep the weather in mind when you choose your simulation clothing. Bring heavier shirts, pants, and sweaters or jackets for cool climates or rain, and lighter clothing if it's hot.

Undergarments. In traumatic real-life incidents, rescuers need to look under outer layers to look for wounds and may need to cut a patient's clothing to assess and treat injuries. The same holds for simulations, as instructors use makeup, including fake blood, to make simulations realistic. In anticipation of becoming a patient, all students should bring undergarments — that will not be cut — to protect their personal space. In cold weather, long underwear will suffice; warmer weather requires sports bras, tank tops, shorts, or swimsuits. Rescuers are also instructed not to cut underwear or serviceable outdoor gear. 
Bring:

• ​Two pairs of long pants. 
• Two long-sleeved shirts. Long-sleeved T-shirts, button-down shirts, or hoodies work well.
• Two T-shirts. 
• One pair of heavy, full-height socks. The socks are used for padding in the splinting labs and will not be cut.
• Cut T-Shirt Roll. Make a T-shirt roll and bring it to class. Directions are in the Wilderness Medicine Handbook and this video. Take your time, be careful, and roll it neatly. The finished roll is roughly 4-5" wide and about thirty feet long. 
• ​​Outdoor Clothing. Dress appropriately: Most skill labs and all simulations will be outside. Beyond lying on the ground and potentially getting dirty, these layers won't otherwise get damaged in simulations.
• ​Classroom Footwear. Have a pair of shoes or sandals with covered toes for the classroom and one for outside; it may be rainy, snowy, or muddy outside.
• Watch or smartphone capable of measuring seconds. For taking a patient's pulse and respiratory rates during simulations.
• Water shoes. To protect your feet during water simulations.
• Notebook or paper. For taking notes.
• Colored pens or pencils. Instructors will use colored markers during lectures, case study reviews, and discussions to help organize the material on a whiteboard or patient poster; some students find it helpful to do the same in their notes. Bring a pencil and something to sharpen it with to write on our patient notes.
• Old clothing. During skill labs, students will be on the ground, likely get dirty, and may not want to wear their best outdoor gear.
• Small backpack. To wear during simulations.
• Insect repellent. (DEET/Picaridin) and spray insecticide (Permethrin) as dictated by the course site and season.
• Water bottle. For use during simulations and some skill labs.
• Mug for hot drinks.
• Snacks.
• Headlamp. For night simulations — this is especially important during late fall and winter courses.
• Face masks. For minimizing transfer of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 variants and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Optional but recommended for students older than 60 or those with underlying medical conditions; at-risk students should discuss their situation with their healthcare provider before registering for a course.​

Infectious Disease Awareness & Prevention

Insect-borne Infectious Diseases
Wilderness medicine courses taught by WMTC may be sponsored or hosted by organizations both foreign and domestic in different parts of the world. Wilderness medicine courses involve skills practice, demonstrations and simulations that typically require you to be outdoors for significant portions of time in diverse geographical regions; some wilderness medicine courses may be held partially or entirely in a field setting. As a consequence of climate change, many areas or regions around the world have experienced, and may experience in the future, changes in seasonal temperature which may result in an area or region experiencing lower or higher average temperatures, potentially resulting in extended temperate seasons, or other changes in or deviations from historical climate and weather patterns. Such changes in climate may contribute to the unpredictable migration, movement or changes in habitat and behavior of animals and insects carrying infectious disease. You should be aware that there is a potential risk of exposure to animals and insects carrying infectious disease in any season, and it may be possible that you will be exposed to such animal or insect vectors while participating in a course. You are responsible for your physical health and safety during a course, and should take steps to be informed as to any potential risk of exposure to animal or insect vectors which are known to, or could potentially transmit an infectious disease in the area in which a wilderness medicine course is being held prior to attending that course. You are responsible for taking such precautions as are prudent and reasonable to protect yourself from such exposure while traveling to and from, and while in any outdoor setting during a course. For information on protecting yourself from an infectious disease, please refer the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID). It is the responsibility of every individual
registering for, and participating in a wilderness medicine course taught by WMTC to be
informed about the potential risks associated with the activity and to take the necessary
precautions to ensure their personal safety. As a participant in a WMTC course, you have the responsibility to ask questions and address any concerns related to your health and safety prior to and during a course with the course instructor(s), the sponsoring organization and the WMTC office and to work toward a reasonable resolution of those concerns.

Food- and Water-borne Infectious Diseases
Good personal and group hygiene will help prevent many food- and water-borne diseases:

• Wash hands with soap and water and/or use a hand sanitizer after “patient” contact, before eating, after going to the bathroom, and before food preparation. Hand washing also helps prevent the transmission of other infectious diseases like common cold and flu
  
• ​Avoid coughing on other people, sharing water bottles, putting hands into snack bags.
  
• Wash all raw fruits and vegetables with soap and potable water; wash all cooking utensils and pots in hot, soapy water and sanitize, do not cook or clean-up if you are sick.
  

COVID-19 and other Respiratory Diseases
Transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases occurs via respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, and aerosol clouds. The risk of disease transmission depends on the amount virus in the local community and increases in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces and with the amount of face-to-face skill lab and simulation time. Surgical and cloth masks do not provide adequate protection; buffs and bandanas are essentially useless against all but the largest respiratory droplets. N-95, KN-95, and NF-95 respirators protect both the wearer and others.

At present, we recommend:

• All students and instructors stay up-to-date with their COVID vaccines according to CDC guidelines.
• All students and instructors be vaccinated against the current strain of influenza during the fall, winter, and spring.
• Rescuers consider wearing a N-95, KN-95, or NF-95 during simulations. This will protect both the rescuer(s) and the patient. If  you wish to wear a mask or respirator for additional protection, you must provide your own.
• Those at high risk of severe disease should discuss the decision to attend a course with their physician before registering for the course.
• That anyone registering for an in-person course consider purchasing trip insurance in the event that COVID-19 or other covered circumstances impact your participation in the course. There are no refunds once you register and pay for a course. 

At present, we require:

• That anyone's decision to wear a mask for additional protection during a course is respected.
• Students who are sick or ill (symptomatic) and test positive for COVID to be dismissed from the course.
• Students suffering from seasonal allergies who are actively sneezing and coughing (symptomatic) to take a daily rapid COVID test and wear a N-95, KN-95, and NF-95 respirator during the course. 
• Students who test positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic to follow the sponsor’s established COVID protocols.
• If someone in the course tests positive, all remaining students in the course will be notified that they have been in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 and directed to follow current CDC guidelines.
• That if a course continues after someone in the class tests positive, students and instructors will wear a new N-95, KN-95, or NF-95 respirator each day the course (as specified by current CDC guidelines).
• That students wear gloves (provided) during necessary skill labs and simulations and properly dispose of and wash or sanitize hands immediately afterward.

FAQs

What's included in tuition?

All medical courses:

• Wilderness Medicine Handbook
• Patient Notes
• Expert instruction
• First aid supplies - all of the materials you need for skill labs and simulations
• Certification (if all eligibility & performance criteria are met)

Hybrid medical courses:

• Wilderness Medicine Handbook + shipping
• Patient Notes
• Course website access
• Online testing access
• Expert instruction
• First aid supplies - all of the materials you need for skill labs and simulations
• Certification (if all eligibility & performance criteria are met)

Applied Anatomy & Physiology and Wilderness Medicine

• Wilderness Medicine Handbook + shipping
• Digital ​Patient Notes
• Course website access
• Online testing access
• Certificate of completion

What's WMTC's Cancellation Policy?

Once a student registers and pays for a course (standard or hybrid), there are no refunds unless the course is canceled; this is why we strongly recommend travel insurance. On rare occasions and case-by-case, a course sponsor may make an exception.​

How Do I access My Certification?

WMTC graduates can view, download, print, and email a copy of their certification card through our certification database anytime. Graduates must log in to the database with the email they used when registering for their course. Problems occasionally arise due to browser pop-up settings. Email the WMTC Office for help accessing a certification.

What if I become ill during a course?

We recommend that anyone registering for an in-person course purchase trip insurance in the event they cannot attend or must leave a course. Remember, there are no refunds, even in the case of illness. ​

How long Does my certification Last?

WMTC Certifications last for a maximum of three years — some students receive a 1- or 2-year certification. The expiration date appears on the certification card. There is no grace period.

How Does recertification work?

Please visit our recertification page for detailed information about recertifying a WFA, WAFA, WFR, or WEMT with WMTC.

Will I need to take an Exam?

All standard courses—except WFA courses—have a final in-class written exam; students must score 80% or greater to pass. Part 1 hybrid students must pass the online exams to attend a Part 2 practical session.

DoES WMTC offer all-online courses?

All our certification courses require in-person training under the direction of a licensed WMTC instructor. Only our Applied Anatomy & Physiology in Wilderness Medicine course is entirely online — graduates receive a completion card but not certification.

"I am so much more confident in my skills and in my ability to help people in the backcountry"
- M.F.
​WFR Student 2023