Wilderness Medicine Training Courses

Wilderness First Aid Field Services

The only Wilderness First Aid course that meets the specific needs of industry, technical, research, and field support employees in remote areas.

The 24-hour Wilderness First Aid for Field Services course provides first aid for industrial, technical, and field support staff in remote areas. Although the fundamental medical portion of this course is similar to those in a WMA International Wilderness First Aid course, the applied context is different.

Travel Medicine First Aid

Developed as a collaborative effort between Wilderness Medical Associates International and Habitat for Humanity to meet the medical needs of international remote program sites. This program has evolved to encompass medical response, risk reduction, and hazard identification in low to middle income countries for North American volunteer and study abroad groups. The design of this course is not to replace a travel medical clinic consultation, but instead to enhance a group’s ability to prepare, mitigate, and respond to medical emergencies while abroad.

Battlefield Medical Response

The Battlefield Medical Response (BMR) course, designed specifically for journalists and media professionals, is ideal first aid training adapted to hostile and war zone environments where equipment and personnel are limited. This hands-on training will explain, demonstrate, and reinforce the differences between battlefield first aid and civilian pre-hospital trauma care and emphasize the inherent medical issues associated with remote travel.

Wilderness First Aid

The best and most comprehensive course of its kind to offer relevant and realistic first-aid training for seasonal outdoor activities or short term wilderness endeavors and pursuits.

Wilderness First Aid is a two-day introduction to general medical concepts and basic life support skills. It is targeted to the outdoor enthusiast on day trips or short adventures. The course is taught by professional instructors with significant patient care and backcountry experience.

Offshore Emergency Medicine

Offshore Emergency Medicine offers relevant and practical training for the largest and most remote wilderness on earth. As with all of our courses, we emphasize the understanding of body systems and principles of care to best prepare the medical officer to improvise and adapt to the infinite variety of challenges that the open sea can present. It is designed for voyaging sailors as well as professional mariners. Classroom instruction is tied to the student’s own experience through the liberal use of case studies, scenarios, and hands-on assessment problems in a marine context. Upon completion, students will earn a Wilderness First Aid certification. Previous medical training is not required.
36 Hours

Wilderness First Aid Field Services

The only Wilderness First Aid course that meets the specific needs of industry, technical, research, and field support employees in remote areas.

The 24-hour Wilderness First Aid for Field Services course provides first aid for industrial, technical, and field support staff in remote areas. Although the fundamental medical portion of this course is similar to those in a WMA International Wilderness First Aid course, the applied context is different.

Wilderness Advanced First Aid

An entry-level course designed for professionals working in significantly remote settings for days or weeks. 

Wilderness Advanced First Aid is comprehensive medical training designed for remote professionals or wilderness leaders who venture into remote and challenging environments. Wilderness Medicine differs significantly from standard first aid courses and other training that are oriented toward urban environments. This course teaches how to manage medical emergencies when hospitals and rescue services may not be available for an extensive time period. We prepare students for emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments, and improvised equipment.

Bridge (WAFA to WFR)

The WAFA to WFR Bridge course upgrades the Wilderness Advanced First Aid to a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) in 4 days. This course must be taken within 3 years of receiving the WMA International WAFA certification or an equivalent from another provider. The WFR is the definitive medical training course for all outdoor professionals and enthusiasts. This course may be used as a recertification for those holding a current WFR certification or equivalent from another provider whose original WFR training was at least 64 hours in length. Current WMA International Wilderness EMTs may also use this course to recertify the wilderness portion of their certification.

Wilderness First Responder

The definitive wilderness course in medical training, leadership, and critical thinking for outdoor, low-resource, and remote professionals and leaders.

The Wilderness First Responder program is the ideal medical training for leaders in remote areas including outdoor educators, guides, military, professional search and rescue teams, researchers, and those involved in disaster relief. The curriculum is comprehensive and practical. It includes the essential principles and skills required to assess and manage medical problems in isolated and extreme environments for days and weeks if necessary.

Wilderness First Responder 5-Day

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is the definitive course in medical training for outdoor educators, guides, SAR team members, and others who work or play in remote areas. The curriculum is comprehensive and practical, including all of the essential principles and skills required to assess and manage medical problems in isolated and extreme environments. The 5-day format is for individuals and sponsors with less time available for on-site training and requires 25 hours of pre-course preparation.

Students must register at least 2 weeks before the course date. All students must complete all pre-course work prior to arrival on course.

Advanced/EMT+W 12 day Hybrid

This is a full DOT Advanced Emergency Medical Technician program with an integrated WAEMT upgrade course. The training will satisfy eligibility requirements for National Registry Certification, WAEMT certification, and the initial education component of most state licensure procedures. Training will take place daily, including weekends for 12 days.

This course meets all requirements of the Department of Transportation (DOT) Advanced Emergency Medical Technician curriculum and the Wilderness Medical Associates International WAEMT curriculum. Topics include patient assessment, body systems, equipment improvisation, trauma, oxygen administration, automatic defibrillation, ECG interpretation, IV therapy, pharmacology, primary care medicine, advanced assessment, endotracheal intubation, environmental medicine, toxins, backcountry medicine, wilderness protocols, and wilderness rescue. To discuss course specifics, please contact us.

EMT + W

This is a full DOT Emergency Medical Technician program followed by a WEMT Upgrade course. The training will satisfy eligibility requirements for the National Registry, State and WEMT certification. Training will take place daily, Monday through Friday, for four weeks.

EMT + W Hybrid (12-Day)

This is a full DOT Emergency Medical Technician Basic program with a WEMT Upgrade course. The training will satisfy eligibility requirements for the National Registry (NREMT), the State of Michigan and Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) WEMT certification. Training will take place daily, Monday through Friday, for 12 days. Friday and Saturday will be reserved for ambulance and emergency room clinical hours which are completed during the students time at our facility. Clinical hours are also accomplished after class during the week. This course requires approximately 70 hours of pre-course instruction which is student led. The 12 day EMT + W Hybrid course is not accelerated or easier than the traditional month-long course, and it is not for everyone. This course was developed adhering to, and in line with the same rigorous standards as WMA's 5 Day Wilderness First Responder Course, which has shown itself to be exceptional. Many students desire the ability to progress in the field of wilderness medicine; however, do not have 4 full weeks to devote to an on-site program. This course was designed to be more convenient and overall less expensive for the self-directed learner. Classes will be limited to 12 participants due to the intensity of the program.

Wilderness Advanced Life Support

Training for physicians, residents, and other advanced care medical practitioners. This program provides effective education in the application of critical thinking and techniques for use in low resource settings.

The Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS) is WMA International’s most advanced level course. Our 4.5 day (36-hour) course is open to certified or licensed advanced level medical practitioners involved in rescue, mass casualty, and remote outdoor environments or urban areas in disaster or crisis. This constantly-evolving course is highlighted by discussions of new and innovative ideas and the appropriate application of technologies. The learning environment is challenging, stimulating, and fun.

Wilderness Medical Elective

A medical school elective designed for medical students interested in learning about the management of patients in remote and low resource areas.

This elective offers medical students an opportunity to expand their practical and academic knowledge through an educational experience that stresses problem-based learning and education among their peers. Our core pedagogical components instill the best practices of medical school education by including didactic sessions, case study discussions, a variety of simulated patient encounters, practical skills labs, and evidenced-based medicine reviews. Particular emphasis is given to assessing patients, formulating problem lists, and carrying out student-planned treatments (including evacuations) in relatively low-tech environments. Our goal is to help our students actively investigate and articulate these best practices via a curriculum that is engaging, practical, and hands-on.

Wilderness EMT Upgrade

Training for medical personnel who would like to enhance their skills and experience for use in the rural, wilderness, and technical rescue setting. This course is popular with all levels of medical professionals but primarily geared toward pre-hospital EMS providers.

The WEMT curriculum builds on EMS training and expertise to meet the special challenges of the remote and unconventional environment. It is designed for medical personnel working in rural EMS, search and rescue, law enforcement, disaster response, and on wilderness expeditions. Like all WMA International training, it represents the best application of the available science balanced by considerable clinical experience and the reality of providing medical care in difficult and dangerous places.

Two-Day Recertification

The Two-Day Recertification course can be used to recertify a Wilderness Medical Associates' Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, or Wilderness EMT.

Wilderness Advanced First Aid

An entry-level course designed for professionals working in significantly remote settings for days or weeks. 

Wilderness Advanced First Aid is comprehensive medical training designed for remote professionals or wilderness leaders who venture into remote and challenging environments. Wilderness Medicine differs significantly from standard first aid courses and other training that are oriented toward urban environments. This course teaches how to manage medical emergencies when hospitals and rescue services may not be available for an extensive time period. We prepare students for emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments, and improvised equipment.

Bridge (WAFA to WFR)

The WAFA to WFR Bridge course upgrades the Wilderness Advanced First Aid to a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) in 4 days. This course must be taken within 3 years of receiving the WMA International WAFA certification or an equivalent from another provider. The WFR is the definitive medical training course for all outdoor professionals and enthusiasts. This course may be used as a recertification for those holding a current WFR certification or equivalent from another provider whose original WFR training was at least 64 hours in length. Current WMA International Wilderness EMTs may also use this course to recertify the wilderness portion of their certification.

Open Recertification

The Open Recertification course is open to graduates of all wilderness medical training courses of 64 hours or longer with a current Wilderness First Responder certification. Successful graduates of this course will receive Wilderness Medical Associates’ Wilderness First Responder, Anaphylaxis, and BLS/Healthcare Provider-level CPR certifications. WMA WEMT graduates with a current EMT-B or Paramedic certificate may also recertify the wilderness portion of their WEMT with this course.