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Wilderness First Aid

Duration

16 hours

Age

16+ yrs

Tuition

$170 to $510

See Dates

Prepare for the unexpected with this engaging, hands-on introduction to wilderness medicine, taught over two or two and a half days. If you like to take short trips relatively close to medical resources, work at wilderness camps, enjoy weekend family outdoor activities, or recreate outdoors, this course is for you.

This course is great for people of all experience levels, and is best suited for those who recreate outdoors where EMS response can be expected in a timely manner (fewer than eight hours). You'll learn the Patient Assessment System, how to provide effective first aid treatments for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors, and how to make appropriate evacuation decisions.

You'll learn both in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather, so come prepared for wet, muddy, cold or hot environments!

Course Policies
Please review our policies including cancellation policies, attendance requirements, minimum age requirements, and more. 

Links/Downloads

WFA Course Outline

COVID-19 Disclosure

COVID-19 Video

WFA Course Overview

Additional Details

Academic Credit (Learn more)
This course is approved for 1 college credit through the University of Utah and 0.5 college credit through Western Colorado University.
 

Course Approval
This course meets the American Camp Association 2012 Standards and the Boy Scouts of America Wilderness First Aid training requirements. Additionally, the Wilderness First Aid course (WILDMI-554), and when included the CPR/AED course (WILDMI-134), are approved by the United States Coast Guard to meet the first aid and CPR training requirements of 46 CFR 11.201(i)(1)(ii) and 46 CFR 11.201(i)(2)(iiI) for a merchant mariner credential.

Course Dates

122 courses

Dates

Geolocation

Lynchburg, VA
Liberty University

Jan 30, 2021 –
Jan 31, 2021

$215 to $245

Enroll Now

Tampa, FL
University of South Florida - Tampa

Feb 6, 2021 –
Feb 7, 2021

$275

Enroll Now

Asheville, NC
Landmark Learning

Feb 27, 2021 –
Feb 28, 2021

$240

Enroll Now

Rastila Camping, Helsinki, Finland
Crossing Latitudes

Mar 5, 2021 –
Mar 7, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Arcata, CA
Humboldt State University Center

Mar 6, 2021 –
Mar 7, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Mar 6, 2021 –
Mar 7, 2021

$250

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Knoxville, TN
Knoxville Adventure Center

Mar 13, 2021 –
Mar 14, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Harrisonburg, VA
Camp Horizons

Mar 13, 2021 –
Mar 14, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Rastila Camping, Helsinki, Finland
Crossing Latitudes

Mar 19, 2021 –
Mar 21, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Airway Heights, WA
Spokane County Fire District 10

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 21, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

East Hanover, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 21, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Greenville, SC
North Greenville University

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 21, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Fall Creek Falls, TN
Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association (TSRA)

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 21, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Värmdö, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Mar 26, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

$510

Enroll Now

Fayetteville, AR
37 North Expeditions

Mar 27, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Mar 27, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

$260 to $290

Enroll Now

Humak Nurmijärvi, Finland
Crossing Latitudes

Mar 29, 2021 –
Mar 31, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Parkton, MD
REI Outdoor School

Apr 3, 2021 –
Apr 4, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Ventura, CA
REI Outdoor School

Apr 3, 2021 –
Apr 4, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Apr 3, 2021 –
Apr 4, 2021

$245

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 11, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
REI Outdoor School

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 11, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Knoxville, TN
University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 11, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
Regis University

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 11, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Phoenix, AZ
REI Outdoor School

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 11, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Golden, CO
Bondi Outdoor Leadership

Apr 15, 2021 –
Apr 16, 2021

$265

Enroll Now

Friluftsfrämjandet Veberöd, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Apr 16, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Bowling Green, KY
Western Kentucky University

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Madison, WI
Rutabaga Paddlesports

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$275

Enroll Now

Boone, NC
Mountain Alliance

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$200 to $240

Enroll Now

Centennial, CO
REI Outdoor School

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Outdoor School

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$255 to $285

Enroll Now

Blairstown, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Apr 24, 2021 –
Apr 25, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

Moscow, TN
Pinecrest Camp

Apr 24, 2021 –
Apr 25, 2021

$240 to $260

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Apr 24, 2021 –
Apr 25, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Jackson County Parks and Recreation

Apr 24, 2021 –
Apr 25, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Flåm, Norway
Crossing Latitudes

Apr 30, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$245

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Colorado Springs, CO
REI Outdoor School

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
Post 58

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$170 to $260

Enroll Now

Cumming, GA
REI Outdoor School

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

May 8, 2021 –
May 9, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

May 8, 2021 –
May 9, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Parkton, MD
REI Outdoor School

May 8, 2021 –
May 9, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Jacksonville, AL
Jacksonville State University

May 12, 2021 –
May 13, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Berkeley, CA
Cal Adventures

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Ojai, CA
REI Outdoor School

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
REI Outdoor School

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Bozeman, MT
Crossing Latitudes

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$270

Enroll Now

Dubois, WY
SOAR

May 20, 2021 –
May 21, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Sacramento, CA
REI Outdoor School

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI Outdoor School

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Roswell, GA
REI Outdoor School

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

East Hanover, NJ
REI Outdoor School

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

Lake City, CO
Sky Ranch at Ute Trail, Inc

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Glencoe, IL
REI Outdoor School

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

$255 to $285

Enroll Now

Granby, CO
Camp Chief Ouray

May 25, 2021 –
May 26, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Lindholmen, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

May 28, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$280

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Thoreau, NM
Cottonwood Gulch Foundation

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$399

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Outdoor School

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Golden, CO
Bondi Outdoor Leadership

Jun 3, 2021 –
Jun 4, 2021

$265

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Jun 5, 2021 –
Jun 6, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Jun 5, 2021 –
Jun 6, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Outdoor School

Jun 5, 2021 –
Jun 6, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Chevy Chase, MD
REI Outdoor School

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Outdoor School

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Jun 19, 2021 –
Jun 20, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Blairstown, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Jun 19, 2021 –
Jun 20, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

STF Saltoluokta Fjällstation, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Jun 20, 2021 –
Jun 23, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Austin, TX
University of Texas at Austin

Jun 23, 2021 –
Jun 25, 2021

$325

Enroll Now

Roswell, GA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Outdoor School

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Glencoe, IL
REI Outdoor School

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$255 to $285

Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Ogden, UT
Idaho Rescue Training

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

STF Abisko Fjällstation, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Jun 27, 2021 –
Jun 29, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

STF Grövelsjön Fjällstation, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Jul 2, 2021 –
Jul 4, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI Outdoor School

Jul 10, 2021 –
Jul 11, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
REI Outdoor School

Jul 10, 2021 –
Jul 11, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Jul 17, 2021 –
Jul 18, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Glencoe, IL
REI Outdoor School

Jul 20, 2021 –
Jul 21, 2021

$255 to $285

Enroll Now

East Hanover, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Jul 24, 2021 –
Jul 25, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

Jul 24, 2021 –
Jul 25, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Outdoor School

Jul 24, 2021 –
Jul 25, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Outdoor School

Aug 7, 2021 –
Aug 8, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Blairstown, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Aug 7, 2021 –
Aug 8, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

Boise, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 14, 2021 –
Aug 15, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

Aug 21, 2021 –
Aug 22, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Outdoor School

Aug 21, 2021 –
Aug 22, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Jyderup, Denmark
Crossing Latitudes

Sep 10, 2021 –
Sep 12, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Ojai, CA
REI Outdoor School

Sep 11, 2021 –
Sep 12, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Chevy Chase, MD
REI Outdoor School

Sep 11, 2021 –
Sep 12, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Sep 11, 2021 –
Sep 12, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Jyderup, Denmark
Crossing Latitudes

Sep 17, 2021 –
Sep 19, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Kobarid, Slovenia
Crossing Latitudes

Sep 17, 2021 –
Sep 19, 2021

$450

Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

Sep 18, 2021 –
Sep 19, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Outdoor School

Sep 18, 2021 –
Sep 19, 2021

$255 to $285

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Sep 25, 2021 –
Sep 26, 2021

$245

Enroll Now

Blairstown, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Sep 25, 2021 –
Sep 26, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

Cumming, GA
REI Outdoor School

Oct 2, 2021 –
Oct 3, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Oct 2, 2021 –
Oct 3, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Peekskill, NY
REI Outdoor School

Oct 2, 2021 –
Oct 3, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI Outdoor School

Oct 16, 2021 –
Oct 17, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

New York, NY
REI Outdoor School

Oct 16, 2021 –
Oct 17, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Phoenix, AZ
REI Outdoor School

Oct 23, 2021 –
Oct 24, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Parkton, MD
REI Outdoor School

Oct 23, 2021 –
Oct 24, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Kandersteg, Switzerland
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 25, 2021 –
Oct 27, 2021

$500

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Oct 30, 2021 –
Oct 31, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Santa Barbara, CA
REI Outdoor School

Nov 6, 2021 –
Nov 7, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Chattanooga, TN
REI Outdoor School

Nov 6, 2021 –
Nov 7, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

New York, NY
REI Outdoor School

Nov 6, 2021 –
Nov 7, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Chevy Chase, MD
REI Outdoor School

Nov 20, 2021 –
Nov 21, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

East Hanover, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Nov 20, 2021 –
Nov 21, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

Syöte, Finland
Crossing Latitudes

Nov 26, 2021 –
Nov 28, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Dec 4, 2021 –
Dec 5, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Phoenix, AZ
REI Outdoor School

Dec 11, 2021 –
Dec 12, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

Dec 11, 2021 –
Dec 12, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Topics Covered

  • Patient Assessment System
  • Evacuation Plans and Emergency Procedures
  • CPR (on some courses)
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Shock
  • Head Injuries
  • Wilderness Wound Management
  • Athletic Injuries
  • Fracture Management
  • Dislocations
  • Cold Injuries
  • Heat Illness
  • Altitude Illness
  • Lightning
  • The Medical Patient
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Wilderness First Aid Kits
Curriculum details

Financial aid & Scholarships

NOLS supports a variety of outside financial aid options:

  • AmeriCorps
  • 529 College Savings Plans
  • Veteran's Benefits (In Wyoming only)

If you are fluent in American Sign Language or Signed Exact English, you may be eligible to receive a full scholarship to your wilderness medicine course. 

 

"The staff was excellent, very knowledgeable, professional, and personable...with good communication skills. Handled and answered our questions well. The course gave real life examples of how to handle injuries in the wilderness."

Keep Your Certification Current

To keep up on your WFA certification, retake the course after two years.

 

Recertifying Other Certifications

The WFA may also be used to recertify your Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Wilderness First Responder and the wilderness portion of your Wilderness EMT certification. If you're using the WFA to recertify, you'll need to pass both a written and a practical examination.