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Wilderness First Responder

Duration

80 hours

Age

16+ yrs

Tuition

$550 to $9,900

Learn about Financial Aid & Scholarships

See Dates

If you work or recreate in the outdoors or in other austere environments where access to medical care is delayed or communication is unreliable, our 9-10 day Wilderness First Responder course is for you! It is the industry standard for professional guides, trip leaders, search and rescue team members, outdoor recreationists, and international travelers.

Upon completion, you will be able to conduct a thorough physical exam, obtain a patient history, assess vital signs, provide emergency care in the wilderness, and make crucial 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. 

Also see dates for our Hybrid Wilderness First Responder courses.

Links/Downloads

WFR Course Outline

COVID-19 Disclosure

WFR Course Overview

Student Agreement

Additional Details

Continuing Education (Learn More)
This course is pre-approved for 70 hours of EMT Continuing Education Hours by the Commission on Accreditation of Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE).

This course has been approved for Fellowship of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) credits through the Wilderness Medical Society. Actual credits awarded depend on personal credit needs and history. 

Academic Credit (Learn more)
This course is approved for 3 college credits through the University of Utah and 3 college credits 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 Responder course (WILDMI-555) is 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

76 courses

Dates

Geolocation

Ranikhet, India
NOLS India

Sep 30, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$550

Enroll Now

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Sep 30, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$900

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Oct 4, 2022 –
Oct 13, 2022

$850

2 spaces Enroll Now

Kandersteg, Switzerland
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 12, 2022 –
Oct 22, 2022

$1,600

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$825 to $960

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$875

5 spaces Enroll Now

Gardiner, MT
Yellowstone Forever

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 31, 2022

$975

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Oct 24, 2022 –
Nov 2, 2022

$845

Enroll Now

Reykjavik, Iceland
Icelandic Mountain Guides

Oct 25, 2022 –
Nov 3, 2022

TBA

1 space Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Nov 4, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$875

Enroll Now

Jackson, WY
Teton Science Schools

Nov 7, 2022 –
Nov 16, 2022

$1,045 to $1,885

Enroll Now

Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute

Nov 13, 2022 –
Nov 22, 2022

$975

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Nov 29, 2022 –
Dec 8, 2022

$850

Enroll Now

Midpines, CA
Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort

Nov 29, 2022 –
Dec 8, 2022

$903 to $2,433

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Dec 2, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$875

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Dec 2, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$845

Enroll Now

McCall, ID
McCall Outdoor Science School

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 12, 2022

$765

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Dec 9, 2022 –
Dec 18, 2022

$900

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Dec 9, 2022 –
Dec 18, 2022

$800 to $850

Enroll Now

Santa Cruz, CA
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 19, 2022

$945

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 18, 2022

$825 to $1,050

Enroll Now

Tampa, FL
University of South Florida - Tampa

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 18, 2022

$750

Enroll Now

Greensboro, NC
Landmark Learning

Dec 12, 2022 –
Dec 20, 2022

$850

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Dec 30, 2022 –
Jan 8, 2023

$800 to $850

Enroll Now

Berkeley, CA
Cal Adventures

Jan 3, 2023 –
Jan 12, 2023

$795

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
CSU Outdoor Program

Jan 3, 2023 –
Jan 12, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Arcata, CA
Cal Poly Humboldt Center Activities

Jan 3, 2023 –
Jan 12, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Apopka (Orlando area), FL
Lewis and Clark College

Jan 4, 2023 –
Jan 13, 2023

$850 to $1,100

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Jan 5, 2023 –
Jan 14, 2023

$895

Enroll Now

Greenfield, MA
Greenfield Community College

Jan 6, 2023 –
Jan 15, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Walla Walla, WA
Whitman College

Jan 6, 2023 –
Jan 15, 2023

$700 to $800

Enroll Now

Boone, NC
Appalachian State University - Outdoor Programs

Jan 7, 2023 –
Jan 15, 2023

$670 to $875

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Jan 7, 2023 –
Jan 15, 2023

$875 to $1,100

Enroll Now

Madison, WI
University of Wisconsin - Outdoor UW

Jan 9, 2023 –
Jan 18, 2023

$820 to $900

Enroll Now

Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado College

Jan 16, 2023 –
Jan 25, 2023

$755 to $790

Enroll Now

Salisbury, MD
Salisbury University

Jan 18, 2023 –
Jan 27, 2023

$825

Enroll Now

Reykjavik, Iceland
Icelandic Mountain Guides

Feb 1, 2023 –
Feb 10, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Fossil, OR
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Feb 8, 2023 –
Feb 17, 2023

$1,020 to $1,165

Enroll Now

Kathmandu, Nepal
Idaho Rescue Training

Feb 8, 2023 –
Feb 17, 2023

$725 to $1,195

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Feb 10, 2023 –
Feb 19, 2023

$895

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Feb 18, 2023 –
Feb 26, 2023

$875 to $1,100

Enroll Now

Midpines, CA
Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort

Feb 21, 2023 –
Mar 2, 2023

$903 to $2,433

Enroll Now

Ranikhet, India
NOLS India

Feb 24, 2023 –
Mar 5, 2023

$550

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Feb 24, 2023 –
Mar 5, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

La Paz, Mexico
NOLS Mexico

Feb 25, 2023 –
Mar 6, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Coeur D Alene, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Mar 4, 2023 –
Mar 12, 2023

$945

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Mar 4, 2023 –
Mar 12, 2023

$875 to $1,100

Enroll Now

Walla Walla, WA
Whitman College

Mar 11, 2023 –
Mar 20, 2023

$700 to $800

Enroll Now

Durango, CO
Fort Lewis College - Outdoor Pursuits

Mar 18, 2023 –
Mar 26, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Mar 18, 2023 –
Mar 26, 2023

$875 to $1,100

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Mar 24, 2023 –
Apr 2, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
Portland State University

Mar 25, 2023 –
Apr 2, 2023

$700 to $800

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Apr 1, 2023 –
Apr 9, 2023

$895

Enroll Now

Everest Base Camp, Nepal
Idaho Rescue Training

Apr 1, 2023 –
Apr 26, 2023

$9,900

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Apr 4, 2023 –
Apr 13, 2023

$850

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Apr 8, 2023 –
Apr 16, 2023

$875 to $1,100

Enroll Now

Flåm, Norway
Crossing Latitudes

Apr 12, 2023 –
Apr 22, 2023

$1,600

Enroll Now

Santiago, Chile
NOLS Patagonia

Apr 14, 2023 –
Apr 23, 2023

$687.50

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Apr 21, 2023 –
Apr 30, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
Lewis and Clark College

May 8, 2023 –
May 17, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

May 9, 2023 –
May 18, 2023

$860

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

May 13, 2023 –
May 21, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

May 13, 2023 –
May 22, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
CSU Outdoor Program

May 16, 2023 –
May 25, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

May 16, 2023 –
May 24, 2023

$895

Enroll Now

Arcata, CA
Cal Poly Humboldt Center Activities

May 17, 2023 –
May 26, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Reykjavik, Iceland
Icelandic Mountain Guides

May 30, 2023 –
Jun 8, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Juniper Flats Outdoor Education

Jun 17, 2023 –
Jun 26, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Riau Islands, Indonesia
Island Connections International/Telunas Beach Resort

Jul 3, 2023 –
Jul 11, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Sun Valley, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Jul 7, 2023 –
Jul 16, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
CSU Outdoor Program

Jul 18, 2023 –
Jul 27, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Aug 11, 2023 –
Aug 20, 2023

$895

Enroll Now

Reykjavik, Iceland
Icelandic Mountain Guides

Oct 31, 2023 –
Nov 9, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Nov 3, 2023 –
Nov 12, 2023

$895

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Dec 1, 2023 –
Dec 10, 2023

$895

Enroll Now

Reykjavik, Iceland
Icelandic Mountain Guides

Feb 13, 2024 –
Feb 22, 2024

TBA

Enroll Now

Topics Covered

  • Patient Assessment System
  • Documentation
  • Medical Legal
  • CPR
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Long-term Patient Care
  • Chest Injuries
  • Shock
  • Head Injuries
  • Wilderness Wound Management
  • Athletic Injuries
  • Fracture Management and Traction Splinting
  • Dislocations
  • Cold Injuries
  • Heat Illness
  • Altitude Illness
  • Cardiac, Respiratory and Neurological Emergencies
  • Abdominal Emergencies
  • Mental Health Emergencies
  • Bites, Stings and Poisoning
  • Allergies and Anaphylaxis
  • Diabetes
  • Search and Rescue
  • Leadership, Teamwork, and Communication
  • Communicable Disease
  • Lightning
  • Submersion
  • Urinary and Reproductive System Issues
  • Medical Decision Making
  • Common Wilderness Medical Problems
  • Wilderness Drug and 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. 

Keep Your Certification Current

Your Wilderness First Responder certification will be current for two years. Recertify your course with a WFR Recert or Hybrid WFR Recert course, or look into our WAFA and WFA courses for other recertification options.

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