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Wilderness First Responder

Duration

80 hours

Age

16+ yrs

Tuition

$560 to $1,685

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. 

Links/Downloads

WFR Course Outline

COVID-19 Disclosure

COVID-19 Video

WFR Course Overview

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).

If you're an active member of the Wilderness Medical Society, you may earn up to 55 hours of credit towards a Fellowship of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) with this course. Check with the Wilderness Medical Society for your personal credit details.
 

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

106 courses

Dates

Geolocation

Girdwood, AK
Ready SF

Oct 2, 2020 –
Oct 11, 2020

$790

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Oct 9, 2020 –
Oct 18, 2020

$785

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Oct 10, 2020 –
Oct 18, 2020

$795 to $1,020

1 space Enroll Now

Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Daniel Zacks

Oct 12, 2020 –
Oct 21, 2020

$800

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Kandersteg, Switzerland
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 12, 2020 –
Oct 22, 2020

$1,400

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Oct 16, 2020 –
Oct 25, 2020

$790

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Jackson, WY
Teton Science Schools

Oct 19, 2020 –
Oct 28, 2020

$985 to $1,685

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Oct 20, 2020 –
Oct 29, 2020

$800

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Oct 26, 2020 –
Nov 4, 2020

$750

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Moab, UT
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Nov 2, 2020 –
Nov 11, 2020

$795

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Sandy, OR
Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center

Nov 6, 2020 –
Nov 15, 2020

$995

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Nov 6, 2020 –
Nov 15, 2020

$785

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Bishop, CA
Sierra Mountain Center

Nov 10, 2020 –
Nov 19, 2020

$830

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Reykjavik, Iceland
Icelandic Mountain Guides

Nov 24, 2020 –
Dec 3, 2020

TBA

Enroll Now

Midpines, CA
Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort

Dec 1, 2020 –
Dec 10, 2020

$812 to $938

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Dec 1, 2020 –
Dec 10, 2020

TBA

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Dec 2, 2020 –
Dec 11, 2020

$750

Enroll Now

Tampa, FL
University of South Florida - Tampa

Dec 5, 2020 –
Dec 13, 2020

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Dec 5, 2020 –
Dec 13, 2020

TBA

Enroll Now

Boone, NC
Appalachian State University - Outdoor Programs

Dec 10, 2020 –
Dec 18, 2020

$560 to $795

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Eugene, OR
City of Eugene

Dec 11, 2020 –
Dec 20, 2020

$775

Enroll Now

San Francisco, CA
Ready SF

Dec 11, 2020 –
Dec 20, 2020

$790

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Dec 12, 2020 –
Dec 20, 2020

$795 to $1,020

1 space Enroll Now

Golden, CO
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Dec 14, 2020 –
Dec 22, 2020

$775

1 space Enroll Now

Golden, CO
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Dec 27, 2020 –
Jan 5, 2021

$775

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Jan 2, 2021 –
Jan 10, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
CSU Outdoor Program

Jan 2, 2021 –
Jan 10, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Asheville, NC
Landmark Learning

Jan 2, 2021 –
Jan 10, 2021

$795 to $920

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
Regis University

Jan 2, 2021 –
Jan 10, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Hudson , WI
YMCA Camp St. Croix

Jan 2, 2021 –
Jan 11, 2021

$799 to $1,001

Enroll Now

San Francisco, CA
Ready SF

Jan 4, 2021 –
Jan 13, 2021

$790

Enroll Now

Nurmijärvi, Finland
Crossing Latitudes

Jan 4, 2021 –
Jan 14, 2021

$1,165

Enroll Now

Arcata, CA
Humboldt State University

Jan 5, 2021 –
Jan 14, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Incline Village, NV
Sierra Nevada College

Jan 5, 2021 –
Jan 14, 2021

$735

Enroll Now

Tucson, AZ
NOLS Southwest

Jan 8, 2021 –
Jan 17, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Austin, TX
University of Texas at Austin

Jan 8, 2021 –
Jan 17, 2021

$775

Enroll Now

Greenfield, MA
Greenfield Community College

Jan 8, 2021 –
Jan 17, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Brevard, NC
Brevard College

Jan 23, 2021 –
Jan 31, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Golden, CO
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Jan 26, 2021 –
Feb 4, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Jan 26, 2021 –
Feb 4, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Leavenworth, WA
Wilderness Medicine Northwest

Feb 2, 2021 –
Feb 10, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Kathmandu, Nepal
Idaho Rescue Training

Feb 3, 2021 –
Feb 12, 2021

$1,190

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Feb 12, 2021 –
Feb 21, 2021

$790

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Feb 12, 2021 –
Feb 21, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Feb 13, 2021 –
Feb 21, 2021

$795 to $1,020

Enroll Now

Fossil, OR
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Feb 15, 2021 –
Feb 24, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Midpines, CA
Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort

Feb 22, 2021 –
Mar 3, 2021

$812 to $938

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Feb 26, 2021 –
Mar 7, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah

Mar 5, 2021 –
Mar 14, 2021

$815

Enroll Now

Talkeetna, AK
Alaska Avalanche School

Mar 6, 2021 –
Mar 14, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Coeur d’Alene, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Mar 6, 2021 –
Mar 14, 2021

$765

Enroll Now

Spearfish, SD
Black Hills State University Outdoor Program

Mar 6, 2021 –
Mar 14, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Mar 6, 2021 –
Mar 14, 2021

$795 to $1,020

Enroll Now

Gunnison, CO
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Mar 13, 2021 –
Mar 21, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Mar 13, 2021 –
Mar 21, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Mar 19, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

$790

Enroll Now

Eugene, OR
City of Eugene

Mar 19, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Boise, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Walla Walla, WA
Whitman College

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
Portland State University

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

$650 to $750

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

$795 to $1,020

Enroll Now

Berkeley, CA
Cal Adventures

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Golden, CO
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Apr 3, 2021 –
Apr 12, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$795 to $1,020

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Flåm, Norway
Crossing Latitudes

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 20, 2021

$1,400

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Apr 13, 2021 –
Apr 22, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Bishop, CA
Sierra Mountain Center

Apr 13, 2021 –
Apr 22, 2021

$830

Enroll Now

Santiago, Chile
NOLS Patagonia

Apr 14, 2021 –
Apr 23, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Chelan, WA
Holden Village

Apr 15, 2021 –
Apr 24, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Apr 23, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Reykjavik, Iceland
Icelandic Mountain Guides

Apr 27, 2021 –
May 5, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Girdwood, AK
Ready SF

May 3, 2021 –
May 12, 2021

$790

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
CSU Outdoor Program

May 3, 2021 –
May 12, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
Regis University

May 3, 2021 –
May 12, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

May 4, 2021 –
May 13, 2021

$765

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

May 7, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah

May 8, 2021 –
May 17, 2021

$815

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

May 8, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$795 to $1,020

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

May 13, 2021 –
May 22, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Golden, CO
Colorado School of Mines Outdoor Recreation Center

May 17, 2021 –
May 26, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Arcata, CA
Humboldt State University

May 18, 2021 –
May 27, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

San Francisco, CA
Ready SF

May 21, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$790

Enroll Now

Salisbury, MD
Salisbury University

May 26, 2021 –
Jun 4, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Jun 4, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute

Jun 8, 2021 –
Jun 17, 2021

$715 to $790

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Jul 9, 2021 –
Jul 18, 2021

$765

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Jul 9, 2021 –
Jul 18, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Jul 10, 2021 –
Jul 18, 2021

$795 to $1,020

Enroll Now

Santiago, Chile
NOLS Patagonia

Jul 21, 2021 –
Jul 30, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Austin, TX
University of Texas at Austin

Jul 23, 2021 –
Aug 1, 2021

$775

Enroll Now

TBD, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Jul 23, 2021 –
Aug 1, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Jul 23, 2021 –
Aug 1, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Aug 6, 2021 –
Aug 15, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Gunnison, CO
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Aug 6, 2021 –
Aug 15, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Aug 14, 2021 –
Aug 22, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Ogden, UT
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 28, 2021 –
Sep 6, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Oct 1, 2021 –
Oct 10, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Oct 25, 2021 –
Nov 3, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Nov 6, 2021 –
Nov 14, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Dec 1, 2021 –
Dec 10, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

McCall , ID
McCall Outdoor Science School

Dec 3, 2021 –
Dec 12, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Dec 3, 2021 –
Dec 12, 2021

$795

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Dec 10, 2021 –
Dec 19, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Dec 27, 2021 –
Jan 5, 2022

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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