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Wilderness First Responder

Duration

80 hours

Age

16+ yrs

Tuition

$540 to $10,500

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

71 courses

Dates

Geolocation

Bellingham, WA
Mountain Rescue Institute

Jun 29, 2022 –
Jul 8, 2022

$825

5 spaces Enroll Now

Sun Valley, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Jul 8, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$795

4 spaces Enroll Now

Pasadena, CA
REI Southern California

Jul 8, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$945

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Jul 8, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$900

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Jul 8, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$800 to $850

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Jul 9, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$825

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
CSU Outdoor Program

Jul 20, 2022 –
Jul 28, 2022

$675 to $775

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Jul 22, 2022 –
Jul 30, 2022

$800 to $850

1 space Enroll Now

Allenspark, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Jul 22, 2022 –
Jul 31, 2022

$825

Enroll Now

Austin, TX
University of Texas at Austin

Jul 29, 2022 –
Aug 7, 2022

$795

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Gunnison, CO
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Aug 5, 2022 –
Aug 14, 2022

$845

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Aug 5, 2022 –
Aug 14, 2022

$800 to $850

3 spaces Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Aug 5, 2022 –
Aug 14, 2022

$900

Enroll Now

Fayetteville, AR
37 North Expeditions

Aug 6, 2022 –
Aug 14, 2022

$999

Enroll Now

Banner Elk, NC
Lees McRae College

Aug 6, 2022 –
Aug 14, 2022

$540 to $825

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Aug 12, 2022 –
Aug 21, 2022

$845

5 spaces Enroll Now

Accokeek, MD
REI Mid-Atlantic

Aug 19, 2022 –
Aug 28, 2022

$945

Enroll Now

Easton, WA
Mountain Rescue Institute

Aug 22, 2022 –
Aug 31, 2022

$825

Enroll Now

Tahoe City, CA
Elevation Maritime LLC

Aug 27, 2022 –
Sep 5, 2022

$845

Enroll Now

Ogden, UT
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 27, 2022 –
Sep 5, 2022

$830

Enroll Now

Tessuque, NM
The Mountain Center

Sep 2, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$890

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Sep 3, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$825 to $1,050

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Sep 16, 2022 –
Sep 25, 2022

$900

Enroll Now

Kobarid, Slovenia
Crossing Latitudes

Sep 20, 2022 –
Sep 30, 2022

$1,250

Enroll Now

Thoreau, NM
Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions

Sep 23, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$775

Enroll Now

Ridgway, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Sep 27, 2022 –
Oct 6, 2022

$825

Enroll Now

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

$800

Enroll Now

Kandersteg, Switzerland
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 12, 2022 –
Oct 22, 2022

$1,600

Enroll Now

Sylva, NC
Landmark Learning

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$825 to $960

Enroll Now

Gardiner, MT
Yellowstone Forever

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 31, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$875

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

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

TBA

Enroll Now

Midpines, CA
Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort

Nov 29, 2022 –
Dec 8, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Nov 29, 2022 –
Dec 8, 2022

$800

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

TBA

Enroll Now

McCall, ID
McCall Outdoor Science School

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 12, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Santa Cruz, CA
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Dec 9, 2022 –
Dec 18, 2022

$945

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

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

TBA

Enroll Now

Greensboro, NC
Landmark Learning

Dec 12, 2022 –
Dec 20, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Golden, CO
Colorado School of Mines Outdoor Recreation Center

Dec 27, 2022 –
Jan 5, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Bainbridge Island, WA
IslandWood

Dec 27, 2022 –
Jan 5, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Dec 30, 2022 –
Jan 8, 2023

$800 to $850

Enroll Now

Apopka (Orlando area), FL
Lewis and Clark College

Jan 4, 2023 –
Jan 13, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

,

Jan 5, 2023 –
Jan 14, 2023

$875

Enroll Now

Walla Walla, WA
Whitman College

Jan 6, 2023 –
Jan 15, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Madison, WI
University of Wisconsin - Outdoor UW

Jan 9, 2023 –
Jan 18, 2023

$820 to $900

Enroll Now

Reykjavik, Iceland
Icelandic Mountain Guides

Feb 1, 2023 –
Feb 10, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Kathmandu, Nepal
Idaho Rescue Training

Feb 8, 2023 –
Feb 17, 2023

$725 to $1,195

Enroll Now

,

Feb 10, 2023 –
Feb 19, 2023

$875

Enroll Now

Midpines, CA
Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort

Feb 21, 2023 –
Mar 2, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Ranikhet, India
NOLS India

Feb 24, 2023 –
Mar 5, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

La Paz, Mexico
NOLS Mexico

Feb 25, 2023 –
Mar 6, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Walla Walla, WA
Whitman College

Mar 11, 2023 –
Mar 20, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
Portland State University

Mar 25, 2023 –
Apr 2, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Everest Base Camp, Nepal
Idaho Rescue Training

Apr 1, 2023 –
Apr 26, 2023

$10,500

Enroll Now

,

Apr 1, 2023 –
Apr 9, 2023

$875

Enroll Now

Santiago, Chile
NOLS Patagonia

Apr 14, 2023 –
Apr 23, 2023

$687.50

Enroll Now

,

May 16, 2023 –
May 24, 2023

$875

Enroll Now

,

Aug 11, 2023 –
Aug 20, 2023

$875

Enroll Now

,

Nov 3, 2023 –
Nov 12, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

,

Dec 1, 2023 –
Dec 10, 2023

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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