A Wilderness EMT student stands in front of a helicopter at the NOLS Wyss Campus.
Camera Andy Burdin

Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician

Duration

200 hours

Age

18+ yrs

Tuition

$4,890

See Dates

 

Learn both wilderness medicine and urban medical care practices in this intensive, month-long program.

After four weeks of classroom education, practical skills, scenarios, and full-scale mock rescues, you'll be ready to handle medical emergencies, in the wilderness or in town. You'll earn both your EMT and your Wilderness EMT certifications, preparing you to work on an ambulance, for an outdoor organization, or a land management agency.

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 Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (EMT plus Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals Format) courses.

Additional Details

Continuing Education (Learn More)

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 9 college credits through the University of Utah and 6 college credits through Western Colorado University.

Course Dates

13 courses

Dates

Geolocation

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Nov 25, 2024 –
Dec 20, 2024

$4,890

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Jan 6, 2025 –
Jan 31, 2025

$4,890

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Jan 27, 2025 –
Feb 21, 2025

$4,890

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Feb 17, 2025 –
Mar 14, 2025

$4,890

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Mar 31, 2025 –
Apr 25, 2025

$4,890

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Apr 21, 2025 –
May 16, 2025

$4,890

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

May 5, 2025 –
May 30, 2025

$4,890

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

May 19, 2025 –
Jun 13, 2025

$4,890

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Jun 2, 2025 –
Jun 27, 2025

$4,890

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Jun 16, 2025 –
Jul 11, 2025

$4,890

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Jun 30, 2025 –
Jul 25, 2025

$4,890

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Jul 21, 2025 –
Aug 15, 2025

$4,890

Lander, WY
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Aug 4, 2025 –
Aug 29, 2025

$4,890

Topics Covered

  • Introduction to Emergency Care & Training
  • Medical Legal Issues
  • Patient Assessment System
  • Documentation
  • Airway Obstruction & Respiratory Arrest
  • O2 Therapy
  • Bleeding & Shock
  • CPR
  • CPR Considerations for the Remote Environment
  • Chest Trauma
  • Common Wilderness Medical Problems
  • Central Nervous System
  • Lifting and Moving
  • C-Collars
  • Back Board and KED Board
  • Litter Packaging
  • Backcountry Spinal Assessment
  • Head Injuries
  • Soft Tissue Injuries
  • Wilderness Wound Management
  • Athletic Injuries
  • Fracture Management
  • Traction Splints
  • Dislocations
  • Cold Injuries
  • Heat & Hydration Illnesses
  • Cardiac, Respiratory and Neurological Emergencies
  • Diabetes
  • Abdominal Emergencies
  • Poisoning
  • Triage
  • Multiple Casualty Incidents
  • Incident Command System
  • Leadership, Teamwork & Communication
  • Medical Decision-making
  • Disturbances of Behavior
  • Alcohol & Drug Emergencies
  • Communicable Disease
  • Lightning
  • North American Bites & Stings
  • Allergies and Anaphylaxis
  • Altitude Illness
  • Submersion
  • Cold Water Immersion
  • SCUBA Diving Injuries
  • Geriatrics
  • Emergency Childbirth
  • Infants and Children
  • Urinary and Reproductive System Issues
  • Search and Rescue
  • Emergency Contingency Plans & Team Preparedness
  • Litter Improvisation
  • Long Term Patient Care
  • Ambulance Operations
  • Radio Communication Skills
  • Critical Incident Stress
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Wilderness Drug and First Aid Kits
  • Practical Skills Exam
  • NREMT Written Testing

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Partial scholarships are available for WEMT courses. You can also use your AmeriCorps education award for the WEMT with college credit. NOLS Wilderness Medicine can process Veterans Benefits for Wyoming-based WEMT courses.

Learn More

“I specifically chose to take my Wilderness EMT through NOLS Wilderness Medicine because of the high quality of education I received during my Wilderness First Responder with them. I firmly believe my education has helped in my profession and with my confidence in the medical field. I will be a lifelong advocate of NOLS.”

- Molly K., WEMT, Caldwell, Wildfire Crew, National Park Service

Credit: Madhu Chikkaraju

KEEP YOUR CERTIFICATION CURRENT

A great option for recertifying the wilderness portion of your Wilderness EMT is NOLS Wilderness Medicine's  Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals course (WUMP). This is the best choice if you are also seeking to maximize Continuing Education Units. 

You may also recertify the wilderness portion of your Wilderness EMT with a Wilderness First Responder Recertification, Hybrid Wilderness First Responder Recertification, Wilderness Advanced First Aid, or Wilderness First Aid course. 

As a service to our graduates, we provide links to EMT Refresher Training Programs (RTP) offered by some long-term partners. These intensive courses are taught over 2 to 3 days, and they may be used to fulfill the requirements for taking an urban refresher course as established by the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT). Please check with the course host and your state EMS office to determine if the course will meet your state’s requirements.

More Courses

FAQs

  • Is a Wilderness EMT certification worth it?

    Yes, WEMT is worth it for EMTs who work in or aspire to work in wilderness and remote environments. The specialized training enhances your ability to provide emergency care in challenging remote, austere, or wilderness conditions, expanding your professional opportunities and preparedness.

  • What is the difference between EMT and Wilderness EMT?

    An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is trained to provide emergency medical care in urban and suburban environments, with quick access to advanced medical facilities. A Wilderness EMT (WEMT) has additional training to handle medical emergencies in remote and wilderness settings. Wilderness EMTs learn to improvise with limited resources, manage prolonged patient care, and make decisions about delayed evacuations. The training bridges the gap between urban emergency care and wilderness medicine.


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