Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT)
Nationwide, EMS programs have a 65-75% first-time pass rate on the NREMT exam.
Across the last decade, NOLS students have a 90-95% first-time pass rate.
Top-level ski patrols, professional SAR teams, the Wildland Fire community, and disaster relief agencies prefer the WEMT certification.
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.
Resources & Downloads
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.
Duration
200 hours
Age
18+ yrs
Tuition
$4,890 to $4,988
9 College Credits
- 9 Credits
Certifications
- Epinephrine Auto-injector
- Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician
- Emergency Medical Technician
Start/End
Varies
Fly In/Out
Varies
Course Session Dates
Sep 28, 2026 - Oct 23, 2026
Lander, WY
TBA View Session
Oct 12, 2026 - Nov 6, 2026
Lander, WY
TBA View Session
Oct 26, 2026 - Nov 20, 2026
Lander, WY
TBA View Session
Nov 9, 2026 - Dec 4, 2026
Lander, WY
TBA View Session
Nov 23, 2026 - Dec 18, 2026
Lander, WY
TBA View Session
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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
Keep Your WEMT Certification Current
A great option for recertifying the wilderness portion of your Wilderness EMT is NOLS Wilderness Medicine’s Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals (WUMP) course. 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.
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.
