A notice for families with students currently on a NOLS Expedition

Camera William Woodward

Wilderness First Aid

Duration

16 hours

Age

16+ yrs

Tuition

$210 to $550

See Dates

Prepare for the unexpected with this engaging, hands-on introduction to wilderness medicine, taught over two or two and a half days. If you like to take short trips relatively close to medical resources, work at wilderness camps, enjoy weekend family outdoor activities, or recreate outdoors, this course is for you.

This course is great for people of all experience levels, and is best suited for those who recreate outdoors where EMS response can be expected in a timely manner (fewer than eight hours). You'll learn the Patient Assessment System, how to provide effective first aid treatments for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors, and how to make appropriate 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

WFA Course Outline

COVID-19 Disclosure

WFA Course Overview

Student Agreement

Additional Details

Academic Credit (Learn more)
This course is approved for 1 college credit through the University of Utah and 0.5 college credit 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 Aid course (WILDMI-554), and when included the CPR/AED course (WILDMI-134), are 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

132 courses

Dates

Geolocation

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Aug 13, 2022 –
Aug 14, 2022

$350

In Progress

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Aug 13, 2022 –
Aug 14, 2022

$335

In Progress

McCall, ID
McCall Outdoor Science School

Aug 15, 2022 –
Aug 16, 2022

$244

4 spaces Enroll Now

Boise, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 16, 2022 –
Aug 17, 2022

$265

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Seekonk, MA
REI Northeast

Aug 20, 2022 –
Aug 21, 2022

$335

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

El Cerrito, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Aug 20, 2022 –
Aug 21, 2022

$350

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Aug 20, 2022 –
Aug 21, 2022

$350

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Boise, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 20, 2022 –
Aug 21, 2022

$265

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 22, 2022 –
Aug 23, 2022

$265

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Aug 27, 2022 –
Aug 28, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Sep 3, 2022 –
Sep 4, 2022

$350

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Colorado Springs, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Sep 3, 2022 –
Sep 4, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Raleigh, NC
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Sep 8, 2022 –
Sep 9, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$285

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Cedar Creek, TX
REI Southwest

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Riverside, CA
REI Southern California

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$350

5 spaces Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$325

Enroll Now

Pittsburgh, PA
REI Mid-Atlantic

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Triangle, VA
REI Mid-Atlantic

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$350

5 spaces Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Sep 17, 2022 –
Sep 18, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Sacramento, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Sep 17, 2022 –
Sep 18, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Sep 17, 2022 –
Sep 18, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Philipsburg, PA
Keystone Wilderness Medicine

Sep 17, 2022 –
Sep 18, 2022

$355

Enroll Now

Lincoln, MA
REI Northeast

Sep 17, 2022 –
Sep 18, 2022

$335

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Santa Barbara, CA
REI Southern California

Sep 24, 2022 –
Sep 25, 2022

$350

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

St. Paul, MN
Macalester College

Sep 24, 2022 –
Sep 25, 2022

$210 to $265

Enroll Now

Waycross, GA
Okefenokee Swamp Park

Sep 24, 2022 –
Sep 25, 2022

$275

Enroll Now

Blairstown, NJ
REI Tri-State

Sep 24, 2022 –
Sep 25, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Sep 24, 2022 –
Sep 25, 2022

$260 to $290

Enroll Now

Kobarid, Slovenia
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 3, 2022

$525

Enroll Now

Cumming, GA
REI Southeast

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Sacramento, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Goodyear, AZ
REI Southwest

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Fishkill, NY
REI Tri-State

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Midwest

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Jonsered, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 7, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Bozeman, MT
Headwaters Field Medicine

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$320

Enroll Now

Lincoln, MA
REI Northeast

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Madison, WI
University of Wisconsin - Outdoor UW

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$240 to $280

Enroll Now

Centennial, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Union, SC
Trail Blazer Survival School

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$265

Enroll Now

Baltimore, MD
REI Mid-Atlantic

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 16, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Fishkill, NY
REI Tri-State

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 16, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Oregon-Northern Rockies

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 16, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 16, 2022

$325

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 16, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Phoenix, AZ
REI Southwest

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Great Falls, VA
REI Mid-Atlantic

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Santa Cruz, CA
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$300

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Kandersteg, Switzerland
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 28, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$550

Enroll Now

Bigfork, MT
Idaho Rescue Training

Oct 29, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$295

Enroll Now

Santa Barbara, CA
REI Southern California

Oct 29, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Oct 29, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

East Hanover, NJ
REI Tri-State

Oct 29, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Des Moines, IA
Wander Women Iowa

Oct 29, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$285

Enroll Now

Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah

Oct 29, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$315

Enroll Now

Pudasjärvi, Finland
Crossing Latitudes

Nov 4, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

New Orleans, LA
Tulane University

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Monona, WI
Rutabaga Paddlesports

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$280

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Austin, TX
REI Southwest

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Bentonville, AR
37 North Expeditions

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$379

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Oregon-Northern Rockies

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Seekonk, MA
REI Northeast

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Goodyear, AZ
REI Southwest

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Fishkill, NY
REI Tri-State

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Golden, CO
Colorado School of Mines Outdoor Recreation Center

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$245

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$260 to $290

Enroll Now

Pueblo, CO
Colorado State University Pueblo

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

El Cerrito, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Baltimore, MD
REI Mid-Atlantic

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Lakewood, CO
Bondi Outdoor Leadership

Nov 19, 2022 –
Nov 20, 2022

$285

Enroll Now

Colorado Springs, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Nov 19, 2022 –
Nov 20, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Philipsburg, PA
Keystone Wilderness Medicine

Nov 19, 2022 –
Nov 20, 2022

$355

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Midwest

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Asheville, NC
REI Southeast

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$325

Enroll Now

Brooklyn, NY
REI Tri-State

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Oregon-Northern Rockies

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Phoenix, AZ
REI Southwest

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

San Diego, CA
REI Southern California

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Centennial, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Accokeek, MD
REI Mid-Atlantic

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$325

Enroll Now

Sacramento, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Seekonk, MA
REI Northeast

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Terlingua, TX
Far Flung Outdoor Center

Jan 5, 2023 –
Jan 6, 2023

$325

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Jan 21, 2023 –
Jan 22, 2023

$325

Enroll Now

Columbia, SC
Heathwood Hall

Jan 21, 2023 –
Jan 22, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Jan 28, 2023 –
Jan 29, 2023

$285 to $335

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Jan 28, 2023 –
Jan 29, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Bozeman, MT
Headwaters Field Medicine

Feb 11, 2023 –
Feb 12, 2023

$320

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Feb 11, 2023 –
Feb 12, 2023

$325

Enroll Now

Stateline, NV
Tahoe Rim Trail Association

Feb 25, 2023 –
Feb 26, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Arden, NC
Landmark Learning

Mar 4, 2023 –
Mar 5, 2023

$285

Enroll Now

Berkeley, CA
Cal Adventures

Mar 11, 2023 –
Mar 12, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Boise, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Mar 11, 2023 –
Mar 12, 2023

$295

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Mar 25, 2023 –
Mar 26, 2023

$285 to $315

Enroll Now

Arcata, CA
Cal Poly Humboldt Center Activities

Apr 8, 2023 –
Apr 9, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Madison, WI
University of Wisconsin - Outdoor UW

Apr 15, 2023 –
Apr 16, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Bozeman, MT
Headwaters Field Medicine

Apr 15, 2023 –
Apr 16, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Apr 15, 2023 –
Apr 16, 2023

$325

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Apr 22, 2023 –
Apr 23, 2023

$295

Enroll Now

Canfield, OH
ECO EdVentures/ Environmental Collaborative

Apr 29, 2023 –
Apr 30, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Apr 29, 2023 –
Apr 30, 2023

$285 to $335

Enroll Now

Stateline, NV
Tahoe Rim Trail Association

Apr 30, 2023 –
May 1, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Berkeley, CA
Cal Adventures

May 6, 2023 –
May 7, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

May 6, 2023 –
May 7, 2023

$325

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

May 13, 2023 –
May 14, 2023

$285 to $315

Enroll Now

Florissant, CO
Sanborn Western Camps

May 16, 2023 –
May 17, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Arden, NC
Landmark Learning

May 27, 2023 –
May 28, 2023

$285

Enroll Now

Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah

May 27, 2023 –
May 28, 2023

$315

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Jun 3, 2023 –
Jun 4, 2023

$325

Enroll Now

Sun Valley, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Jun 10, 2023 –
Jun 11, 2023

$295

Enroll Now

Arcata, CA
Cal Poly Humboldt Center Activities

Aug 5, 2023 –
Aug 6, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Sep 9, 2023 –
Sep 10, 2023

$295

Enroll Now

Topics Covered

  • Patient Assessment System
  • Evacuation Plans and Emergency Procedures
  • CPR (on some courses)
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Shock
  • Head Injuries
  • Wilderness Wound Management
  • Athletic Injuries
  • Fracture Management
  • Dislocations
  • Cold Injuries
  • Heat Illness
  • Altitude Illness
  • Lightning
  • The Medical Patient
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Wilderness 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. 

 

"The staff was excellent, very knowledgeable, professional, and personable...with good communication skills. Handled and answered our questions well. The course gave real life examples of how to handle injuries in the wilderness."

Keep Your Certification Current

To keep up on your WFA certification, retake the course after two years.

 

Recertifying Other Certifications

The WFA may also be used to recertify your Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Wilderness First Responder and the wilderness portion of your Wilderness EMT certification. If you're using the WFA to recertify, you'll need to pass both a written and a practical examination.