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Wilderness First Responder

Duration

80 hours

Age

16+ yrs

Tuition

$540 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 Overview

COVID-19 Video

COVID-19 Disclosure

WFR Course Outline

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 State 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

64 courses

Dates

Geolocation

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Aug 13, 2020 –
Aug 21, 2020

$785

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Golden, CO
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Aug 17, 2020 –
Aug 25, 2020

$775

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Aug 18, 2020 –
Aug 27, 2020

$790

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Willsboro (Adirondacks), NY
Wilderness Rescue Training

Aug 20, 2020 –
Aug 28, 2020

$695 to $1,095

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Brevard, NC
Brevard College

Aug 29, 2020 –
Sep 6, 2020

$795

Enroll Now

Ogden, UT
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 29, 2020 –
Sep 7, 2020

$765

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Sep 5, 2020 –
Sep 13, 2020

$795 to $1,020

4 spaces Enroll Now

Crested Butte, CO
Irwin Guides

Sep 14, 2020 –
Sep 23, 2020

$730

4 spaces Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Sep 16, 2020 –
Sep 25, 2020

$750

Enroll Now

Conway, WA
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Sep 18, 2020 –
Sep 27, 2020

$800 to $950

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Parkdale, OR
Renee Jenkinson/Pacific Wilds

Sep 18, 2020 –
Sep 27, 2020

$795

Enroll Now

Kobarid, Slovenia
Crossing Latitudes

Sep 28, 2020 –
Oct 8, 2020

$1,000

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Oct 2, 2020 –
Oct 11, 2020

$765 to $800

Enroll Now

Girdwood, AK
Ready SF

Oct 2, 2020 –
Oct 11, 2020

$790

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Oct 9, 2020 –
Oct 18, 2020

$785

Enroll Now

San Diego, CA
REI Outdoor School

Oct 9, 2020 –
Oct 18, 2020

$765 to $800

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Oct 10, 2020 –
Oct 18, 2020

$795 to $1,020

Enroll Now

Kandersteg, Switzerland
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 12, 2020 –
Oct 22, 2020

$1,400

Enroll Now

Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Daniel Zacks

Oct 12, 2020 –
Oct 21, 2020

$800

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Oct 16, 2020 –
Oct 25, 2020

$790

Enroll Now

Jackson, WY
Teton Science Schools

Oct 19, 2020 –
Oct 28, 2020

$985 to $1,685

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

Enroll Now

Moab, UT
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Nov 2, 2020 –
Nov 11, 2020

$795

Enroll Now

Jawbone Flats, 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

Enroll Now

Olympic National Park, WA
NatureBridge in Olympic National Park

Nov 9, 2020 –
Nov 18, 2020

$540 to $795

Enroll Now

Bishop, CA
Sierra Mountain Center

Nov 10, 2020 –
Nov 19, 2020

TBA

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

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Dec 2, 2020 –
Dec 11, 2020

$750

Enroll Now

McCall , ID
McCall Outdoor Science School

Dec 4, 2020 –
Dec 13, 2020

TBA

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

TBA

Enroll Now

Eugene, OR
City of Eugene

Dec 11, 2020 –
Dec 20, 2020

$775

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Outdoor School

Dec 11, 2020 –
Dec 20, 2020

$765 to $800

Enroll Now

San Francisco, CA
Ready SF

Dec 11, 2020 –
Dec 20, 2020

$790

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Dec 12, 2020 –
Dec 20, 2020

$725 to $775

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Dec 12, 2020 –
Dec 20, 2020

$795 to $1,020

Enroll Now

Willsboro (Adirondacks), NY
Wilderness Rescue Training

Dec 15, 2020 –
Dec 23, 2020

$735 to $1,095

Enroll Now

Boulder, CO
University of Colorado-Boulder

Dec 27, 2020 –
Jan 5, 2021

$725 to $775

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Jan 2, 2021 –
Jan 10, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Asheville, NC
Landmark Learning

Jan 2, 2021 –
Jan 10, 2021

$795 to $920

Enroll Now

Incline Village, NV
Sierra Nevada College

Jan 5, 2021 –
Jan 14, 2021

$735

Enroll Now

Walla Walla, WA
Whitman College

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

Tucson, AZ
NOLS Southwest

Jan 22, 2021 –
Jan 31, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Kathmandu, Nepal
Idaho Rescue Training

Feb 3, 2021 –
Feb 12, 2021

$1,190

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

Spearfish, SD
Black Hills State University Outdoor Program

Mar 6, 2021 –
Mar 14, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Walla Walla, WA
Whitman College

Mar 13, 2021 –
Mar 21, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
Portland State University

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

$650 to $750

Enroll Now

Flåm, Norway
Crossing Latitudes

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 20, 2021

$1,400

Enroll Now

Bishop, CA
Sierra Mountain Center

Apr 13, 2021 –
Apr 22, 2021

$830

Enroll Now

Santiago, Chile
NOLS Patagonia

Apr 14, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Apr 23, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Golden, CO
Colorado School of Mines Outdoor Recreation Center

May 17, 2021 –
May 26, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute

Jun 8, 2021 –
Jun 17, 2021

$715 to $790

Enroll Now

Santiago, Chile
NOLS Patagonia

Jul 21, 2021 –
Jul 30, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

TBD, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Jul 23, 2021 –
Aug 1, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Oct 25, 2021 –
Nov 3, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Estes Park, CO
Mountain Rescue Institute

Dec 1, 2021 –
Dec 10, 2021

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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