Frequently Asked Questions
Which Wilderness Medicine Course Is Right for Me?
If you still have questions after you review the table below, don’t hesitate to contact us.
| Course | # of days | Hours | Certs Received | To Re-certify Take | Who should take this course |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilderness First Aid (WFA) | 2 | 16-18 |
| WFA | Basic intro to wilderness first aid. Primarily for recreational day trippers, not recommended for professionals. |
| Wilderness First Aid For Field Services (WFA-FS) | 3 | 24-26 |
| WFAFS | Geared to those who work in a context where they may be further than 2 hrs away from pre-hospital care. For industrial, government and resource workers. |
| Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) | 4 | 36-40 |
| WAFA | The recommended minimum training for outdoor professionals or those who travel where a hospital may be many hours away. The main focus is the prolonged care and stabilization of patients until a rescue team or additional resources can be obtained to help with evacuation. |
| Wilderness First Responder (WFR) | 8 | 72-80 |
| 3 options:
| The “gold standard” for professionals or other individuals who will be working or playing in remote contexts for an extended period of time. Focus on self evacuation techniques. |
| Wilderness First Responder “Bridge” Course | 4 | 36-40 |
| 3 options:
| For those who have taken a WMA WAFA within the last 3 years want to upgrade to the WFR level. |
| Open Re-Certification | 3 | 24-26 |
| N/A | For those wishing to re-certify a 64 hr (or longer) Wilderness First Aid Course from a recognized provider (does not have to be a WMA certification). |
