Audience-led entry
Choose the credential that fits your need.
NOLS wilderness medicine courses are built for professionals at every level. Find your role, see the recommended path, and earn the credential that fits.
For Paramedics & EMTs
Take your EMS practice into the backcountry. Add wilderness paramedic certification to your existing skill set with a 5-day field-based course.
Recommended path
WUMP · Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals
For Physicians
Earn wilderness medicine CME credits. Whether you're an EM doc, family physician, or expedition medicine fellow, NOLS WM courses count toward your continuing education.
Recommended path
WUMP or WAFA + CME credits
For Nurses & NPs
Add wilderness medicine to your nursing practice. Whether you're a school nurse, ER nurse, or NP, our courses fit your scope and credential needs.
Recommended path
WUMP · CE-eligible
For Physician Assistants
Take your PA training to the wilderness. NOLS WM courses are recognized for PA CME credit and equip you for remote, austere, and expedition settings.
Recommended path
WUMP · AAPA Category 1 CME
For Outdoor Professionals
Guides, trip leaders, search-and-rescue, camp staff. The credential that meets industry standards for working in the field with clients.
Recommended path
WFR · Wilderness First Responder
For Anyone In the Wilderness
Backcountry hikers, parents of teens, weekend climbers. Build the basic skills you need to handle a wilderness emergency before it happens.
Recommended path
WFA · Wilderness First Aid
Trained outside
Admissions and Policies
Please visit our Policies page for details regarding:
- Minimum Age
- Cancellation and Transfer Policies
- Recertification Policies
- On Course Policies
- Essential Eligibility Criteria
- Equal Opportunity
- Tuition Protection Plan
- Promotion
Visit our Communicable Disease Practices(opens in new tab) for specific practices NOLS has developed to protect wilderness medicine students and staff while on courses.
Trained outside
Academic Credit and Continuing Education
Academic Credit
NOLS offers college-level academic credit for wilderness medicine courses through our partners at the University of Utah and Western State Colorado University. Learn more on our Academic Credit page.
Continuing Education
Many of our wilderness medicine courses are approved for continuing education hours for EMTs and physicians. In addition, you may be able to earn credits towards your Fellowship of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine. Learn more on our Continuing Education page.
Course Approval
NOLS Wilderness Medicine courses meet the American Camp Association 2012 Standards(opens in new tab) for first aid training requirements. Additionally, the Wilderness First Aid course (WILDMI-554) is approved by the  United States Coast Guard(opens in new tab) 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.
The certification ladder
Five credentials. One progression.
Every NOLS wilderness medicine credential builds on the last. Start where your practice is, climb at your own pace.
1
2 Days
WFA
Wilderness First Aid
The foundational credential. Recognized by the outdoor industry as the baseline required for outdoor professionals.
2
5 Days
WAFA
Advanced Wilderness First Aid
A step up from WFA. Recognized by NREMT and useful for clinical professionals seeking field skills.
3
9 Days
WFR
Wilderness First Responder
The industry standard for guides, trip leaders, and outdoor professionals working with clients in the backcountry.
4
5 Days
WUMP
Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Pros
Specifically for paramedics, RNs, NPs, PAs, and physicians. Adds wilderness skills to existing clinical practice.
5
28 Days
WEMT
Wilderness EMT
Full EMT certification plus wilderness module. The deepest credential in the NOLS Wilderness Medicine ladder.
Why NOLS Wilderness Medicine
Trained in the field, not the classroom.
NOLS Wilderness Medicine pioneered WFR, WFA, WUMP, and WEMT education. Our courses are taught outside, in real conditions, by working clinicians and outdoor professionals.
Field-based instruction
Every NOLS WM course is taught outdoors. Real terrain, real weather, real consequences. The skills stick because you used them.
Industry-recognized
NOLS WFR is the industry standard for guides and outdoor professionals. NOLS CME credits are accepted by every major medical association.
Clinician instructors
Our instructors are working physicians, paramedics, and NPs who teach what they actually do in the backcountry. Not academics. Practitioners.
