Types of Certifications

• There are three levels of wilderness medicine certifications you can get. Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and Advanced Wilderness First Aid (AWFA) are the most basic. The next level up is the Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification. Finally, there is the most advanced Wilderness Emergency Technician certification.
  
  

Wilderness First Aid

• WFA courses generally last for two days. They train you to handle common back country injuries such as hypothermia, dehydration, broken bones and allergic reactions. As of 2010, these courses cost around $150 to $200.
  
  

Wilderness First Responder

• WFR training is an 80-hour course. It delves deeper into the topics covered in WFA and has a much larger hands-on component. As of 2010, these courses usually cost between $600 and $900.
  
  

Wilderness Emergency Technician

• WEMT courses are designed for EMS personnel working in search and rescue situations. It is a 170-hour course that includes both lectures and simulated scenarios for practice. As of 2010, these courses can cost up to $3,000, though both price and course length depend on the organization providing the training.
  
  

Organizations

• There are number of well-respected organizations that offer these, and other, certifications. Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO) is based out of Conway, NH, and offers courses around the country. The Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI) is associated with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) also offers these certifications in a variety of locations.