NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute

The Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI) is the leader in wilderness medicine education. Their goal is to provide the highest quality education and information for the recognition, treatment, and prevention of wilderness emergencies.Their dynamic curriculum is accurate, practical and relevant. It’s supported by internationally recognized wilderness medicine protocols and implemented by a full-time Curriculum Director. Landmark Learning proudly offers a variety of WMI courses. We utilize instructors of the highest caliber that have undergone rigorous training and maintain a high level of certification with WMI. .

*WMI Update- WMI is pleased to announce that our Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness Advanced First Aid and Wilderness First Responder courses have been approved by the United States Coast Guard to satisfy the first aid and CPR training requirements [46 CFR 11.205(e)(1)(i) & 46 CFR 11.205(e)(2)(iv)] for a merchant mariner license.* 

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Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

This is a nationally recognized program that trains participants to respond to emergencies in remote settings. The 80-hour curriculum includes standards for urban and extended care situations. Special topics include but are not limited to: wound management and infection, realigning fractures and dislocations, improvised splinting techniques, patient monitoring and long term management problems, up-to-date information on all environmental emergencies, plus advice on drug therapies. Emphasis is placed on prevention and decision-making, not the memorization of lists.

This course is designed specifically to provide you with the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote locations. Half of your time will be spent completing practical skills, case studies and scenarios designed to challenge your decision making abilities. Adult CPR is included in this course.

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WFR Recertification

Are your wilderness medicine protocols on the tip of your tongue or in the bottom of your pack? This three day scenario-based course is designed as review and practice of evacuation and decision making guidelines. It also provides wilderness medicine practitioners with current updates in the wilderness medicine field. WFR Recertification courses include Adult CPR for those who also need this requirement.

This course may be used to recertify Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness EMT (wilderness portion only) certifications. Upon successful course completion you will earn a WMI of NOLS WFR or WEMT certification. For a list of wilderness medicine schools that WMI recognizes as eligible for recertification please contact our office.

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Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA)

River guides and other trip leading staff often require a more extensive training program than the Wilderness First Aid course. This five day course focuses on stabilization, treatment and evacuation guidelines of patients in backcountry environments. More emphasis is placed on long term patient care management and specific injury evaluation.

This course may be used for wilderness medicine recertification for those who wish a more extensive refresher than the WFA program.

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Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

If you plan to spend time in the backcountry you need to be prepared. Fast paced and hands-on, this two or three-day course covers a wide range of wilderness medicine topics for people who travel and work in the outdoors.

This course is pre-approved by such organizations as: the American Camping Association, the United States Forest Service, and other governmental agencies.

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Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals (WUMP)

Building on your background in urban emergency care you will learn how to improvise equipment, deal with challenging environmental conditions, and make difficult medical decisions in remote locations. This intense, hands-on curriculum utilizes daily role plays, case studies and practical scenarios. Expect to spend plenty of time applying your knowledge. The course will upgrade EMTs to WEMT and all others to Wilderness First Responders in accordance with the current standards in wilderness /rural pre-hospital medicine. (Minimum pre-requisite level of certification for this course is current NREMT or State EMT-Basic.)

Continuing Education:

• Pre-approved for 48 hours of EMT Continuing Education Hours (CEH) by the State of Colorado and the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS).
• Physicians may earn 43 hours of category 1 CME's through the Wilderness Medical Society. There is an additional fee of $100 for physicians requesting CME's.
• This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the Wilderness Medical Society and the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS. The Wilderness Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
• For active members of the Wilderness Medical Society, this course has been approved for 35.75 hrs. (30.75 primary + 5 elective) hours of credit towards a Fellowship of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM). There is an additional fee of $15 for students requesting these credits. For more information, please visit: Fellows Brochure

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WEMT (3+1 Format)

Landmark Learning is an authorized Teaching Institute for the NC Office of EMS. The Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician program taught at Landmark Learning is the only place where you can receive your WEMT training and EMT-Basic Training in this unique format. (Landmark currently has a 100% end of course pass rate, with nearly 99% of our students passing the National Registry exam on their first attempt.)

The first three weeks of the experience is focused on EMT-Basic training, with an immersion into urban care. You will complete 16+hours of clinical time on an ambulance and/or in an emergency room setting, and be eligible for both the NC OEMS exam and the National Registry of EMTs exam at course end. At the end of the EMT experience, tack on the WMI of NOLS Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals to receive your WEMT certification. Landmark is the only place where you can receive your WEMT training in this unique format.

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Wilderness Medicine for the Professional Practitioner

This course is designed for current EMTs, physicians, and RNs who wish to upgrade their pre-exisiting skill set to be able to provide comprehensive patient assessment and treatment when in remote or wilderness environments. 

The 2-day module is pre-approved for 16 hours of Basic EMT continuing education units (CEUs) by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS).

Through joint sponsorship with the Wilderness Medical Society physicians may earn 16 hours of category 1 CME's for participation in the Wilderness Medicine for the Professional Practitioner course.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of theAccreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the WildernessMedical Society and the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS. The Wilderness Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Wilderness Medical Society designates this educational activity for a maximum 15 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of his or her participation in the activity. The Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS is a non-profit educational organization that is not, in any of its activities, sponsored by any proprietary entity.

Active members of the Wilderness Medical Society may earn up to 16 hours of credit towards a Fellowship of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM).

 

National Outdoor Leadership School

Credit for WMI Courses Provided by the University of Utah

During any of our WMI courses (excluding re-certifications) you can register to earn college credit from the University of Utah. The University of Utah provides undergraduate semester credits for these courses. Transcripts are not immediately available due to reporting schedule. For questions regarding the credits please contact the Center for Emergency Programs, of the Department of Health Promotion and Education at the University of Utah at 801-581-4512 or uucep@utah.edu. Please contact your current school to verify if credit is transferable.

University of Utah Credits and Costs:
WEMT 9 credits HEDU 5980 Sec 30 $550
WFR 3 credits HEDU 3980 Sec 30 $300 
WFA 1 credit HEDU 1960 Sec 30 $95
WUMP 4 credits HEDU 3970 Sec 30 $350

 

Operations on National Forest System Lands are authorized under Special Use Permit by the Nantahala National Forest. Landmark Learning is non-discriminating, as an employer and as an equal recreation opportunity provider.