WFA · Practical learning
Assessment & immediate priorities
- Scene assessment and a systematic patient assessment
- Bleeding control, shock, and wound care
- Musculoskeletal injuries and spinal considerations
- Recognizing urgent medical problems
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Mountain Training Network · Wilderness First Aid
Be ready when
help is a long way out.
A practical medical foundation for the people who hike, camp, ride, lead, and work outdoors. Learn to assess a patient, manage immediate problems, and make thoughtful evacuation decisions when help may be delayed.
16 hours · Hands-on wilderness medicine
Open enrollment · Custom offerings for groups of 8+
Mountain Training NetworkPatient care. Practical judgment.
Wilderness First Aid
A first-aid kit is a start.
Judgment puts it to work.
Wilderness First Aid connects basic patient care with the realities of remote environments: limited equipment, changing weather, uncertain access, and delayed help. Short lessons and realistic practice help you turn information into useful decisions.
No previous medical training is required. WFA is a strong starting point for outdoor participants and leaders who want a clear, practical approach to caring for another person.
The skills behind the credential
Learn the process.
Practice the decisions.
WFA · Practical learning
Care & decisions in the field
- Environmental emergencies and prevention
- Improvised care with available equipment
- Repeated assessment and patient monitoring
- Evacuation planning, communication, and handoff
Completion & credentials
Successful participants receive MTN Wilderness First Aid certification. Current MTN WFA offerings also include First Aid/CPR/AED and California EMSA epinephrine auto-injector training. Eligible current WFRs can recertify through the medical course, and eligible EMS professionals can receive 16 continuing-education hours through Capital City CPR LLC, provider 34-4980. Review the selected session for its included credentials.
Who it is built for
Prepare for the people
you care for and lead.
Outdoor participants
Hikers, campers, climbers, and mountain bikers preparing to care for friends and partners.
Educators & trip leaders
Outdoor educators, summer camp staff, recreation professionals, and volunteer leaders responsible for a group.
Field teams & park staff
State parks personnel and organizations building shared first-response skills for remote work.
A course you can verify
Credible instruction.
Clear training pathways.
Evidence-informed curriculum
MTN instruction incorporates Wilderness Medical Society guidance and aligns course content with WMEC educational standards.
Read about MTN’s educational approach ↗Practical field instruction
Experienced educators connect patient assessment, medical priorities, communication, and evacuation decisions through realistic practice.
Explore the MTN network ↗Professional training record
MTN has delivered training for organizations including California State Parks, the USFS Wilderness Ranger Academy, Chico State, and Sacramento State.
See MTN’s training background ↗Prepared people. Stronger communities.
Bring useful skills
back to your team.
Good training changes the conversations you have before a trip, the decisions you make during a response, and the skills you keep practicing afterward.
Train alongside colleagues, coaching partners, or friends. Build a shared approach to patient care and communication in the environments that matter to you.
Choose how you train
Join a public course.
Or bring your team.
MTN offers scheduled open enrollment courses for individuals, alongside custom course offerings for groups of 8 or more people.
View open enrollment courses ↗Dates, locations, tuition, and included credentials are listed with each session. If your preferred course is not on the calendar, contact us about upcoming offerings.
Before you enroll
WFA or WFR—which should I choose?
Choose WFA for a focused, 16-hour foundation. Choose WFR when your work, leadership role, or longer remote trips call for a deeper course and more practice with prolonged patient care.
Can this recertify my WFR?
Eligible current Wilderness First Responders can use designated WFA sessions for recertification. Send us your provider and certification dates before enrolling so we can confirm the correct pathway.
What should I bring?
Expect practical indoor and outdoor learning. Bring clothing for the conditions, lunch and water, and what the session’s equipment list requests. We will share the location, schedule, and preparation details for your course.
What is the price and schedule?
Tuition, dates, locations, daily schedule, and cancellation terms are listed with each open enrollment session. Custom group offerings are quoted after we discuss your group’s size, training needs, location, and preferred dates.
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