Hybrid Wilderness First Responder Course
The industry-standard certification for professional guides & outdoor educators
Duration
20+ hrs online,
6 days in-person
PREREQUisite
16 years old
Cost
$1,095 + gst
CERT VALID
3 years
Upcoming Dates
May 2 - 7, 2026
Nov 7 - 12, 2026
Ready to Become a Certified Wilderness First Responder?
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"Rachel made the WAFA course an absolute breeze! With loads of in depth hands-on training and experiences, I highly recommend this course for anyone who's going to be spending any amount of time outside in the bush!"
Overview
This Hybrid Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course prepares you to handle medical emergencies in remote settings where advanced medical care may be hours or days away. Through intensive hands-on training and realistic scenarios, you'll develop the confidence and competence to assess, stabilize, and care for patients in challenging backcountry environments.
Perfect for: outdoor professionals, outdoor educators, and anyone who spends significant time in wilderness areas
This course certifies you as a Wilderness First Responder. It is delivered in a hybrid format, including a required e-learning section with 20+ hours of interactive online learning, followed by 54 hours of in-person training over the course of 6 days. The online component of the Hybrid WFR includes interactive learning modules with videos, readings, self-practice assignments, quizzes & case studies.
Registration is preferred four weeks prior to the course to ensure adequate time for the online course work, and course work must be completed 3 days prior to in-person course start.
Please see the minimum technology requirements.
During the in-person component of the course you will be inside a classroom and outdoors practicing scenarios. You can expect to have long days, which may run a bit past 5 PM. We do our best to stay on time, but this is a curriculum-based course and in order for you to receive your certificate, you must complete the course curriculum. You will be examined during this course, and you must pass the exam to receive your certificate.
This course is taught by highly-trained Wilderness Medical Associates' instructors working within the medical industry.
Contact us to request a private course. We currently offer private courses in southwest Alberta.
Location: Polish Hall, Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
Prerequisites:
Students must be at least 16 years or older. If under 18 years of age, written consent is required by the parent or guardian.
Details
Cost: $1,095 + gst/person
Duration:
80 hours: 20+ hours of online learning and 6 in-person days
Upcoming Dates (In-Person):
May 2 - 7, 2026
Nov 7 - 12, 2026
Certification:
This is course consists of 20+ hours delivered online and 6 days in-person of preparation, didactic, and practical time. Upon successful completion students will receive certification in Wilderness First Responder and Healthcare Provider CPR that includes adult, child and infant.
Certification is valid for 3 years.
To recertify your current WFR certification, you can take an Open Recertification course (this option must be taken within 3 years of the original certification) or retake the WFR course.
Skills Taught:
- The general principles of wilderness and rescue medicine with an emphasis on identifying medical emergencies, critical thinking, and risk management.
- Patient assessment and emergency care including CPR and AED use, basic life support skills, the patient assessment system, patient reporting, and calling for help.
- Environmental medicine including illness and injuries related to altitude, temperature, lightning, submersion, and environmental toxins.
- Backcountry medicine including the assessment and treatment of common medical problems.
- Treatment of injuries from traumatic mechanisms and the treatment of musculoskeletal problems such as overuse syndromes and dislocations.
- Non-technical lifting, moving, and extrication of patients with an emphasis on spinal motion restriction when applicable.
- Practical Skills including bleeding control, wound management, bandaging, splinting, spine stable patient packaging, hypothermia management, medical kit preparation.
- WMA International wilderness protocols including treatment of anaphylaxis, wound management, CPR in a remote setting, spine injury assessment, reduction of simple dislocations, and treatment for severe asthma.
Inclusions
Included:
The Field Guide of Wilderness Medicine & Rescue Wilderness Medicine Workbook SOAP Notebook Wilderness First Responder Class Notes
Technology Requirements:
High speed internet access to complete the online course. A computer with:
>> a PDF reader
>> Anti-virus software
>> Internet browser (latest version of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge). The system is NOT compatible with Safari.
Not Included:
🗶 Transportation
🗶 Outdoor gear and personal items (a recommended gear list will be sent out upon registration)
🗶 Accommodations (if needed)
🗶 Cancellation insurance
POLICIES
Please review our FAQs page for additional details, including our cancellation and weather policies. These policies are particularly important for our Wilderness First Aid courses, as they involve significant facilitation costs and require substantial preparation and commitment in advance of the course start date.