Become a Certified Wilderness First Responder
Looking to advance your outdoor safety and emergency medical skills? The Hybrid Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course, run through the Wilderness Medicine Training Center and hosted by the College of Idaho Outdoor Program in Caldwell, Idaho is open for registration! This intensive program combines 40 hours of online coursework with 40 hours of in‑person, hands‑on training during Spring Break, March 21–24, 2027.
Course Details
- Location: College of Idaho, Caldwell, Idaho
- Dates: March 21–24, 2027 (Spring Break)
- Format: 40 hours online + 40 hours in person
- Certification: Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
Price
$815 – Wilderness First Responder – (WFR) hybrid course (FULL COURSE)
$830 – Wilderness First Responder (WEMR/WEMT) hybrid course (FULL COURSE)
$540 – Wilderness First Responder (WFR) hybrid course (PART 2 ONLY)
Who Should Enroll?
This course is ideal for:
- Outdoor professionals (guides, instructors, park rangers)
- College students pursuing outdoor education or recreation careers
- Adventure travelers and expedition leaders
- Anyone passionate about wilderness safety and emergency preparedness
Why Choose Hybrid Wilderness First Responder Training?
- Flexible learning: Complete 40 hours of online modules at your own pace before arriving on campus.
- Hands‑on practice: Spend 40 hours in Caldwell, Idaho applying your skills in realistic scenarios.
- Expert instructors: Learn from seasoned wilderness medicine professionals.
- Career boost: WFR certification is the industry standard for outdoor guides, educators, and adventure leaders.
- Convenient schedule: Intensive in‑person training over four days during Spring Break.
Our hybrid courses are divided into two distinct parts, you must complete both parts within a year of registering for Part 1 to receive certification: Part 1 + Part 2 = Certification. You must register separate for each part; and, you must complete Part 1 in order to register for Part 2.
The Part 1 Independent Study section provides the foundation for the Part 2 Practical Session and is presented entirely online with minimal or no instructor contact. Students can complete the Independent Study from wherever they can access the course website. Students learn the wilderness medicine curriculum at their own pace through multimedia presentations, the Wilderness Medicine Handbook, case studies, SOAP Notes, and testing. Access to the course website and online tests are sent to registered students via email from our office upon registration and payment; complete directions are on the home page of the course website. If you have registered and paid for Part 1 of a hybrid course and did not receive your login information, please contact our office.
The Part 2 Practical Session is taught in-person. It is facilitated by expert instructors who clarify and reinforce the Part 1 Independent Study information with skill labs, simulations, and case study reviews. Because there may be a large gap between the time a student completes Part 1 and begins Part 2, you will receive access to an online Review test two-weeks before the start of their practical session. The review test is designed to refresh key concepts learned during the Independent Study. While the test is not graded, it does reflect how well you understand the information. Students may review their Part 1 tests and will continue to have access to the course website through the practical session. In-person instruction in both formats is augmented, as necessary, through the use of a large whiteboard (or overhead projector depending on the class size), dry-erase posters, full-sized anatomical torso, full-sized skeleton, symptomatic “acting” by the course instructors, case study summations, and case study quizzes.
Part 1 Hybrid Course Website Presentations & Tests
Pages on the Part 1 hybrid course websites address the lecture material covered in a standard course through text, animations, and videos; it is essentially an online textbook. Because you do not have access to an instructor during the Part 1 independent study portion of the course, the sites include case studies to check your understanding prior to taking the online tests. Keep in mind that the online tests are both an educational tool as well as an evaluative tool. As such, they are challenging and few students pass on their first attempt. There are two types of online tests: Content & Application tests and you can review tests you have already taken at any time. Content tests are essentially a practice test; they tend to be easier than the Application tests and may only be taken once. You will receive answers to the Content test questions immediately after submitting them, and while the test is scored, the score doesn’t count. That said, your score will give you an idea of how well you understand the material. The Application test questions are all scenario-based and you need to score greater than 75% to pass a WFA exam or 80% to pass a WAFA, WFR, or WEMT. You will be able to study for, take, and retake each Application test multiple times. That said, there is a limit to the number of times you may retake a given test. If you reach the test limit, please contact the WMTC office where one of our senior instructors will review your last test, send you detailed written feedback via email, and give you one final opportunity to take that test. You will have the opportunity to review your feedback and ask the instructor questions before taking the test again. If you fail the same Application test again, you may not continue with the course, attend the practical session, or receive a refund for the course; it’s important that you know this. Keep in mind that historically 99.9% of the students who failed an Application test, received instructor feedback, and go on to take that test again, have passed that test.
While we provide a time range for the home study portion of each course, it is a rough estimate: You may require more or less time. To that end, it’s important that you plan and
schedule more time than the high end of the estimate to help ensure you can complete the home study portion and attend register for practical session. If you have questions
regarding our hybrid courses, please contact the WMTC office to discuss your concerns before you register for a course. Remember, once you register for a course, there are no
refunds unless the course is canceled.
What to Bring
Please bring the following supplies and equipment to your course; note that the course
sponsor may ask you to bring additional supplies.
- Goggles or wraparound glasses (with side protection).
- A watch or smartphone capable of measuring seconds (for taking patient vital
signs during simulations) - Cuttable simulation clothing: 2 T-shirts, 2 long-sleeved shirts, 2 pair of long pants,
and a pair of heavy socks (DO NOT short this list! ALL the listed clothing IS REQUIRED
for effective practice during simulations and labs. Clothing can usually be purchased
cheaply through Goodwill, Salvation Army, local thrift store, church, yard sale or
secondhand stores. Ask clerk for rejects and throw-aways) - Water shoes (to protect feet during water simulations and skill labs)
- Notebook or paper (for taking notes)
- Colored pens or pencils (your instructors will use different colored markers during
lectures, case study reviews, and discussions to help organize the material on a
white board or SOAP poster; some students find it EXTREMELY helpful to do the
same in their notes) - Two pencils and a pocket sharpener (for writing in the rain on weatherproof patient
SOAP notes during simulations) - Old clothing (to wear during skill labs; you WILL get dirty and may NOT want to
wear your expensive outdoor gear) - A small backpack (to wear during simulations)
- Insect repellent (DEET/Picaridin) and spray insecticide (Permethrin) as dictated by
the course site and season. - A wide-mouth water bottle (for use during simulations and some labs)
- A headlamp (for night simulations; this is especially important during late fall and
winter courses)