Acadia Mountain Guides is a Licensed Training Center of Wilderness Medical Associates International. All certifications are for a 3 year period.

 For courses hosted by Acadia Mountain Guides register above. All other courses Register via link to host website below.

2024-25 Upcoming Course Schedule

Wilderness Medicine Course Information

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) – link to course page  

This program is designed for the person who travels frequently in the backcountry with friends or in small groups and who is seeking a basic level of competency in first aid.. It is a short introduction to the broad concepts of rendering care in a remote setting. The course includes adult CPR and training in the use of epinephrine for allergic reactions. You can expect the course to be intensive and to cover the most important aspects of wilderness medicine such as leadership, patient assessment and basic care. The course will be very experiential with lots of opportunity to practice in real-life simulations. Certified through Wilderness Medical Associates International – the world leader in wilderness medical training. Students must be 16 years of age to participate in this course.

Length: 16 hours

Prerequisites: none, 16 and 17 year-old students may enroll with written parental consent.

Cert: 3 years

Host your own course?: Have a group of people that need training? Contact us about having Jon and his team of WMAI instructors come to your site.

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) – link to course page

Wilderness Emergency Medical Service Upgrade (WEMS Upgrade) – link to course page

Training for medical personnel who would like to enhance their skills and experience for use in the rural, wilderness, and technical rescue setting.  This 45 hour course is popular with all levels of medical professionals but primarily geared toward pre-hospital EMS providers. Like other WMA International training, it represents the best application of the available science balanced by considerable clinical experience and the reality of providing medical care in difficult and dangerous places.

It is an intensive course covering a wide spectrum of emergency care topics relative to wilderness medicine and caring for injuries and illnesses over prolonged periods of time. The course is a combination of discussions, practical stations and real-life simulations. This wilderness EMS upgrade introduces wilderness protocols that are approved by several federal and state EMS agencies. Topics include assessment and management of traumatic injuries such as fractures, burns and wounds; circulatory, nervous, and respiratory system problems; common injuries such as blisters, sprains and strains; medical problems such as anaphylaxis, toxins, altitude, hypothermia, hyperthermia, and infections; and use of improvised materials in remote situations. The course includes information on personal outdoor preparedness, accident management and prevention and introduces you to simple evacuation techniques. The course is concept based and offers a critical thinking approach vs protocol approach to emergency care practices. It is intended for people who may provide care in remote environments such as outdoor trip leaders, guides, search and rescue units, disaster response teams, rural ambulance squads, and backcountry rangers. Certification is through Wilderness Medical Associates International.

Length: 45 hour course

Prerequisites: Certification as an EMT, AEMT or Paramedic. Nurses, advanced practitioners, and physicians also frequently take and benefit from WEMS Upgrade courses.

Cert: 3 years

CEH: Forty five (45) hours of continuing education credits available through CAPCE for EMS providers.

Host your own course?: Have a group of people that need training? Contact us about having Jon and his team of WMAI instructors come to your site.

Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS) – Link to course page

This program’s primary goal is to apply current medical knowledge and critical thinking for use in remote/resource challenged patient care settings. It is targeted toward advanced care medical practitioners (MD/DO, PA/NP, RN, paramedic or an AEMT with ALS experience) interested in rescue, mass casualty, and remote outdoor environments or urban areas in disaster. WALS is Wilderness Medical Associates International’s most advanced course. This 36 hour course is constantly evolving course and is highlighted by discussions of new and controversial ideas and the appropriate application of technologies. The learning environment is challenging, stimulating, and fun.

Length: 36 hour course

Prerequisites: Advanced medical practitioners (MD/DO, PA/NP, RN, paramedic or an AEMT with ALS experience) interested in rescue, mass casualty, and remote outdoor environments or urban areas in disaster. Others admitted on a case-by-case basis.

Cert: 3 years

CEH: 36 hours of continuing education credits available through CAPCE for EMS providers.

Host your own course?: Have a group of people that need training? Contact us about having Jon and his team of WMAI instructors come to your site.

Wilderness First Responder Recertification
(WFR, WEMS and WAFA) – link to course page

The Wilderness First Responder Recertification course is open to those most currently certified Wilderness First Responders and Wilderness Advanced First Aiders. WMA WEMS (WEMT) graduates with a current EMS license may also recertify the wilderness portion of their WEMS certification with this course (please let us know when registering if you are recertifying WEMS certification. Upon successful completion of the recertification you will receive an appropriate Wilderness Medical Associates International certification. Completion of pre-course study packet is required for all participants.

Length: 24 hour course

Prereqs: Current WFR, WEMT (WEMS Upgrade) or WAFA certification. 

Cert: 3 years

CEH: Varies depending on certification

Host your own course?: Have a group of people that need training? Contact us about having Jon and his team of WMAI instructors come to your site3