Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

Industry Standard Course

Choose from either our hybrid course or our 1 day in person course

Hybrid - Online, self paced course material plus one day in classroom/field practice to review skills and test. Includes certificate.

OR

1 Day Skills - One day in person classroom / field practice skills but no certificate offered.

Multiple Dates Available

$225 & up

Proudly serving the Northern Nevada, Reno-Tahoe and Yosemite regions.

Our Wilderness First Aid programs accept a co-ed student class.

Unlock the Essentials of Wilderness Safety with Our Certified Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Course

If you're passionate about backpacking, mountaineering, backcountry skiing, wilderness hiking solo or simply love engaging with the great outdoors, this course is a MUST DO. Wilderness First Aid is crucial for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities, providing the essential skills needed to handle emergencies in remote environments.

Join our Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course, that offers the industry standard wilderness first aid curriculum and the option for a Wilderness First Aid certificate from Survival Med. Choose from either a hybrid course that perfectly blends self-paced online training and one classroom/field day of practical, in-person instruction, or a one day in-person course without the certificate . Designed specifically for those that want to thrive in the outdoors.

Course Highlights

Injury Assessment and Basic Life Support

  • MARCH & SAMPLE patient assessment protocols

  • Breathing, circulatory & nervous system assessment

  • Spinal stabilization

  • Basic CPR & Heimlich maneuver training

Common Outdoor Medical Problems

  • Treating & stabilizing impalements, broken bones, finger amputations

  • Muscle injuries

  • Bleeding, wounds

  • Cold injuries, heat illness

  • Lightning and altitude illness & more

Wildlife Attacks and Treating Injuries

  • Dealing with grizzlies, black bears, mountain lions; snakes & scorpions

  • Other venomous animal & insect bites, stings

  • Rabies prevention

  • Communicable & waterborne diseases

Weather Hazards

  • Heat & cold related injuries

  • Wildfires, lightning & burns

  • Floods, tides & drowning

  • Avalanches & earthquakes

  • Acute mountain & altitude sickness (AMS, HACE, HAPE)

Terrain & Temperature Considerations

  • Route, logistics & supplies planning

  • Avoiding getting lost

  • Signaling for rescue

  • Finding and treating water for safe drinking

  • Maximizing chances of being found alive

The hybrid course includes two-year certificate accepted by NASAR, NPS, USFS & many others.

Survival Med is Alpinistas Adventures wilderness medicine partner, with programs that are accepted by the National Assn for Search & Rescue (NASAR) for SARTECH II Certification, US National Park Service, Forest Service, Sierra Club chapters & many more. Survival Med partners with the University of Utah School of Medicine Wilderness Program with curriculum that meets WFME Standards for Distributed & Distance Medical Education. In addition, college credit available through University of Colorado-Denver.

Dates and Locations

  • Hybrid Course + WFA Certificate

    $295

    Dates Offered:

    April 10, 2026

    April 11, 2026

    Alpinistas Classroom

    17025 Mt. Rose Highway, Reno, NV 89521

  • One Day In-Person No Certificate

    $225

    Dates Offered:

    April 10, 2026

    April 11, 2026

    Alpinistas Classroom

    17025 Mt. Rose Highway, Reno, NV 89521

What’s Included

  • A professional wilderness medicine instructor

  • Hybrid Course: Online course material for self-study side of the program plus:

    • 1 classroom and field day for in person training and testing

    • WFA Certification from Survival Med upon successful completion of in-person test at event.

  • Special discount to shop at Alpinistas store

Activity, Fitness & Skills

  • These trips range are rated Beginner to Beginner+ as these are front country courses with minimal foot travel required.

Not Included

  • Meals, beverages

  • Personal gear for day outside

  • Guide gratuities

Expert Leadership

Our Wilderness First Aid course is led by a seasoned wilderness medicine expert who brings invaluable real-world experience to the classroom along with further instructor training from industry recognized Survival Med.

Gear List

Layering is the key to staying comfortable while being active outdoors. When packing, try to bring only what you need. This not only makes your load lighter but also helps our amazing field staff.

If you've already booked your trip, don't worry! You’ll be getting emails with a detailed list of what you'll need to bring (plus tons of other helpful information).

Are you looking to reduce your carbon footprint or save some money? Check out our rental page for great gear to borrow for your trip or shop at Alpinistas Re-Cover department for gently used gear online.

Get ready to conquer the outdoors, Alpinistas! We can't wait to see you on the trail.

  • Outdoor apparel to be comfortable outside

    Hat, sunblock, sunglasses

    Outdoor footwear

    Lunch, snacks, beverages

    For campground event

    All personal camp gear