Wilderness Medicine Courses — WFR & WFA Certifications in Montana & Nevada
Professional Wilderness Medicine Training
The Mountain Guides, in partnership with Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA), offer Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certifications and recertifications at two locations: Whitefish, Montana near Glacier National Park and Red Rock, Nevada near Las Vegas. These multi-day courses teach wilderness medical assessment, patient care, evacuation techniques, and decision-making in remote settings where professional medical help may be hours away. Whether you’re a backcountry guide, outdoor educator, ski patroller, search and rescue volunteer, or serious recreationist, a WFR or WFA certification is an essential credential for anyone leading or traveling in the backcountry.
Our Wilderness Medicine Courses
Wilderness First Responder (WFR): The gold standard in wilderness medicine. This multi-day intensive course (typically 70–80 hours) covers patient assessment, trauma and environmental emergencies, long-term patient care, evacuation decision-making, and leadership in crisis. WFR certification is the most widely recognized credential for backcountry professionals. Available in Montana and Nevada.
Wilderness First Aid (WFA): A shorter, focused course (typically 16 hours over 2 days) covering the essentials of wilderness emergency response. Ideal for hikers, climbers, paddlers, and outdoor recreationists who want to be prepared for emergencies but don’t need the full WFR. Available in Montana and Nevada.
WFR Recertification: Keep your WFR certification current with our recertification course. Reviews core skills, introduces updated protocols, and renews your WFR for another certification cycle. Available in Montana and Nevada.
Why Train with The Mountain Guides
Most wilderness medicine providers are education companies. We’re mountain guides who also teach medicine. Our instructors bring real-world mountain rescue and guiding experience to the curriculum — they’ve managed emergencies in the Tetons, on Granite Peak, in Moab’s canyons, and on Red Rock’s walls. That practical mountain context makes the scenarios more relevant and the learning stickier. Our courses follow the Wilderness Medical Associates curriculum, one of the most respected in the field, and our locations — the mountains of Montana and the desert of Red Rock — put you in real backcountry settings during your training.
Locations & Schedule
Courses run spring through fall at both locations. Montana courses operate out of our Whitefish base (Glacier International Airport is 15 minutes away). Nevada courses operate out of our Red Rock office (30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, fly into Harry Reid International Airport). Contact us at (800) 239-7642 for upcoming course dates and registration.
