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Wilderness EMT Certification

A certified wilderness emergency medical technician is capable of addressing medical emergencies in extreme environmental conditions and various terrains. Certification as a wilderness EMT can be accomplished with two different types of programs. The most basic type of course is for students who are not certified as an emergency medical technician before enrollment. If you are a certified EMT, you can become wilderness certified through an EMT upgrade course.

  1. Qualifications

    • In addition to passing the wilderness EMT training course, candidates must meet specific qualifications in order to gain certification. The applicant must be at least 18 years old before entering the course; 16- and 17-year-old applicants may apply if they have a letter of permission from a guardian.

      Additionally, the applicant must be able to communicate effectively over a radio, assist in balancing a 300-pound individual, calculate medications based on body weight and document all relevant information in prescribed format.

    Additional Qualifications

    • Additional qualifications for wilderness EMT certification eligibility include the ability to interview bystanders; perform specific physical and diagnostic skills, such as determining blood pressure and lung sounds; and withstand extreme environmental conditions.

      If a potential wilderness EMT does not meet all of the required qualifications upon completion of the wilderness training course, certification will not be issued. Instead, the applicant will receive a Letter of Successful Completion.

    Course Description

    • Courses designed for wilderness EMT certification focus on emergency care when 911 is not an option. Additionally, applicants learn medical equipment improvisation and prolonged patient care.

      Certification students will complete 10 hours of ambulance and emergency room observation rotations, and be trained in trauma, intravenous therapy, endotracheal intubation, back country medicine, environmental medicine, toxins and many other emergency medical techniques necessary to prolong the life of a patient until he can be safely transported to an emergency trauma facility.

    Certification Completion

    • To successfully complete a wilderness EMT course, an applicant is required to have 100 percent attendance and course participation, satisfactory performance during rotations, and satisfactory performance on written and practical final exams. Upon successful completion of the course, the Wilderness Medical Association will issue a WEMT certificate, which is also recognized by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

    Course Length

    • Course length varies depending on who is sponsoring the course. As of 2010, wilderness EMT certification courses can be completed in as little as two weeks or may require a monthlong regimen. In general, most wilderness certification courses require 110 to 180 training hours for successful completion.

      Furthermore, wilderness certification cannot be completed online because of the necessary hands-on skill training and rotation assignments.

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