Wilderness Life Support: Medical Professionals
Wilderness Medicine CME Course & Certification
The Wilderness Life Support for the Medical Professional (WLS:MP) course is designed to provide medical professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage medical emergencies in remote and wilderness settings. The curriculum is taught with the expectation that participants have pre-existing medical knowledge, such as terminology, anatomy and physiology, a foundation in pathophysiology, and providing patient care. All levels of medical professional from an EMT to a physician, as well as medical adjacent fields, are welcome to attend. The class focuses on taking this urban skill set and applying it to the austere environment.
Beyond certifications, the course empowers individuals with the confidence and skills needed to respond effectively to medical emergencies in remote wilderness settings, enhancing safety for both themselves and others. Additionally, the curriculum is continually reviewed to ensure it aligns with the most current guidelines, providing participants with up-to-date knowledge and best practices in wilderness medicine.
This course is offered alongside many of our adventure and international trips, allowing for the perfect backdrop to practice skills in the environments where they will be applied.
About the Course
Curriculum
The curriculum not only covers medical knowledge but also fosters critical decision-making skills essential for effective backcountry medical management.
Core Topics
- Patient Assessment
- Trauma
- Wound Management
- Musculoskeletal Injuries
- Spinal Trauma
- Medical
- Dentistry, Eye, Skin
- Medical Emergencies
- Infectious Diseases
- Environmental
- Heat-Related Illness
- Cold-Induced Injury and Illness
- Drowning and Water Safety
- Dive Medicine
- Altitude Medicine
- Avalanche
- Lightning
- Animal & Insect Bites
- Water Disinfection
- Medical Kits
Course Format
This course blends theoretical learning with practical application. It is offered in a hybrid format, which includes 13+ hours of online learning, followed by 16 hours of in class education. Our courses are taught alongside adventure activities, global travel, survival courses, and speciality outdoor training.
The WLS:MP course was first offered in 2005 under the name Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) by our partner AdventureMed. Since then, their team of medical experts has refined the class, with the most recent accreditation in 2023 resulting in the name changing to WLS:MP.
The class is accredited through the Wilderness Medical Society and ACCME. The curriculum follows medical best practice as dictated by organizations such as the WMS, WHO, CDC, TCCC, AHA, and is authored by leading professionals in the industry. Learn more about AdventureMed here.
Certification and Credits
Wilderness Medicine for Medical Professionals
To earn the following certifications, students must complete the minimum time requirement for a WLS:MP class. Additionally, both a proctored written and practical examination must be successfully completed.
Upon completion of this course, students are eligible for:
- WLSMP certificate, valid for 4 years
- ACCME Cat 1. CME credits through our joint partnership with AdventureMed and the Wilderness Medical Society
- Inquire with your governing body to confirm credit acceptance
- Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) credit
To learn more about FAWM, please visit wms.org