Become an Instructor for NOLS Wilderness Medicine

William Woodward

NOLS Wilderness Medicine's mission is to provide the highest quality education and information for the recognition, treatment, and prevention of wilderness emergencies. Instructors teach courses including: 2-day Wilderness First Aid courses, 10-day Wilderness First Responder courses, Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals courses, 30-day Wilderness EMT courses, and more.

Instructors are expected to provide outstanding, thorough lectures on medical topics and supervise hands-on skills practice for groups of 15-30 students. In addition, responsibilities include: keeping accurate paperwork, collaborating with course hosts (called sponsors), and overseeing course equipment.

Instructors’ teaching schedules may be arranged to fit with other employment. Highest consideration will be given to applicants who are available during NOLS Wilderness Medicine’s busiest teaching months, January through June.  

Courses are located in all 50 states and 40 countries around the world. Instructors are generally regionally centered near their homes, but they may be expected to teach throughout the United States and internationally.
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Instructor Training Courses

To become an instructor, interested individuals need to apply for the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Instructor Training Course (ITC), a 7- or 10-day intensive training. ITCs prepare new instructors to deliver the NOLS Wilderness Medicine curriculum.
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Wilderness First Aid ITC

NOLS Wilderness Medicine is not offering a WFA Instructor Training Course in 2026. We will update this site with information about a potential WFA ITC in the spring of 2027 on October 1, 2026.

Additional Requirements:

  • Current WFR certification or recertification within the past two years (includes WFR certifications issued through a Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals (WUMP) course). Does not need to be WFR certification with NOLS
  • Professional Level CPR Certification (BLS)
WFA ITC Application

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Wilderness First Responder ITC

NOLS Wilderness Medicine is not offering a Fall WFR Instructor Training Course in 2026. We will update this website with information about a potential WFR ITC in the spring of 2027 on October 1, 2026.

Additional Requirements:

  • Current WEMT or advanced medical training (MD, RN, NP, PA or similar) with a current WFR
  • Professional Level CPR Certification (BLS)

WFR ITC Application