Wilderness First Aid and Avalanche Rescue

Aerie classes are held both indoors and out. You will need to bring a notebook and writing utensils for classroom sessions. You will also need appropriate clothing to be outdoors for several hours at a time. This can vary significantly depending on the season, pay close attention to precourse materials sent before your class for specific clothing needs.

Aerie students can receive academic credit for WFA, WFR, EMT, and WEMT courses through a partnership with the University of Montana. Please contact [email protected] for the correct registration form for your class.

No. Instructors will happily help coordinate carpools to field locations and give some ideas of easy food options near class locations. Aerie cannot officially coordinate any lodging, food, or transportation for out classes.
The Semester in Wilderness Medicine programs do provide all this support for students. Please visit the Semester page for more details about these programs.

Yes, each course type has its own age requirement.  Read more about Age Requirements (#6) in our Comprehensive Student Policies.  A parent or guardian will need to sign a minor release form before class begins for all students under 18 years old.

At Aerie we strive to create a positive learning environment for all of our students. Regardless of the course type, you will learn from passionate and experienced instructors. We provide the support needed to help our students succeed. While in class you will take part in a variety of activities and lessons to help further your knowledge of medicine. Our courses include hands-on practice with the instructors and fellow students, carefully thought out lectures to give you the information you need for your certification, and a combination of fun and challenging activities to help you comprehend each topic. Each course can look different depending on the location and level of certification, however we work at having a consistent curriculum so that all of our students receive the appropriate training.

Aerie classes may differ slightly depending on the specific course type and needs of the host facility. Generally, class begins at 8:00am and ends at either 5:00pm or 6:00pm. You will have one hour for lunch around 12:00pm each day.

Aerie instructors are passionate about what they do and enjoy motivating and educating our students. We cover not only the medical topics needed to obtain your desired certification, but we teach leadership skills, communication techniques and group dynamics. Each instructor has a combination of medical and professional outdoor experience. Learn more about our staff here.

Some presentations will have photos or videos that depict blood and other injuries. Instructors make every effort to properly prepare students for when these images will come onto the screen. Students are not required to view any of this content. Instructors will also use fake blood and wounds for scenarios during class. The makeup can be greatly reduced for students that are uncomfortable with the presentation. Aerie emphasizes the treatment of injuries and illness and recognizes that these skills can be taught without the use of gruesome images, videos, and makeup.

At Aerie, our students go on to do a variety of different jobs or hobbies after their training, and we love helping our students prepare for their own unique futures. We prepare our students by creating custom medical scenarios, demonstrating medical events and treatments, and facilitating activities that will help our students gain confidence in patient care.

Aerie will issue electronic certification cards directly to your email address within a week of course completion. Sometimes these certifications get caught in spam folders or other filters, please reach out to [email protected] if you are missing your certification.

Aerie certifications last for two years. WFR, EMT, and WEMT certifications have specific recertification requirements that are outlined in the course materials. CPR and WFA classes are recertified by taking the course again.