Aerie's 200+ hour Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician courses are unique in the industry. The differences are due to the experience of our instructors and the focus and realism of our scenarios. Our MD/ Paramedic/ RN/ EMT instructors not only bring years of professional medical experience to their lectures, but they are also leaders in the outdoor and risk management fields, ensuring that the information they give is practical and appropriate, providing students with skills and information that they truly need. Aerie students participate in days of intense swiftwater and avalanche (weather dependent) rescue scenarios. They work with Search and Rescue teams on overnight simulated rescues. In many cases, they learn anatomy and physiology in a human cadaver lab and participate in vehicle extrication practice with professional firefighters. Students spend 20 hours riding on an ambulance and observing in an emergency department to complete their clinical experience.

All Aerie WEMT courses follow the Department of Transportation's National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) curriculum and are approved by the NREMT and the State of Montana Board of Medical Examiners; however the classes go into significantly more detail concerning care for patients in remote settings. At Aerie, we design our WEMT classes to prepare students to care for patients in the most challenging environments and conditions, whether urban or backcountry. Our past students have graduated and gone on to work as EMTs, MDs, RNs, medics, firefighters, guides, field biologists and other outdoor leaders. As such, this course is ideal for outdoor leaders involved in extended backcountry trips and those individuals seeking employment with ambulance services, search and rescue units, and ski patrols; it is also appropriate for anyone wanting the best EMT training available.

After successful course completion, students take the National Registry EMT-Basic exam. Students must pass the national EMT-B exam to receive the Aerie W-EMT certificate. Successful students will also receive American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification.

This class is typically offered for 3 University of Montana HHP 395 credits. (additional fee applies). We offer the WEMT in both a 4-week intensive class and in a weeknight and weekend class spread out over a semester.

We encourage you to look through our website, read our Director's Message and Detailed Course Information , and call or write our office if you have other questions.