Wilderness Emergency Medical Services (WEMS) Certificate

CMC Wilderness EMS Certification class training with helicopter in the backcountry.

Obtain your WEMT, Rope Rescue Technician Certification or WEMS Certification

Start your training any semester in accelerated or traditional formats

CMC’s Wilderness EMS Certification program is a technician-level wilderness rescue medicine program for individuals who want to work as WEMTs in the specialty fields of search & rescue, ski patrol, special operations, backcountry rangers or as wilderness guides.

The certification program consists of stackable credentials to meet your individual training goals for employment. Stackable credentials within the Wilderness EMS program consists of:

  • Wilderness Medical Professional
  • Rope Rescue Certification
  • WEMS Certification Diploma

We recommend students start with the Wilderness Medical Professional Certification (Wilderness EMT-IV Certification), which gives them the credentialing to work as a Wilderness EMT.

Students can then continue developing their skills by taking rescue courses, Rope Rescue Certification, and completing their WEMS Certification Diploma.

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Care Forward Colorado

Fall 2024 is your last chance to receive financial assistance towards short-term healthcare training provided by Care Forward Colorado.

Care Forward Colorado

Jeanie Clements EMS Student

"This Refresher Course was AWESOME! The most comprehensive wilderness medicine class I have ever taken.  I greatly enjoyed repeated exercises and learning about:  King airways, ALS airways in general, ALS interventions and assists, innovative splinting and packaging and medication administration.

"All the instructors were calm, obviously knowledgeable and thoroughly enjoyable to listen to and learn from.  The real-life anecdotes were great to hear; a perfect balance of seriousness and humor was upheld every minute.

I am totally going to take my WEMT refresher from you guys (will aim to join you in Moab!) in the next 2 years.  Not only did I literally get “refreshed” on things I needed, but have been re-inspired about this field and way of life."

THANK YOU!

Jeanie Clements
Arapahoe Basin Ski Patroller

photo - graduate Jere Burrell climbing

“The WEMS program at CMC Breckenridge prepared me to take my career to the next level. It gave me the foundation necessary to work in mountain ranges across the western US.

Whether I’m navigating with clients across enormous glaciers to the summits of active volcanoes in the Cascades, instructing new rock climbers how to belay on the classic crags in Clear Creek Canyon or backpacking with outdoor education students through the Fossil Ridge Wilderness, I am confident the highly experienced faculty at CMC prepared me to provide a safe and rewarding experience.”

– Jere Burrell

All or part of this operation is conducted on Public Lands and Waters under special permits and agreements from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.