Boy Scouts of America

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is required to take Wilderness First Aid (WFA)? Requirements are program centric. As an example:

All four of the BSA high-adventure bases require at least one person per trek (two per trek at Philmont Scout Ranch) to be certified in WFA through an approved provider. Additional participants trained in WFA skills are recommended.

Council-run trek programs may also require participants to be current with WFA certification. If you are staffing a trek camp, WFA may be required. Check directly with the camp you will be attending.

In addition, participants in unit-centric high-adventure or backcountry programs would greatly benefit from WFA skills in the event of an emergency.

Who can take this course? Anyone 14 years old and up. The BSA WFA course is designed for everyone from lay responders to those with medical experience participating in high-adventure camps or backcountry experiences.

How long is the course? 16 hours.

Do I need to have medical experience? No. This course is designed for anyone with or without medical training.  First Aid Training is helpful but not a pre-requisite.

Are there any prerequisites for the course? Yes. You must be certified from a nationally recognized provider in both CPR and AED. First-aid training is a plus, but it is not a prerequisite.

How long does a WFA certification last? Two years.  

Is WFA offered as a blended online course? 

The BSA has been working with ECSI to design a blended learning format that combines 8-hours of online learning with 8-hours of in-person skills testing. This blended format is available on the ECSI website. A newer version has been developed and will be available soon on the ECSI website.   https://www.ecsinstitute.org/scouting-wfa  Currently, ECSI is the only WFA blended format that meets the BSA WFA Curriculum and Doctrine Guidelines. 

Note: Online-only WFA courses do not meet the WFA requirement.

How does the blended WFA course work? 

The blended course will still meet the sixteen-hour standard.  Eight hours online and eight hours during the in-person scenario-based skills check. 

ECSI offers the online portion of the course which can be taken at your own pace. The online portion is designed to last 8 hours.  It includes chapter quizzes and a final test that must be successfully completed.  Once you have successfully finished the course work and exam, you will be able to print your course completion certificate.  Next step would be to contact an ECSI BSA WFA instructor and complete the eight hour in-person skills check.  After successful completion of the skills check course, you will have earned your WFA certification.

How was the BSA WFA curriculum developed? Epidemiological data from published literature and BSA sources was analyzed to determine the frequency of events during outdoor program and high-adventure experiences within Scouting and in similar programs outside the BSA. Education experts determined the appropriate training for a WFA-level course. Outcomes-based and peer-reviewed literature was utilized to develop the curriculum

In 2017, review of the WFA curriculum was concluded and revisions were made to reflect current medical trends and accepted treatment. This review was conducted by a group of medical experts with vast experience in the backcountry. You may download the material here.

What major differences are in the 2017 WFA revised curriculum? Many WFA students commented that they would prefer additional time to practice scenarios during the course itself. It was determined that grouping content into core and elective material would allow for greater scenario practice time. The total amount of time for the course remains the same at 16 hours.

Additional revisions revolve around changing medical ideology and treatment. International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation guidelines were incorporated as appropriate.

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.