Wilderness First Aid & CPR Requirements
ACSKG certified guides must provide current approved wilderness first aid and CPR level C (or higher) certificates.
Some first aid courses may include a lower level of CPR training; a CPR upgrade may be necessary.
CPR levels A and B are considered lower levels and therefore not sufficient for ACSKG certification.
CPR levels BLS and HCP are higher levels, so more than sufficient for ACSKG certification.
View a comparison of the different levels of CPR.
Each certificate must include an expiry date.
Please determine if a course qualifies for ACSKG approval before registering on it. Guides may encourage their preferred course provider to apply to the ACSKG.
View the Course Application Process.
Approved Wilderness First Aid Courses
Minimum requirement for Assistant Guides: Explorer course or Wilderness Emergency Response or Basic Wilderness First Aid Refresher or Advanced Wilderness First Aid Refresher
Minimum requirement for Full Guides: Advanced Back-Country
Minimum requirement for Assistant Guides: NUEC 2
Minimum requirement for Full Guides: NUEC 3
Minimum requirement for Assistant Guides: WAFA
Minimum requirement for Full Guides: Wilderness First Responder
Minimum requirement for Assistant Guides: WAFA
Minimum requirement for Full Guides: Wilderness First Responder
Minimum requirement for Assistant Guides: Adventure Medic
Minimum requirement for Full Guides: Advanced Medic / WFR
Minimum requirement for Assistant Guides: 50-Hour course
Minimum requirement for Full Guides: 90-Hour course
Minimum requirement for Assistant Guides: AWFA
Minimum requirement for Full Guides: Wilderness First Responder
Minimum requirement for Assistant Guides: Advanced WFA
Minimum requirement for Full Guides: Wilderness First Responder
Minimum requirement for Assistant Guides: Wilderness First Aid - 40 hours
Minimum requirement for Full Guides: Not Applicable - Under Review
The ACSKG recognizes recertifications and upgrades from approved courses if the certificate issued meets the minimum requirement listed above.
Course Application Process
Wilderness first aid course providers may apply for ACSKG approval by emailing the ACSKG to request an assessment.
Minimum requirements for ACSKG approval:
- Courses must focus on non-urban emergency response.
- Wilderness first aid courses must be of at least 40 hours duration for Assistant Guides, or 80 hours for Full Guides.
- (Recertification courses may be of shorter duration.)
- Students who successfully complete a course must be provided with a wilderness first aid certificate that expires no more than three years from the date they successfully completed the course.
Guides are urged to confirm a course qualifies for ACSKG approval before registering on it.
Occupational First Aid
OFA training is rigorous, yet the ACSKG only approves wilderness first aid courses specifically devoted to teaching patient care and evacuation techniques for wilderness environments: ACSKG certified guides must hold approved and up-to-date wilderness first aid certification.
There is one ACSKG approved course that provides combined training in both OFA and WFA (wilderness first aid). For details, please see: Peak Emergency Response Training Non-Urban Emergency Care Level 3 (NUEC 3)
If discrepancies exist between ACSKG printed material and material published on the ACSKG website, the online content will be considered valid. The most up-to-date content is published at: ACSKG.ca