The course is a 3-day course that teaches patient assessment and treatment guidelines enabling the participants to prevent and effectively manage emergency medical situations outside traditional medical facilities until definitive care or evacuation is available, and trains them in methods to manage medical and trauma emergencies and urgencies in the wilderness when evacuation is unavailable or unnecessary.

The course is equally divided between didactic lecture and hands-on teaching. The AWLS certification is appropriate for any licensed medical professional, or medical professional in training, who has an interest in wilderness activities.