Please Note: Advanced EMT students attend Skills Labs with Paramedic students and practice the same skills; however, your scope of practice during clinical and field experiences will be slightly more limited, as some skills are Paramedic-specific. For more details, review our AEMT Guide to SMC.

EMT Skills Lab Overview

1. Students in the EMT program will be taught, coached, and tested on how to complete both medical and trauma assessments. They will learn how to take manual vital signs, such as blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, etc. Students will also be instructed, tested, and certified in American Heart Association Basic Life Support (AHA BLS) CPR. Additional topics covered include hemorrhage control techniques like tourniquet application, as well as backboarding, traction splinting, and other foundational EMS life-saving skills. These hands-on sessions are designed to prepare students for clinical/field experiences and the profession, overall. There’s no need to feel nervous about attending your Skills Lab—just come ready to learn. Our instructors are here to support you and will teach you everything you need to know to succeed.
   

1. Session 1 Skills Lab is required for all Advanced EMT and Paramedic students. During this session, students will complete a series of hands-on skills designed to fulfill a portion of their Student Minimum Competency (SMC) requirements. These requirements—and how they tie into your clinical and field experiences—will be discussed in detail during the session.
   
2. This lab is focused on preparing students for the types of skills and scenarios they may encounter during clinical and field internships, as well as in their future roles as advanced providers. Students will review and demonstrate proficiency in basic life support (BLS) skills, and then move into more advanced training; airway and breathing interventions (such as intubation, supraglottic airways, cricothyrotomy), cardiac interventions (such as transcutaneous pacing, synchronized cardioversion, and defibrillation), and medication/fluid administration techniques (such as establishing IV and IO access). In addition, students will be taught and assessed on performing thorough medical and trauma assessments.
3. Finally, students will receive guidance on how to document interventions in FISDAP using their SMC, ensuring they’re fully prepared to accurately record interventions during their clinical/field internships.
   

1. Session 2 Skills Lab is required for all Advanced EMT and Paramedic students who have already completed Session 1 and begun their clinical and/or field internship experiences.
   
2. This lab builds upon the foundational knowledge and hands-on skills introduced in Session 1. Students will participate in formative, instructor-led scenarios that simulate real-world calls. These scenarios provide students the opportunity to apply previously learned interventions—such as airway management, cardiac procedures, medication administration, and patient assessments—in a team-based setting.
   
3. Instructors will guide students through each scenario, offering support, clarifying critical steps, and helping students work through any gaps in knowledge or confidence. This is a space for practice, refinement, and reinforcement of existing skills. 
   
4. After completing each scenario, students will document the scenarios within patient care reports—just as they would during clinical or field shifts. This helps reinforce accurate documentation habits and prepares students for their remaining internship requirements.
   

Session 3 Skills Lab Overview

1. Session 3 Skills Lab is required for Paramedic students only and serves as a final evaluation point before students can progress to their Capstone internship, if all other program requirements have been met. By this stage, students will have already completed Sessions 1 and 2, as well as significant portions, if not all, of their clinical and field internship requirements.
2. Unlike earlier sessions, Session 3 is summative, meaning instructors will not provide assistance or guidance during the scenarios. Students must demonstrate that they can independently lead a variety of emergency situations from start to finish without prompting. This includes verbalizing and simulating all assessments, interventions, and skills accurately and confidently.
   
3. Students are expected to formulate appropriate field impressions based on the scenarios they are given, demonstrating sound clinical judgment and decision-making. These summative scenarios are used to evaluate whether a student is ready to transition into their Capstone internship.
   
4. Students will still document each scenario within a patient care report, writing detailed narratives as they would during an actual shift.
   
5. Come prepared, confident, and focused for this Skills Lab.