To assure standards remain consistent and are provided is effective and of the highest quality, the Operational Medical Directors for the Thomas Jefferson EMS council requires one mandatory skill drill be completed by all BLS EMS personnel operating in the region. The following list those procedures regarding the skills drill:
The mandatory skills drill will be held in April of each year.

All EMS certified BLS personnel, affiliated with a licensed EMS agency in the region are required to attend the mandatory skills drill.

Each licensed EMS agency will complete a skills session in October of each year with all EMS certified BLS personnel.  Skills packet will be provided to each agency by the TJEMS Training Specialist in August of each year.

EMS personnel successfully completing a state test (written and three (3) practical stations) in the month of April are exempt from the skills drill for the calendar year.  Written notification to the TJEMS office, attention Training Specialist, must be completed by June 1 to qualify for the aforementioned exemption.

BLS providers not able to attend a scheduled skills drill in their own community may attend any other skills drill within the region with prior permission from the TJEMS office.  Registration is available by phone BLS providers unable to attend a scheduled skills drill must make arrangements in advance with the TJEMS staff to schedule a skills session at the TJEMS office.  Reasons acceptable for rescheduling include occupational and personal conflicts.  Such request are to be forwarded in writing or via email to the Training Specialist.

BLS providers who do not successfully complete the various stations within the skills drill will be notified, and a list will be sent to the Captain/training officer for the Agency to remediate the skill.

The Operational Medical Director determines and approves any remedial training for their agency.

BLS providers who miss two (2) consecutive mandatory skills drill automatically have their privileges-to-practice suspended until such time remediation has been completed as directed by the Operational Medical Director.  The Operational Medical Director or their designee may complete the remediation.
Failure to attend mandatory skills drill will nullify any waiver from written recertification testing.  In addition, the BLS provider in question will be required to successfully complete practical skills evaluation.