Mentorship, Field Training & Competency Development

Three distinct development roles

• Mentorship supports sustained professional development and career growth.
• Preceptorship supports supervised transition into a role or clinical environment.
• Field Training Officer (FTO) programs provide structured field-based onboarding, observation, feedback, and progression, particularly in EMS and transport settings.

Program design and assessment

The organization’s clinical and educational leaders define the required performance and approve the program. Support may include:

• Mentor, preceptor, and FTO selection criteria and evaluator development
• Staged orientation, role-specific competency matrices, assessment rubrics, and supervised practice
• Simulation, case review, progress reviews, remediation pathways, and periodic reassessment
• Professional communication, handoffs, escalation, equipment use, documentation, clinical judgment, patient safety, and leadership behaviors relevant to each role
• Transparent assessment criteria, assessor consistency, participant feedback, and appropriate confidentiality

Low-frequency, high-risk experience

For low-frequency, high-risk events, organizations may consider an approved combination of simulation, supervised learning, case review, and appropriate role rotation. Case volume alone does not establish competence.

Example deliverables

• Program handbook and orientation pathway
• Competency matrix, observation forms, and assessment criteria
• Mentor, preceptor, or FTO development package
• Progress-review process and implementation plan