BackgroundDue to the rarity of shoulder dystocia, an obstetric emergency, it is difficult even for experts to develop the appropriate routine in this emergency. Regular further training is therefore recommended for obstetricians and midwives. Evidence is lacking on the extent to which e-learning as a teaching method can be successfully used to acquire these skills and put them into practice. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how the learning objectives for shoulder dystocia, listed in the National Competence Based Learning Objectives Catalog for Medicine (NKLM, Germany) can be successfully taught in medical studies using a blended learning concept (e-learning and practical application on a birth simulator).MethodsAfter completing an e-learning course, final year medical students and midwife trainees demonstrated their action competence for shoulder dystocia procedure on a birth simulator. This transfer of the theoretical knowledge to the case study was assessed using an evaluation form oriented to the recommendations for action.ResultsOne hundred sixty medical students and 14 midwifery trainees participated in the study from April to July 2019. Overall, 95.9% of the study participants met the required standards, i.e. achieved very good to adequate performance (Ø good) in simulation training.ConclusionsE-learning with annotated high-quality learning videos is an excellent way to transfer theoretical knowledge about shoulder dystocia procedures into medical practice on a birth simulator. The learning objectives required by the NKLM for shoulder dystocia can be successfully conveyed to students via the applied blended learning concept.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-023-04335-9.