Become A Clinical Preceptor
The clinical year takes students from the classroom setting to a hands-on learning environment to prepare them for a lifetime of continued refinement of skills and expanded knowledge as a practicing PA.
What Is a Preceptor’s Role?
Clinical preceptors are essential to training our graduate-level PA students during their 5-week supervised clinical practice experiential rotations. Preceptors work with students at their practice location and guide them through patient encounters across the lifespan in varying stages of health.
PA students work under a preceptor’s supervision, learning from their advice and example in order to develop the skills and clinical judgment necessary to become a practicing PA.
Learn how to join our team of educators, discover opportunities for professional development, find support resources, and get answers to frequently asked questions.
Applying to be a Preceptor
If you are interested in collaborating with Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s Physician Assistant program as a clinical preceptor, please complete and submit the preceptor interest form below. A member of the clinical education team will reach out to you via your preferred method.
If you have questions or want to reach out directly, contact Kelli Kruzel by email or by phone at 401-598-4886.
Frequently Asked Questions
PA students can:
- Learn from and collaborate with a variety of licensed healthcare providers such as but not limited to: MD, DO, PA, NP, RN, LISCW.
- Follow a combination of licensed providers throughout their rotation.
- Follow a schedule set by the preceptor or site — including working evenings, overnights, weekends, and participating in on-call.
- Obtain patient histories and perform physical exams.
- Give oral presentations on patients they encounter to the preceptor or present to consultants.
- Recommend and help interpret diagnostic testing.
- Help develop differential diagnoses and treatment plans.
- Provide patient education and counseling.
- Document as a student in electronic medical record systems.
- Be assigned written notes on patients they have seen.
- Be given assignments such as journal article readings and be asked to present on medical topics or cases.
- Be given feedback on their performance and how to improve.
- Be held to the same ethical and professional standards as that of licensed PAs.
- Perform clinical procedures under supervision.
• Â鶹¹ÙÍø students have instruction and hands on practice with procedures including but not limited to: suturing, venipuncture, injections, IV placement, Foley catheterization, splinting, ear lavage, fluorescein eye exams, NG tube placement, lumbar puncture, surgical gowning and gloving, sterile technique.
PA students cannot:
- Prescribe medications.
- Evaluate or discharge a patient without a licensed provider also assessing the patient before or after the encounter with the student.
- Bill for services.
- Be utilized only to fill clerical or office staff duties.
Contact Kelli Kruzel by phone at 401-598-4886 or by email. You can also contact Craig Baillie at 401-598-5011 or by email.
We will set up a meeting with you to discuss the supervised clinical practice experience and to visit your practice.
- A copy of your CV is required.
- Physician preceptors should be board certified, and Physician Assistants must be NCCPA certified.
- Preceptors must hold a valid license that allows them to practice at the clinical site.
- Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives, and other health care professionals must be licensed and board certified in their area of specialty, if applicable.
There is no minimum number of students or rotations that you are required to precept. This is up to you and your practice to decide what you are comfortable with.
We utilize a web-based software system to track and evaluate the clinical year student. Preceptors receive an email with a link to complete evaluations on the student. Preceptors are asked to complete two evaluations (one mid-rotation and one upon completion of the rotation) per student.
In addition, preceptors are encouraged to reach out directly to clinical faculty should there be any issues during the rotation.
Preceptors are not asked to award a grade, although the final rotation evaluation contributes to a component of the student’s final clinical rotation grade. Evaluations are structured based on clinical rotation type but generally, the preceptor will assess the student’s knowledge, clinical reasoning skills, and professionalism.
Preceptors are also encouraged to provide students with honest and constructive feedback, which is important to help students refine their skills and grow into successful health professionals.
Each clinical rotation type has a course syllabus containing instructional objectives that guide the experience. These syllabi are provided to both the preceptor and the student in advance of the rotation. On the first day of a rotation, preceptors should meet with the student to discuss mutual expectations.
In terms of both training and ongoing support, yes. Preceptors are encouraged to reach out directly to clinical faculty with any questions or concerns. Preceptors are also provided a preceptor handbook and other clinical education resources.
Category I CME
- Only Physician Assistant preceptors are eligible to earn CME credit at this time.
- Â鶹¹ÙÍø PA Program may award two (2) AAPA Category 1 CME credits per student for each 40-hour week of clinical teaching.
- Preceptors may earn up to 10 credits for a five-week rotation with a Â鶹¹ÙÍø PA student.
Category II CME
The time a PA preceptor spends educating students can be recorded as Category 2 CME. Category II credit does not require documentation from the PA program.