Preceptors play an essential role in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. By welcoming students into your clinical setting, you provide valuable hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world insight that helps students grow into confident, compassionate, and skilled providers. Our program is always looking to partner with dedicated clinicians and clinical sites who are interested in supporting student education.

Why Become a Preceptor?

Serving as a preceptor is a meaningful way to give back to the profession while helping shape future healthcare providers. Preceptors have the opportunity to share their clinical expertise, model professional practice, and contribute directly to student development.

Benefits of Precepting

Preceptors may benefit from:

• Professional development and mentorship experience
• Opportunities to strengthen teaching and leadership skills 
• Collaboration with motivated PA students 
• Contribution to the growth of the healthcare workforce 
• Recognition from the PA Program for service and support Access to program resources, events, and continuing education opportunities, when available 

In addition to these professional benefits, precepting can also serve as an effective recruitment opportunity. Approximately 30–40% of PA students accept employment with a former clinical preceptor following graduation. Hosting a student allows you to evaluate their clinical skills, work ethic, and fit within your practice over the course of a rotation, making it an excellent way to identify and recruit future providers.

What Preceptors Do

Preceptors provide students with supervised clinical experiences in real patient care settings. This includes allowing students to observe, participate in patient encounters, practice clinical reasoning, receive feedback, and develop professional communication skills. Preceptors help students connect classroom knowledge to clinical practice while ensuring patient care remains the top priority.

Who Can Become a Preceptor?

The Marist University Physician Assistant Program welcomes qualified clinicians from a variety of medical and surgical specialties. Eligible preceptors include:

• Doctors of Medicine (MD) 
• Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) 
• Physician Assistants (PA) 
• Nurse Practitioners (NP) 
• Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) 

Qualifications required:

• Unencumbered, unrestricted medical license
• Currently or previously board certified 
• Minimum 2 years of experience as a clinician 

Preceptors should possess clinical expertise, demonstrate a commitment to high-quality patient care, and be willing to provide supervision, teaching, and constructive feedback throughout the student’s clinical rotation.

Partner With Us

Becoming a preceptor is a rewarding way to make a lasting impact on students and the future of healthcare. We are grateful for the clinicians and organizations who partner with us to provide exceptional educational experiences. To learn more about becoming a preceptor or hosting a student, please fill out a brief form: