Looking for NP programs that provide preceptors? Becoming a nurse practitioner (NP) is a rewarding career path filled with opportunities to make a significant impact on patient care. However, the road to becoming an NP is fraught with challenges—none more frustrating than securing a preceptor. For many students, the search for a qualified preceptor can feel like a full-time job, adding stress to an already demanding program. With the increasing number of NP students vying for limited spots, geographical constraints, and inconsistent preceptor selection processes, this crucial step in clinical training often becomes a daunting hurdle. The CCNE specifically states in their 2022 Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education that a program “secures clinical sites and preceptors to ensure students enrolled in clinical courses have experiences to meet learning objectives and demonstrate expected course competencies with timely completion of the NP program.”
Choosing an Online NP Program Versus an In-Person NP Program
Choosing an online NP program offers unmatched flexibility and accessibility, making it the perfect choice for working professionals and nurses looking to advance their careers without compromising their current responsibilities. With 24/7 access to course materials, virtual clinical simulations, and personalized support services, online programs cater to a variety of learning styles and schedules. They also provide access to a broader range of schools and programs, regardless of geographic location, while offering potential cost savings on commuting and accommodation. Whether you value self-paced learning or enjoy the comfort of studying from home, online NP programs leverage cutting-edge technology to create an engaging and practical educational experience from anywhere.
In-person NP programs offer distinct advantages that foster a comprehensive educational experience. One of the primary benefits is the opportunity for hands-on learning, which is essential in the healthcare field. Students can engage directly with patients during clinical rotations, refining their practical skills under the guidance of experienced instructors. This face-to-face interaction not only enhances learning but also helps students build confidence and competence in real-world clinical settings. Furthermore, being physically present in a classroom allows for instantaneous feedback, group discussions, and collaborative learning experiences that can deepen understanding of complex medical concepts. In-person programs also offer networking opportunities with peers and faculty, facilitating the development of professional relationships that can be instrumental throughout a student’s career.
Finding NP Programs that Provide Preceptors
The shortage of preceptors significantly affects the quality of clinical education for nurse practitioner students. With a limited number of preceptors available, students often face increased competition for clinical placements, which can lead to a compromised learning environment. In situations where preceptor availability is strained, students might be placed in settings that do not align with their educational needs or career goals. This mismatch can result in inadequate exposure to relevant clinical experiences, ultimately affecting the depth and breadth of their training.
The following list is adapted from a list originally put out by the Sawyer Initiative aimed at improving clinical preceptor and clinical site availability for nurse practitioner students by urging the CCNE to require NP programs to provide preceptors. Unfortunately, this list has not been updated in over 5 years nor is it readily available on the internet. All of the information has been researched and linked to help provide as much information possible when picking a NP program. Programs listed below are from the original “The Good NP School List” with proper updates provided as of the most recent update.
Additionally, I have also begun working on a list of hospitals that accept requests for preceptors to help clinical and non-clinical graduate students.
THIS LIST IS CURRENTLY A WORK IN PROGRESS AS OF OCTOBER 29, 2024 AND UPDATED FREQUENTLY AS NEW INFORMATION IS FOUND.
Last Updated: November 28, 2024
Alabama
- [UNCLEAR] The University of Alabama – Birmingham (AS OF 10/30/24)
- Programs available: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- It is unclear whether UAB actually provides preceptors, or just assistance.
- Per the UAB website heading on the NP programs: “The UAB School of Nursing provides support and assistance to MSN and DNP students in securing appropriate clinical placement sites and qualified preceptors from among more than 5,000 clinical affiliates.”
- UAB does have a page dedicated to preceptors where they discuss the benefits of becoming a preceptor for UAB.
- University of South Alabama (UNVERIFIED AS OF 11/22/24)
Alaska
- [UNCLEAR] University of Alaska–Anchorage (AS OF 10/31/24)
- Programs available: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- It is unclear whether the program provides preceptors.
- Per their program website, UAA notes “FNP, PMHNP and NLDR-EDU clinicals must be completed in the state of Alaska and in most instances clinical is done in the students’ own community. Decisions for clinical sites are based on there being adequate experiences and preceptors locally that allow the student to meet the course and program outcomes.”
Arizona
- [LOCAL STUDENTS ONLY] Arizona State University (AS OF 10/30/24)
- Programs available: Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (DNP), Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (DNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (DNP), Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
- The DNP program provides clinical sites for local students: “Focused clinical experiences are arranged for students residing in Maricopa County, Arizona. Students should expect to travel throughout Maricopa County and, in some cases, surrounding counties to complete their assigned clinical placement.” However, “the program office does not guarantee a clinical placement site for any student outside Maricopa County.”
Arkansas
- Currently researching programs
California
As of 12/28/21, the California Board of Registered Nursing amended the California Code of Regulations for Nurse Practitioner education and standards for nurse practitioners (Section 1484 of Article 8 of Division 14 of Title 16) that “the nurse practitioner education program shall arrange for clinical instruction and supervision of the student.”
- [UNCLEAR] California State University–Long Beach (AS OF 10/31/24)
- Programs available: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- CSU-Long Beach is moving away from offering MSN degrees in these specialties and they are currently offering them as DNP programs
- It is unclear whether CSU-Long Beach provides preceptors as they note in their FAQs section: “If you do not have clinical sites, the CSULB SON will work with you to facilitate clinical placements. You will work with a group of classmates to develop a project at a clinical or community site. To assure an affiliation agreement is in place for these practice experiences, you need to help identify the locations early in the program.”
- Programs available: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- [YES] California State University–Los Angeles (AS OF 11/01/24)
- Per their Graduate and Post Masters Certificate Program FAQs: “The School of Nursing has a clinical placement office that finds placements for students however, students may request to find their own placement. A contract between the University and the agency is required.”
- [YES] Loma Linda University (AS OF 10/30/24)
- According to their program information page, “Students in the CNS and NP clinical courses will be assigned clinical rotations in the Inland Empire (IE) region of Southern California (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties). The CNS and NP Program faculty members arrange all clinical rotations for students as required by the California Board of Registered Nursing Regulations (Sections 1484, h (11) of Division 14 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations).”
- [NO]
Samuel Merritt University(AS OF 11/01/24)- Programs available: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP, Certificate), Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN, DNP, Certificate)
- Per their website is looks like they only provide assistance with clinical placement: “You will work with our clinical coordinator to secure appropriate practicum and internship sites in your community. You’ll also have access to our network of qualified clinical preceptors (MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, midwives).”
- [NO]
University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA) (AS OF 11/27/24)- Programs available: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (DNP), Adult/Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (DNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP), Pediatric Dual Primary/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
- Per their 2024-2025 DNP Student Handbook, “If an agreement cannot be reached between the school and the hospital/clinic by the deadline indicated by the DNP Student Affairs Officer, the student may be required to find an alternate site that has an Affiliation Agreement with UCLA School of Nursing to complete their clinical practicum hours.” This statement implies that students are responsible for their own clinical rotations and preceptors until specific clarification is received from the school.
- Of note, UCLA does not designate on their nursing department website whether they do or do not provide preceptors.
- [YES] University of California–San Francisco (UCSF) (AS OF 11/27/24)
- Programs offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Per their program page, “Many of our nursing students receive clinical training at our UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center, which is consistently ranked among the finest hospitals in the country. We also partner with renowned hospitals and clinics throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Stanford Health Care and Kaiser Permanente, to provide hands-on clinical training to our students.”
- [YES] University of San Diego (AS OF 11/28/24)
- Programs available: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (BSN-DNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN-DNP)
- Per their BSN-DNP program FAQs: “Clinical placements are determined jointly by the clinical placement coordinator and program faculty based on the clinical course objectives for the program.”
- Additionally, USD specifically states “USD provides DNP students with clinical placements” on their A Guide to Achieving the Doctor of Nursing Practice at USD page.
- [UNCLEAR] University of Southern California (AS OF 11/28/24)
- Programs available: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Per their program website: “Our clinical placement team will work with you to secure placement sites within 100 miles of your location. We screen all sites, with the goal of matching students with settings that provide diverse primary care clinical experiences. While you may request a site, that placement location cannot be guaranteed.”
- Additionally, their program website also states “Placements may be secured up to 100 miles from your location. To account for personal preferences in distance and scheduling, you are allowed to submit placement referrals a minimum of one term (16 weeks) in advance. Referrals are subject to program standards and faculty approval.”
Colorado
- University of Colorado–Denver (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Connecticut
- Fairfield University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Quinnipiac University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Sacred Heart University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Connecticut (UCONN) (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Yale University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Delaware
- Currently researching programs
Florida
- Florida Atlantic University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Florida Gulf Coast University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Florida International University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Jacksonville University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Central Florida (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Florida (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Miami (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of South Florida (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Georgia
- Augusta University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Emory University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Mercer University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Hawaii
- Hawaii Pacific University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Idaho
- Northwest Nazarene University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Illinois
- Loyola University Chicago (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Rush University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Illinois (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Indiana
- Currently researching programs
Iowa
- Briarcliff University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Iowa (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Kansas
- Currently researching programs
Kentucky
- Currently researching programs
Louisiana
- Currently researching programs
Maine
- Currently researching programs
Maryland
- Johns Hopkins University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Maryland–Baltimore (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Massachusetts
- Boston College (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- MGH Institute of Health Professions (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Simmons University (AS OF 10/31/24)
- Per their Clinical Placement FAQs page: “The program does not guarantee clinical placement but does provide a high level of placement support services to each student. Each student will be assigned a Clinical Placement Specialist who will work with the student and local health care providers to establish placement opportunities.”
- in an email I received from the program, they noted:
Michigan
- Grand Valley State University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Michigan State University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Michigan (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Minnesota
- Saint Catherine University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Mississippi
- Currently researching programs
Missouri
- Currently researching programs
Montana
- Currently researching programs
Nebraska
- Currently researching programs
Nevada
- Currently researching programs
New Hampshire
- Currently researching programs
New Jersey
- Currently researching programs
New Mexico
- Currently researching programs
New York
- Binghamton University–for local students (?) (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Columbia University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Hofstra University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Hunter College (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Pace University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Rochester (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
North Carolina
- Duke University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- East Carolina University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
North Dakota
- North Dakota State University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of North Dakota (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Ohio
- Case Western Reserve University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- The Ohio State University (OSU) (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Otterbein University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Oklahoma
- University of Tulsa (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Oregon
- Currently researching programs
Pennsylvania
- DeSales University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- La Salle University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- [YES] Moravian College (AS OF 10/30/24)
- Noted on their post-Masters Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate page: “Clinical practicum experiences will be arranged by the MSN/NP Program Director and CRNP faculty.”
- Noted in the NP student handbook: “Students are not required to identify and formalize preceptors, although it is encouraged to seek out professional relationships to facilitate the process.”
- [NO]
Pennsylvania State University (PSU)Per the PSU nursing website: “Students are primarily responsible for identifying clinical preceptors and sites. Assistance may be provided by faculty when needed.” (AS OF 10/30/24) - Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Villanova University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Wilkes University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Rhode Island
- Currently researching programs
South Carolina
- Currently researching programs
South Dakota
- Currently researching programs
Tennessee
- University of Tennessee (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Vanderbilt University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Texas
- Texas A & M University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Texas Christian University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Texas Women’s University
- University of Texas–Austin (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Texas Health Science Center (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Texas–Medical Branch (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Utah
- Brigham Young University (BYU) (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Utah (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Vermont
- Currently researching programs
Virginia
- Currently researching programs
Washington
- Pacific Lutheran Univesrity (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- Seattle University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Washington (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Washington, D. C.
- Georgetown University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- The Catholic University of America (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
West Virginia
- Currently researching programs
Wisconsin
- Marquette University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
Wyoming
- Currently researching programs
Let’s Chat!
If you have any insight into the programs above, please let us know your thoughts in the comments below! The goal is to continually update this list so it has the most update information to help you make a decision on the most appropriate nurse practitioner program for you.
References
McInnis, A., Schlemmer, T., Chapman, B., (January 31, 2021) “The Significance of the NP Preceptorship
Shortage” OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 26, No. 1, Manuscript 5.
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