Last Updated: October 31, 2024
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.”
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.
Fortunately, some forward-thinking NP programs are stepping up to fill this gap by providing preceptors for their students. These programs offer a structured and stress-free approach to clinical placements, allowing students to focus more on their education rather than the logistics of finding a preceptor. In this article, we explore the landscape of NP programs that offer preceptor services, detailing the benefits they provide and how they could reshape the educational experience for aspiring nurse practitioners. Whether you’re an NP student overwhelmed by the search for a preceptor or a program administrator looking to enhance your curriculum, understanding these initiatives could be the key to unlocking a smoother path to success.
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.
THIS LIST IS CURRENTLY A WORK IN PROGRESS AS OF OCTOBER 29, 2024 AND UPDATED FREQUENTLY AS NEW INFORMATION IS FOUND.
Alabama
- 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.
Alaska
- 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
- Arizona State University (AS OF 10/30/24)
- 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 11/2/21, 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.”
- 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
- California State University–Los Angeles (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- 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).”
- Samuel Merritt University (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA) (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of California–San Francisco (UCSF) (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of San Diego (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
- University of Southern California (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
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 (UNVERIFIED AS OF 10/29/24)
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)
- 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.”
Pennsylvania State University (PCU)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.