1. Determine your program
BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, and each NP population focus have different preceptor lists. Write the exact degree and course number on your tracker.
Who does which step
| Work | You | PreceptorFinder | Your university |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm hour, specialty, and credential rules | Yes | Cannot replace the handbook | Publishes the current rules |
| Locate a potential preceptor | You can search yourself | Can review a request and look for options | Usually does not assign a clinician for you |
| Approve the preceptor and site | Submit the packet | Does not approve | Yes — this is their decision |
| Onboarding, logs, evaluations | Yes | No | Sets the required format |
2. Determine required hours
Confirm the current hour total and what counts. Ask whether orientation, simulation, or telehealth hours are included. See clinical hours.
3. Determine your specialty
Specialty is the clinical lens of the course. An FNP rotation and a PMHNP rotation are not interchangeable even if both preceptors are nurse practitioners.
4. Determine required patient population
Some courses require a percentage of visits with children, older adults, or a specific condition group. Ask for the written breakdown if your manual is vague.
5. Determine location
Start with the state of licensure and the commuting radius you can sustain for the full hour total. “Near me” is a starting filter, not a complete strategy. Browse location guides.
6. Understand your university’s requirements
Credential lists, prohibited settings, affiliation rules, and deadlines come from the school. PreceptorFinder does not override them. If you attend a frequently searched program, start at university guides and still verify with the source.
7. Identify potential clinical sites
Clinics, private practices, health systems, community sites, and specialty practices may all be eligible or ineligible depending on the course. Follow any published site-type rules.
8. Identify qualified preceptors
Look for license, certification, population match, and capacity. Alumni, employers, and professional associations are legitimate sources. So is a structured matching request if your own list is empty.
9. Contact potential preceptors
Use a complete first message. See how to email a preceptor.
10. Verify credentials
Check the license lookup for the state of the site. Confirm certification if your program requires it. Do this before you invest in a full application packet.
11. Confirm availability
A yes that cannot produce the hours before your deadline is not a yes. Confirm weekly schedule, planned leave, and a backup plan.
12. Submit the proposed preceptor and site for university approval
Use the current portal or forms. Incomplete packets stall. Faculty or field offices—not PreceptorFinder—issue approval.
13. Complete onboarding
Schools and sites may require immunizations, background checks, EHR training, or modules. Start these as soon as the site is likely, not after approval if the site says they are sequential.
14. Begin clinical hours
Arrive prepared, follow site policy, and keep the preceptor’s workflow in mind. Clarify supervision before you see patients independently.
15. Maintain documentation
Log hours on the required schedule. Do not reconstruct a month of visits from memory at the deadline.
16. Complete evaluations
Give the preceptor advance notice of due dates. Tell faculty promptly if the preceptor or site changes. Then confirm the course is marked complete.
Where PreceptorFinder can help
If steps 7–11 are the barrier, submit a student request. We help with locating options. We do not complete steps 12–16 for you and we do not guarantee a result.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip to matching help immediately?
You can submit a request at any time, but the review is more useful if you already know your university’s current hour, specialty, and credential rules.
Does this process work for every school?
The sequence is common. The forms, portals, and credential lists are school-specific. Always follow your program’s current instructions.