Preceptor FAQs

You are eligible to serve as a preceptor if you are:

• An NCCPA-certified physician assistant (PA), board-certified medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO), nurse practitioner (NP) or certified nurse midwife (CNM).
• Licensed and in good standing with your state licensing board.
• Have at least one year of clinical experience in your current discipline and practice setting.
• Willing to assist students in meeting their required learning objectives for the rotation (listed in each rotation setting syllabus).

All students complete clinical rotations in family medicine, pediatrics, inpatient medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, behavioral medicine, and women’s health (focused on gynecology and prenatal care). Women’s health and behavioral medicine are 3-week rotations; all others are 6 weeks. Students also select one 6-week “elective” rotation in any discipline. All rotations must provide a minimum of 32 hours of hands-on patient care per week. Participation in call, weekend rotations, and activities such as long-term care visits, is encouraged.

Students should be able to perform comprehensive and focused histories and physical exams. Their clinical reasoning skills will develop over time, but they should be able to generate differential diagnoses and suggest next steps for diagnosis and treatment. They should possess basic patient education and counseling skills and have training in procedures such as phlebotomy, splinting, wound care, and pap smears. Students’ experience levels will vary.

Preceptors and students will receive rotation-specific learning objectives in advance. On the first day of the rotation, preceptors should meet with the student to review expectations. A mid-rotation check-in is strongly recommended. Ongoing informal feedback is vital to student development. Preceptors complete a mid- and end-of-rotation evaluation online. Program faculty and staff are available at any time for questions or concerns.

Effective preceptors Foster a welcoming learning environment. The first few days should orient the student to practice operations and allow observation. After direct observation confirms readiness, students can conduct histories and exams independently, present findings, and collaborate on assessments and plans. Preceptors should periodically observe students directly throughout the rotation. Students must document only as allowed by site policy and supervision, and preceptors remain responsible for all final documentation and orders.

Students also need to practice clinical procedures as opportunities arise. This includes phlebotomy, starting IVs, wound care, splinting and pap smears, which are taught in the first year and need to be reinforced throughout the clinical year. Students in a surgical setting need to be involved in the pre- and postoperative management of patients, and as appropriate, should assist in surgery.

Yes. Students may work with other qualified practitioners in the practice. All supervising practitioners must meet eligibility criteria, complete a preceptor profile, and be approved by the program.  Typically, a primary preceptor coordinates the experience and oversees the final evaluation.

Elon University provides professional liability insurance for PA students during their rotations with coverage limits of $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate.

Yes. Students are trained in HIPAA compliance, OSHA regulations, and post-exposure protocols. Students are fully immunized and complete annual tuberculosis screening before starting clinical rotations.

Preceptors enjoy the rewards of mentoring future clinicians and enriching their practice environments. Benefits include:

• Shape the Future: Make a lasting impact on healthcare by guiding and educating future PAs.
• CME: Earn Continuing Medical Education credits for your precepting efforts and free registration for Elon-sponsored Category I CME events.
• Honorarium: Receive honorarium as a token of our appreciation.
• 1:1 Consultation: If desired, Elon PA faculty will gladly consult with your practice on how to integrate learners into your space
• Preceptor Referral Program: Refer a colleague (MD, DO, NP, PA, CNM) to join our Preceptor Program and receive $50 for every new preceptor who hosts students

Additional recognition opportunities are under development, and we welcome your suggestions.

Some sites require onboarding, credentialing, or orientation. Our clinical education team will guide students and preceptors through these requirements to minimize administrative burden.

Students are expected to follow the preceptor’s schedule, which may include evenings, weekends, or call, and must complete a minimum of 32 hours per week or 204 hours over the 6-week rotation. Typically, students attend 40+ hours/week, but the program is flexible for alternative schedules. Students may not take time off from their scheduled clinical days to study.

We welcome both regular and occasional preceptors; there is no minimum commitment required. However, we value long-term collaboration and seek to establish ongoing partnerships that support our students and preceptors for years to come.

Please provide real-time feedback directly to the student and notify the Director of Clinical Experiences immediately if significant concerns arise.

Stephanie Henderson, Director of Clinical Experiences, can be reached at (336) 278-6841 or shenderson13@elon.edu.

Interested preceptors may also complete our online interest form for a faster start: Elon PA Preceptor Profile form.