How preceptor matching works

What we match on

Every match starts from three things you tell us when you apply:

• Your specialty, so students are matched with a preceptor in their own field: an FNP for an FNP student, a PMHNP for a PMHNP student, a counselor for a counseling student.
• Where you practice: the states where you are licensed and your ZIP code, so in-person students are close to your practice.
• How you would like to precept: in person, virtually where the student’s school accepts it, or both.

What the student’s program adds

Each student brings their own program’s needs: the course they are in, the population their hours must cover, the dates of the term, and how many hours the course asks for. We match those against your practice, so a pediatric course goes to a practice that sees children, and a psychiatric course goes to a psychiatric practice or telepsychiatry service.

For virtual precepting, we also confirm the student’s school accepts virtual hours for that course before the match is made.

Your license, verified first

Before you meet a student, our team verifies your license with the state board, and again whenever your license number changes. Schools ask for exactly this, so your preceptor file arrives at the school complete and current.

The first call

Every match begins with a short call between you and the student. You hear what they are studying, where they are in their program and what they hope to practice; they see how your practice works. You decide after the call.

Our guide to the first call lists the questions that make it count.

What you see before you accept

Before you say yes, you know the whole picture:

• The student’s program and course.
• The dates of the rotation and the hours the course asks for.
• Whether the rotation is in person or virtual.
• The pay, at the rate you set within our network’s range.

After you accept

1. 1ProfileYou complete your preceptor profile for the school: education, license dates, your facility address and documents.
2. 2AgreementWe prepare the affiliation agreement between the school and your facility and send it to whoever signs for your site.
3. 3School formsWe complete the school’s preceptor forms and gather its orientation packet for you.
4. 4First dayYour student starts on the agreed date, in your practice or online.
5. 5Evaluations and payWe schedule the school’s evaluations, and you are paid per block of hours.

Matching across a year

Programs run their clinical courses in terms: spring, summer and fall. Tell your recruitment manager the terms and days that suit you, and we bring you students for those terms. Preceptors who precept both in person and virtually can be matched with one student of each.

What makes a strong match

The matches that work best line up on four things:

• The course and your patients: a pediatric course with a practice that sees children, a psychiatric course with a psychiatric practice.
• The schedule: the student’s term dates and your clinic days.
• The mode: in person near your practice, or virtual where the school accepts it.
• The stage: a first clinical course or a final immersive experience, matched to how you like to teach.

Your profile helps us match well

The more your profile says about your practice, the better each match fits. It includes:

• Your specialties and certifications.
• The states where you are licensed, and your ZIP code.
• Your practice setting and patient population.
• Whether you precept in person, virtually or both.
• The terms and days that suit you.
• Your rate, set within our network’s range.

Why the first call comes first

Paperwork takes effort on every side: the school, your facility and our team. Starting with a short call means everyone invests in a rotation both of you are glad to begin. The call also gives the student a clear picture of your practice, so they arrive prepared, and gives you a sense of where they are in their program, so you can pitch the teaching from day one.

Matches that grow with you

As you precept, your recruitment manager learns what suits you best: the courses you enjoy teaching, the days that work, whether you prefer early learners or students near graduation. Each new match builds on that, so precepting fits your practice better with every student.

Questions