Clinical Experiences
Preceptor Resources

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant specifies that preceptors who are prepared by advanced medical education and experience may supervise clinical practice experiences. The following will be considered as potential candidates:

1. Physicians who are specialty board certified in their area of instruction;
2. PAs teamed with physicians who are specialty board certified in their area of instruction or;
3. Other licensed health care providers experienced in their area of instruction.

The benefits of precepting at PCOM include:

• Adjunct clinical faculty appointment.
• Online access to the PCOM library.
• Continuing Medical Education as specified by professional organization:
  • AMA Category 2 – one hour can be claimed for each hour of direct supervision of a student.
  • AAPA Category 1 – may be earned by PA preceptors who register with the program in advance for up to 10 hours per year, in addition to;
  • AAPA Category 2 – one hour can be claimed for each hour of direct supervision of a student that was not used to apply for Category 1 CME.
  • AAPA additionally recognizes PA preceptors though the clinical preceptor recognition program. AAPA Fellow members who precept more than one student may register for this program online.

PCOM Department of Physician Assistant Studies is interested in preceptors who provide:

• Medical care across the life span to include, infants, children, adolescents, adults and the elderly;

• Women’s health care (to include prenatal and gynecologic care);
• Care for conditions requiring surgical management, including pre-operative, intra-operative, post-operative care and;

• Care for behavioral and mental health conditions.

Preceptors are evaluated by a clinical coordinator. The program will periodically conduct site assessments to assess student training opportunities and discuss student experiences with the preceptor. Students are required to complete a formal assessment of the preceptor and training experience at the end of each experience. Preceptors are also required to complete a formal student evaluation at the completion of each experience.

To qualify as a preceptor, candidates must:

• Possess current board certification in the designated discipline.
  
• Possess a current license in good standing to practice medicine.
• Be a positive role model demonstrating professionalism.
• Be able to provide ongoing appropriate feedback to students to ensure continued professional growth.

In order to be considered for the program all preceptor applicants must:

• Complete a preceptor information form;
• Provide a clinical setting with appropriate clinical direction and immediate supervision of students;
• Review both the program’s and your personal expectations and objectives for the rotation the first day of their rotation;
• Maintain an ethical approach to the care of patients by serving as a role model for the student;
• Remember that students are unlicensed trainees and cannot work at the site if the preceptor/designee is physically not present.

Preceptor site requirements include:

• The site should provide adequate space for students to meet program defined expectations.
• There should be one designated preceptor for any given experience who assumes the responsibility of student orientation, training and assessment.
• The site should be a safe setting for the student experience.
• The site should provide approximately 40 hours per week of patient contact hours.

You can view additional information about precepting by downloading the 2019-2020 Preceptor Handbook [PDF].