Doctors laughing in a meeting

Precepting Physician Assistant Students

Inspire. Educate. Shape the Future of Healthcare.

Welcome to our Preceptor Portal for the Physician Assistant (PA) Program. As a preceptor, you play a vital role in shaping the next generation of compassionate, skilled healthcare providers.

By offering students real-world clinical experiences, modeling professional best practices, and providing constructive feedback, you help bridge the gap between classroom learning and patient care.

Thank you for your dedication to educating future PAs and for maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and clinical excellence.

Why become a preceptor?

  • Professional Impact – Play a vital role in training future PAs and shaping the future of medicine.
  • Faculty Appointment – Qualify for a community faculty appointment.
  • Fresh Perspectives – Engage with eager learners and gain fresh insights into clinical practice.
  • Give Back to the Profession – Support the education and training of tomorrow’s PAs.
  • Opportunity for Future Recruitment – Identify high-performing individuals who might become ideal candidates to join your team after graduation.
  • In some instances, there may be precepting stipends available. For additional information, please contact vhs-elo@odu.edu.
Female doctor discusses with two male doctors
Preceptor PA and Patient in exam room

Who can be a preceptor?

Eligible preceptors must be actively practicing and meet the following criteria:

  • Be a licensed PA, MD, DO, or NP
  • Be board certified in their area of practice
  • Have a minimum of 2 years clinical experience in the field they are teaching.

Preceptors are expected to demonstrate safe and effective standards of care, as well as teach and observe clinical activities to aid in the development of clinical skills.  

Preceptor Role and Responsibilities

As a preceptor, you are responsible for creating a supportive learning environment, guiding students as they develop clinical skills, and ensuring patient safety remains the top priority. Key

Responsibilities include: 

  • Providing supervised clinical training and mentorship to students
  • Offering progressive learning experiences as students develop their skills
  • Encouraging students to take active roles in patient evaluation and management
  • Giving constructive feedback to enhance student learning
  • Completing student evaluations in a timely manner

For full details, download the Preceptor Handbook.