Paying Preceptors?

[KateD]

Just wondering if it is common for schools to pay the clinical preceptors....

[PaulK]

No, it's not usual (it may not be done at all - not sure about that). Because they aren't paid, it makes them hard to come by. Schools who do it well, cultivate partnerships with groups, individual practices, and hospitals over the long term. Incentives to take on a student as a preceptor are 1) because you enjoy teaching, 2) extra help once the student knows enough to not slow things down, and 3) Getting familiar with a new clinician over the long term so that you might be able to hire them when they graduate. This is like an extended interview.

[KateD]

Excellent! Thank you for the insight, Paul.

The program director at one school I interviewed at mentioned that they do pay their preceptors.... I believe it shows up in the tuition too, as the clinical year tuition jumps up quite a bit! They are a newer program (5-6 yrs old), so maybe this is how they are trying to "compete" essentially with more established programs for preceptors... ? Found it a bit interesting and wanted to get a feel for the norm out there! Thanks again.

[Howell Jolly]

My school raised the tuition in order to pay preceptors but it is not common, and I have yet to see it happen. OBGYN are especially hard to come by.