Student Nurse Preceptor

Become a Nurse Preceptor for Student Nurses

Volunteer with your employer to become a preceptor for student nurses and receive a monetary incentive for your time and effort.

Washington State Student Nurse Preceptorship Grant (WSSNPG)

The Washington legislature has set up a grant for student nurse preceptorship. This grant funds nurses who precept nursing students in health care settings. 

The goals of the preceptor grant program are to:

• Help reduce a shortage of healthcare settings for students.
• Bring more nurses into the workforce.

Who is eligible?

• Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP)
• Registered Nurses (RN)
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)

Requirements to be a student nurse preceptor

To be a nurse preceptor you must:

• Have an active license
• Have at least one year of clinical or practice experience 
• Be employed at an approved practice site by the education program

More information:

• WAC 246-840-533
• WA State Student Nurse Preceptorship Grant Policy (PDF)

Preceptor resources

• Preceptor Education Program 
  • Open Education Resource
• Preceptor promotional flyer (PDF)

How to qualify for reimbursement 

Information on how to get the student nurse preceptor reimbursement.

To qualify for the reimbursement, you must:

• Meet all requirements to be a student nurse preceptor.
• Volunteer to be a student nurse preceptor with your employer.
  • Employer must be an approved practice site by an approved education program.
• Complete at least 100 qualifying hours of precepting clinical instruction per student. 
  • You can precept up to two students at a time.

To qualify, clinical practice hours must:

• Take place in a Washington state approved nursing education program
  • Nursing education program must be in Washington state
  • Out-of-state programs don't qualify, even if the clinical hours take place in Washington.
• Be in the final term of clinical for RN and LPN pre-licensure students.
• Be in the first term of clinical for ARNP students. 

How to apply for reimbursement 

1. Complete the Vendor/Payee Registration Form with the Office of Financial Management (OFM)
2. Complete the Certification of Hours (COH) (PDF) form
   • The education program will email the COH form to you when you finish precepting
   • The education program will fill out the first page
   • The education program Dean or Director will sign the COH form certifying the preceptor hours
   • Make sure form is filled out correctly. Certification of Hours (COH) form SAMPLE (PDF)
3. Email completed COH form to PGVerifications@doh.wa.gov
   • You must send the COH form within 5 business days of the end of the clinical rotation

Reimbursement resources

• Statewide Vendor/Payee Services
• Vendor Registration Process-Useful Information
• Statewide Vendor Number Lookup
• Vendor/Payee Direct Deposit
• Example of a completed Certification of Hours (COH) form (PDF)

Reimbursement cycles

FAQs

What is a nursing preceptor?

A nursing preceptor is a practicing licensed nurse who provides personal instruction, training, and supervision for nursing students during clinical rotations.

Am I eligible to precept a student?

You are eligible to precept a student if you are a licensed LPN, RN, ARNP and meet the requirements of WAC 246-840-533, and are employed at an approved practice site by the educational program. 

How many times can I be a preceptor to students?

There is no limit to how many times you can apply during the academic year. You may precept two students at a time during a reimbursement period.

Do I have to register with the Office of Financial Management (OFM) if I already have a state vendor number?

No. If you previously registered with OFM Vendor/Payee Services, you do not need to register again. However, if you have not received payment from a WA State Agency in over 24 months OFM may have blocked your number for non-use, and you will need to register again. 

How do I know if I already have a State Vendor Number or if it is still active?

The Office of Financial Management website has a statewide vendor number lookup. 

What if I want the check to be directly deposited? 

An OFM Vendor/Payee Direct Deposit Authorization Form must be completed.

Do I have to set up direct deposit to receive payments?

No. Although, our preferred method of payment is direct deposit, you can choose to receive your payment in the mail.

How much money will I receive?

The amount of the incentive payment will vary each payment cycle and is based on the available funds and number of preceptors for that payment cycle. 

I did not get my payment. What do I do? 

If it has been 8 weeks or more since you submitted your paperwork you should contact the Preceptor Program directly at dohncqacpreceptorship@doh.wa.gov.

Contact information

We're available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Phone: 360-584-6864
• Email: dohncqacpreceptorship@doh.wa.gov

Preceptor Grant Team

• Victoria L Hayward, MSN, RN, CNOR, Victoria.Hayward@doh.wa.gov 
• Helen Budde, Health Services Consultant, Helen.Budde@doh.wa.gov
• Judy Soeum, Administrative Assistant, Judy.Soeum@doh.wa.gov