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:
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
- Complete the Vendor/Payee Registration Form with the Office of Financial Management (OFM)
- 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)
- 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
2022 - 2023 | Payment processing dates | Payment month |
---|---|---|
Fall quarter | December 15 - 30 | January |
Winter quarter | March 15 - 30 | April |
Spring quarter | May 15 - 30 | June |
Summer quarter | August 15 - 30 | September |
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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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The Office of Financial Management website has a statewide vendor number lookup.
- What if I want the check to be directly deposited?
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An OFM Vendor/Payee Direct Deposit Authorization Form must be completed.
- Do I have to set up direct deposit to receive payments?
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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?
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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?
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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