If you’re a nurse practitioner student, chances are no one told you how hard it would be to find a clinical site. You’re juggling assignments, exams, work — and now you’re supposed to find a qualified, available, school-approved preceptor on your own?
Welcome to the under-discussed, high-stress world of clinical placement for NP students — and why more students than ever are turning to professional services for help.
What Is Clinical Placement for NP Students?
Clinical placement is the process of securing a preceptor and site where you’ll complete the hands-on hours required by your NP program. These hours are essential for graduation and board certification.
Some schools assist with this. Many don’t. Increasingly, NP students are expected to self-place, meaning it’s entirely your responsibility to find a qualified preceptor, coordinate your schedule, and submit the right paperwork.
Why Is It So Hard to Find a Rotation?
There’s a supply and demand issue.
- More NP programs than ever
- More students enrolling each semester
- No proportional increase in preceptors
Most providers are busy, overworked, and don’t have time to supervise students — especially if they’re not getting compensated. And many clinics are full or booked out months in advance.
That leaves thousands of NP students competing for the same few openings — many of which aren’t even advertised.
What Happens If You Can’t Find One?
Unfortunately, if you don’t complete your clinical hours on time:
- You may delay graduation
- You may be removed from your current cohort
- You’ll pay for additional semesters or extensions
- You may have to push back your board exam
In some cases, students have had to drop out or take time off because they couldn’t find a rotation in time.
How Do Clinical Placement Services Help?
Companies like Preceptor Tree exist to make this easier — and safer — for NP students. And Clerkship America makes it easier for international medical graduates (IMGs).
We work with a large network of vetted, board-certified preceptors across specialties like FNP, Psych, Women’s Health, Peds, AGNP, and more.
Our process includes:
- Matching students with preceptors based on specialty, state, and school requirements
- Managing paperwork, credentialing, and evaluations
- Offering refunds if we can’t place you in time
- Supporting tight deadlines with fast-track options
Why Students Are Using Placement Services in 2025
- School doesn’t help (or can’t)
- You’ve already tried cold outreach without success
- You’re on a tight deadline
- You want someone else to handle the logistics and red tape
- You’ve already had one rotation fall through
Placement services used to be a last resort. Now, they’re a backup plan students build in from the start — just in case.
How Much Does It Cost?
At Preceptor Tree, most students pay between $12.50 and $17.50 per clinical hour, depending on specialty and location. Some other services advertise lower base rates but charge more after you’ve committed.
You can expect to spend $1,800 to $2,400 per rotation — less than the cost of having to retake a semester or delay graduation.
The Bottom Line
Finding a clinical site shouldn’t be the thing that holds you back from becoming a nurse practitioner.
If your school doesn’t help — or your leads are drying up — consider clinical placement as an investment in finishing on time, protecting your peace of mind, and entering the field with confidence.
Need a Preceptor for Your Next Rotation?
At Preceptor Tree, we’ve helped thousands of NP students place with board-certified, school-approved preceptors — often within days.
We support:
- FNP, PMHNP, AGNP, Peds, Women’s Health, and DNP
- All 50 U.S. states
- Emergency, psych, and urgent care specialties
- Full paperwork and tracking support
👉 Request your placement today — and we’ll take it from here.
