Where Nurse Practitioner Students Find Great Preceptors (and Fast Placements)
When you’re searching for a clinical rotation, one of the most important — and underrated — factors is location.
The best cities for NP rotations offer three key things:
- A strong concentration of clinics and preceptors
- Diverse patient populations
- High rotation availability (even on short notice)
Whether you’re looking to self-place or using a service like Preceptor Tree, choosing the right city can mean the difference between graduating on time or hitting dead ends with waitlists and preceptor no-shows.
Let’s break down five U.S. cities where nurse practitioner students are having the most success in 2025.
1. Houston, TX
Houston remains one of the strongest cities for FNP and psych placements. It has a high concentration of nurse practitioners, private clinics, and urgent care centers — and many of them are familiar with student precepting.
- Strong in: Family Practice, Psych, Women’s Health
- Bonus: Texas allows full NP practice after graduation
2. Tampa, FL
Florida is one of the most in-demand states for NP students — and Tampa leads the way. Preceptors in this region often work with multiple schools and know how to support both local and out-of-state students.
- Strong in: Pediatrics, Family Practice, Urgent Care
- Bonus: Year-round clinical opportunities and large snowbird population = variety
3. Atlanta, GA
Atlanta offers a balance of metro accessibility and community clinics, with a growing number of preceptors taking students through placement services. It’s especially strong for students seeking underserved or diverse populations.
- Strong in: AGNP, Family Practice, Community Health
- Bonus: Many Atlanta clinics support telehealth and hybrid options
4. Chicago, IL
With dozens of hospitals and outpatient clinics, Chicago offers an abundance of preceptor options — especially for specialties like psych and women’s health. However, traffic and weather are something to factor into your planning.
- Strong in: Psych, Women’s Health, Internal Medicine
- Bonus: Many clinics already have agreements with popular NP programs
5. Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix might surprise you, but it’s one of the fastest-growing cities for NP rotations — especially for students using placement services. Preceptors here tend to be more available, and the patient population is diverse and growing fast.
- Strong in: FNP, Urgent Care, Geriatrics
- Bonus: Arizona is a full-practice authority state
Honorable Mentions
- San Antonio, TX – High volume of family practice and bilingual preceptors
- Las Vegas, NV – Good for last-minute rotations through placement services
- Orlando, FL – Strong in peds, school-based health, and urgent care
- Charlotte, NC – Growing city with expanding clinic networks
Why Does City Matter?
Choosing the right city isn’t just about convenience — it’s about opportunity.
Cities with a high preceptor-to-student ratio mean:
- Less competition
- Higher-quality mentorship
- Faster placement turnarounds
- More variety in clinical experiences
It also improves your chances of getting the rotation you want — not just what’s left over.
How Preceptor Tree Helps
At Preceptor Tree (in addition to Clerkship America), we work with clinics and preceptors in all 50 states — but we have the deepest networks in cities where placement is in high demand.
Our team will:
- Help you choose the right location
- Match you with a school-approved preceptor
- Handle all paperwork and confirmation
- Get you placed faster — even if you’re running out of time
👉 Request placement now — and ask about our top cities for your rotation specialty.
