Once upon a time, finding a preceptor wasn’t something NP students had to worry about. Most schools handled it. Programs were smaller. And preceptors — many of them alumni — volunteered because it was part of the profession. No one talked about money.
Fast-forward to 2025, and things have changed dramatically. Today, paid preceptors for NP students are not only common — they’re expected. In fact, it’s now a multi-million dollar niche industry, and many students are shocked to learn just how much it can cost to complete their clinical hours.
So how much should you pay for a preceptor? And is it even fair to charge?
Let’s look at where things stand now — and how much you should realistically budget for clinical placements.
Why Preceptors Charge Now
It’s not that preceptors suddenly became greedy. It’s that they became overworked, under-supported, and surrounded by a system that puts the entire burden of placement on the student.
Most nurse practitioner programs today don’t offer clinical placement — especially online or hybrid ones. The expectation is that students will “self-place.” But the growth of NP programs has far outpaced the number of willing, qualified preceptors. More students. Same number of clinics.
At the same time, preceptors are being asked to teach, supervise, and sign off on hours — all without compensation — while still seeing a full load of patients. Many have simply opted out. The ones who remain? Most now expect to be paid.
And honestly, it’s hard to argue with the logic: professors get paid. Clinical instructors in other healthcare fields get paid. NP students are paying thousands for tuition and books. Why should preceptors be the only unpaid teachers in the equation?
The Ongoing Ethics Debate
That hasn’t stopped the debate.
Some say it’s unethical to charge a student who’s already buried in debt. Others argue that asking a preceptor to work for free — in a broken healthcare system that burns out its own — is what’s really unethical.
It’s the same argument people once made against paying nurses: “If you care about people, why do you charge for your services?” That’s clearly outdated. So why are preceptors still being held to that old standard?
Regardless of where you land in the debate, one thing is clear: preceptors are charging — and prices are rising.
What You Can Expect to Pay in 2025
Most NP clinical rotations are 120–180 hours long. Here’s how the costs typically break down:
- Directly paying a preceptor: $2,000–$3,000 per rotation (often out-of-pocket, without any admin support)
- Preceptor Tree: Between $12.50 and $17.50 per clinical hour, depending on the site, location, and specialty
- NP Hub: Advertised starting rate of $12.50/hour, but most students report paying closer to $18/hour
So for a 160-hour rotation, you’re likely looking at:
- Around $2,000–$2,400 with Preceptor Tree
- Around $2,800+ with NP Hub
- Or $2,000–$3,000 directly to a preceptor (often without guaranteed placement or help with paperwork)
These costs are often not included in tuition — and many students only discover them once they’re already enrolled and desperate for placement.
So What Are You Really Paying For?
When you pay a preceptor — or a service like Preceptor Tree — you’re paying for more than just time. You’re paying for access, reliability, and peace of mind.
A good preceptor gives you more than just signatures on your paperwork. They teach, mentor, supervise, and make sure you’re actually learning. And a good placement service doesn’t just drop a name in your inbox — they walk you through the whole process, from paperwork to prep.
What Makes Preceptor Tree Different
At Preceptor Tree, we’re not trying to be the biggest — just the most honest and the most helpful.
We work directly with verified preceptors across all 50 states and offer placements in FNP, Psych, Peds, Women’s Health, and more. Most students pay between $1,800 and $2,400 total — usually less than the national average. And if we can’t place you, you get your money back.
That’s not just fair. That’s how clinical education should work.
