Precepting a nurse practitioner (NP) student is more than a professional obligation. It’s a powerful act of leadership that shapes the future of healthcare. While the role demands time, energy, and clinical acumen, the rewards are both tangible and deeply fulfilling. From influencing the next generation of providers to accessing professional incentives, precepting offers a unique opportunity to lead with purpose. 

Leading Through Service: Giving Back to the Profession 

At its core, precepting is about giving back. It’s a way for experienced NPs to pay it forward by guiding students through the complexities of clinical practice. This leadership role helps bridge the gap between academic preparation and real-world application, ensuring that new NPs enter the workforce with confidence, competence, and a commitment to patient-centered care. 

According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), preceptors are essential to successful onboarding and retention. They serve as informal leaders who model clinical excellence, communication, and collaboration; skills that are vital in today’s fast-paced healthcare environments. By investing in students, preceptors also reinforce their own clinical reasoning and stay current with evolving best practices. 

Incentives Beyond the Bedside: Tax Credits and State Support 

While the intrinsic rewards of precepting remain substantial, several states have taken steps to recognize and support preceptors with tangible benefits. In particular, tax incentives have emerged as a strategic tool to encourage licensed nurse practitioners (NPs) to engage in clinical education. 

Georgia’s Preceptor Tax Incentive Program (PTIP), for example, offers a tiered state income tax credit to qualifying preceptors. Advanced practice registered nurses can earn $375 for each of the first three 160-hour rotations they supervise, and $750 for each of the next seven, up to a maximum of $6,375 annually. 

Other states—including Maryland, Colorado, South Carolina, and Alabama—have implemented similar programs, each designed to address healthcare workforce shortages and promote leadership in clinical training. Maryland’s program specifically targets preceptors in underserved areas and includes nurse practitioners among its eligible participants. 

Access to Academic Resources: A Hidden Perk  

In addition to state-level incentives, some universities extend access to academic resources as a token of appreciation for preceptors. While ClickClinicals^SM does not endorse any specific institution, it’s common for preceptors to receive temporary access to university libraries, online journals, and continuing education tools. These resources can be invaluable for staying informed on the latest clinical guidelines and research, further enhancing the preceptor’s own practice. 

This access also reinforces the reciprocal nature of precepting: while students gain hands-on experience, preceptors gain tools to refine their leadership and clinical knowledge. 

Certification Renewal: Turning Hours into Professional Growth 

Another compelling benefit of precepting is its potential to count toward certification renewal. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a division of the American Nurses Association (ANA), allows NPs to apply preceptor hours toward the professional development requirements for recertification. 

According to ANCC guidelines, NPs can use precepting hours as one of their ANCC certification renewal requirements. They must have verification of 120 hours of precepting within their specialty. These hours must involve direct supervision of graduate-level NP students and be documented appropriately. This policy not only validates the educational value of precepting but also integrates it into the broader framework of lifelong learning and professional advancement. 

Leadership in Action: The ClickClinicals Perspective 

At ClickClinicals, we view precepting as a strategic investment in both the profession and the individual preceptor. As highlighted in our previous blog, “Precepting as a Long-Term Interview,” the role allows NPs to evaluate potential future hires in real-world settings. It’s a chance to assess clinical competence, adaptability, and cultural fit, qualities that are difficult to gauge in a traditional interview. 

Moreover, precepting fosters a culture of continuous improvement. Engaging with students encourages preceptors to revisit foundational knowledge, refine their communication skills, and model the kind of leadership that inspires excellence. It’s not just about teaching. It’s about leading by example. 

Final Thoughts: Why Now Is the Time to Lead 

The demand for nurse practitioners is projected to grow by 40% from 2023 to 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As the profession expands, so does the need for experienced leaders to guide the next generation. Precepting offers a meaningful way to meet that need while also gaining professional benefits, recognition, and personal fulfillment. 

Whether you’re motivated by the desire to give back, the opportunity to shape future colleagues, or the practical incentives available, precepting is a leadership role that delivers lasting impact. It’s a chance to lead with purpose, elevate the profession, and ensure that tomorrow’s NPs are ready to meet the challenges ahead.