With the number of accredited PA programs on the rise, access to clinical training sites and preceptors is widely recognized as one of the rate limiting steps to growth of the profession. Clinical preceptors open up their practices to students and spend time educating them on the proper clinical evaluation and treatment of their patients. Clinical teaching is eligible for American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) Category 1 CME credit because it is a self-reflective learning activity for the preceptor and provides invaluable opportunities to advance the knowledge and professionalism of students and providers alike.

Preceptors are needed in all areas of medicine, including Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry, Cardiology, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Hematology & Oncology, OB/GYN, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Inpatient & Outpatient Surgery and more! 

Guidelines for Clinical Teaching

• Preceptors must be practicing PAs.
• Preceptors must be fully licensed to practice at the clinical site where the training will occur.
• Preceptors must disclose any financial relationship with commercial interests to PA students.
• Credited is awarded at the rate of 0.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credit for every two (2) weeks of clinical teaching.
• Individual preceptors may be awarded a maximum of 10 hours of Category 1 CME for clinical teaching per clinical year.
• Preceptors must complete a self-reflective learning evaluation prior to being awarded Category 1 CME credit.

Overall Learning Objectives

• Demonstration of core medical knowledge about medical conditions for the patients in their area of practice.
• Demonstration of critical decision making and lifelong learning skills.
• Demonstration of effective communication with patients and their families, physicians and other health care professionals.
• Demonstration of high quality health care and a commitment to patient safety.
• Demonstration of personal responsibility, ethical standards, and sensitivity to diverse patient populations.
• Demonstration of ongoing evaluation and improvement of their patient care practices.
• Demonstration of the ability to effectively interact with different types of health care delivery systems.

About the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)

Founded in 1968, the American Academy of Physician Assistants is the national professional society for physician assistants. It represents a profession of more than 92,000 certified PAs across all medical and surgical specialties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the majority of the U.S. territories and within the uniformed services. AAPA advocates and educates on behalf of the profession and the patients PAs serve. It works to ensure the professional growth, personal excellence and recognition of physician assistants and to enhance their ability to improve the quality, accessibility and cost-effectiveness of patient-centered healthcare.