Preceptor Program

Why Precept a Student?

Students are typically energetic, highly motivated adult learners. Many preceptors get great satisfaction from passing on their knowledge and watching students grow and learn. PA students can also help educate other providers and patients about PAs and the PA profession. Precepting can also be a great recruiting tool. It is an excellent way to try out a potential new employee and see if a PA, or that particular PA student, is a good fit for your practice. Precepting students is recognized as a “practice improvement activity” under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System for certain Medicare Part B providers.

Become a Preceptor and Receive Tax Credits

Georgia Preceptor Tax Incentive Program (PTIP) offers preceptors up to $8,500 per year in tax credits

Georgia needs more clinicians, and universities with Physician’s Assistent programs like Brenau need capable and experienced preceptors to prepare our students to treat patients after graduation.

Universities and clinicians understand the importance of experienced clinicians guiding and mentoring students. And, on April 25, 2019, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law the Preceptor Tax Incentive Program. This legislation gives physicians, advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants the ability to register to become preceptors and receive tax credits — a direct reduction in income tax owed — for up to 10 clinical rotations per calendar year.

New Georgia Preceptor Tax Incentive Program

Physicians will receive a $500 credit for each of the first 3 rotations, and $1000 for each of the 4th to 10th rotations. An APRN or PA preceptor would earn $375 for each of the first 3 rotations, and $750 for each of the 4th to 10th rotations.

The maximum tax credit a physician can claim is $8,500 per year, and $6,375 for an APRN/PA preceptor. There is no minimum number of rotations preceptors must complete to become eligible for a tax credit.

Who Can Become a Preceptor?

• Register with the Georgia Statewide Area Health Education Centers administered by Augusta University
• Be a licensed and practicing Georgia physician, advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant
• Not currently receiving direct compensation for teaching medical, osteopathic, APRN or PA students

What Counts as a Clinical Rotation?

• As defined by PTIP, clinical rotations consist of live, in-state supervision of a student PA enrolled in an eligible private or public training program (including Brenau’s program)
• Each clinical rotation is counted as 160 hours of clock time. Preceptors can accrue hours across multiple student supervisees at multiple sites
• Clinical rotation hours must be reported by the school the physician assistant is attending for the preceptor to claim the tax credit

What can PA students do?

• The clinical experience that the student has with you is crucial to his/her preparation and development as a Physician Assistant.
• The level of involvement that the student should have with patients is comparable to that of a fourth year medical student.
• The PA program’s goal is to prepare exceptional, empathic, competent physician assistants and we greatly appreciate your aid in accomplishing this goal.
• The preceptor evaluates the student based on regular observation and review of clinical performance. The level of clinical competency will be assessed in areas such as medical knowledge, history taking, performing physical exams, medical record keeping, problem solving, interpersonal skills, and professionalism. Mid and end of rotation evaluations are required and feedback regarding student performance should be given on an on-going basis.
• A preceptor will provide direct supervision, observation, mentoring and teaching in the clinical setting, including the provision of evaluation of student performance and provision of constructive feedback.
• When necessary, you can assign outside readings and research to promote further learning and enhance the learning process.
• Students are invited guests of each rotation site and, as such, are expected to leave a positive impression of themselves, Brenau University, and the PA profession. Any violation of Brenau’s policies should be reported immediately.
• While on clinical rotations, student PAs function as an integral part of the medical team. In the inpatient setting, students are assigned to a preceptor. They perform admission histories and physicals, make rounds on assigned patients, assist in formulating management plans, perform various procedures, and otherwise participate significantly in-patient care as determined by and under the supervision of the preceptor. In the outpatient setting, the students function in a similar manner performing H & Ps, proposing differential diagnoses and assisting in formulating patient treatment plans. Students are responsible for monitoring patient progress, reporting to the supervising preceptor, and implementing the preceptor’s plans. They are required to attend lectures, give case presentations, read assigned articles, and where allowed, document in the medical record. For those rotations where students are not allowed to document in the medical record, the student must create a separate file of documentation consistent with what would be placed into the medical record of a patient, to show to program faculty as part of the ongoing learning process. This separate documentation should not include any identifying patient information, in compliance with HIPAA.

How Do I Get Started?

Eligible preceptor candidates must register with Georgia Statewide AHEC. You only need to register once. Online registration is available through August University. 

Once registered, contact Shannon Parris Director of Clinical Placement and Credentialing, at [email protected].

Preceptor Forms

• Site/Preceptor Information Form (PDF)
• Preceptor Availability Form (PDF)