Potential preceptors should submit an online application. Please note that depending on when the online application is submitted, it may take up to 4 to 6 weeks for notification to occur.

The UTHSC COP utilizes two appointment types (preceptor appointment and affiliated appointment). In general, most new preceptors are appointed under the preceptor appointment type. Any preceptor may request an affiliated appointment within the UTHSC COP at any time; however, they must submit the required materials for affiliated appointment and meet the UTHSC COP’s expectations with respect to contributions to the UTHSC COP’s educational program for affiliated appointment (preceptor takes a minimum of 6 APPE students annually, participates in the IPPE program, to include the introductory institutional, community, or team-based practice experiences (if applicable to preceptor’s practice), small group teaching, and teaching in the didactic or skills-based curriculum).

Benefits of being a preceptor with the UTHSC COP include the following:

• The opportunity to mentor emerging new practitioners and colleagues
• Preceptor development programming offered through UTHSC COP
• Educational programming offered through CORE Readiness
• Access to library resources at the UTHSC (affiliated appointments have direct access to library resources; preceptor appointments have access to library support personnel for the UTHSC COP).

New potential preceptors at existing experiential sites for the UTHSC COP will be notified regarding acceptance to submit materials for official appointment with the UTHSC COP. Once your appointed is confirmed, you will have a preceptor orientation and be asked to submit your availability for student placement.

New potential sites/preceptors will be notified of approval to begin the process of affiliation and appointment. If your site is approved, the UTHSC COP will send you an affiliation agreement for your consideration and signature as well as begin the appointment process for the designated preceptor(s) at your site. Once the preceptor appointment(s) are confirmed, preceptor(s) will receive preceptor orientation and be asked to submit their availability for student placement. Please note that an affiliation agreement between the UTHSC COP and the site is required and must be in place prior to student placement. At least one designated preceptor must be appointed and oriented at the site prior to student placement.

Once appointed, the UTHSC COP will assure quality and effectiveness of preceptors via an ongoing evaluation process that will occur at least once every 3 years. Formal evaluation will include assessment and review of the preceptor’s engagement in the overall teaching program at the UTHSC COP (number of experiential students, small group teaching, and didactic teaching annually), overall assessment of student evaluations of preceptor/pharmacy practice experience, timeliness of midpoint and final grade submissions.

Preceptors with affiliated appointments have direct access to library resources. Preceptors with preceptor appointments have access to library support personnel for the UTHSC COP.

In addition to required experiences in community pharmacy practice, institutional/health-system pharmacy practice, ambulatory care, and acute care medicine, the UTHSC COP is routinely looking for patient care elective experiences as well as other professional experience elective experiences. In addition, the UTHSC COP is interested in new and unique learning experiences for pharmacy students that may be outside of traditional pharmacist roles and/or traditional pharmacy practice sites.