Preceptor Requirements / Tips For Securing Preceptors

• Must be a licensed / credentialed professional, for the area in which they will act as a preceptor, meeting all state and federal regulations.
• Submit a completed Preceptor Qualifications Form to the intern for the specified supervised practice rotation they will be precepting for.
• Submit a resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Acknowledge responsibilities including: intern orientation to facility / staff; schedule appropriate experiences to fulfill rotation competencies; mentor (may delegate this) the intern in their daily assignments / performance; assist intern with rotation assignments; evaluate intern on required learning outcomes; communicate intern’s progress with program director; and ensure compliance with NutraCo Dietetic Internship policies and procedures.

• All applicants are encouraged to have at least one rotation site and preceptor secured when applying to the program. However, this is not required to apply, and applicants may still be accepted if they have no rotation sites and/or preceptors secured.
• After acceptance into the program, NutraCo Dietetic Internship provides a database of potential preceptors across the country to all interns.
• Interns are to reach out to each potential preceptor in their area to set up rotations.
• If an intern is located in an area where NutraCo dietitians are employed, the NutraCo DI team may coordinate the Clinical and possibly the Food Service Management rotations, depending on the availability of preceptors and rotation sites.

• The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a list of preceptors, by state, who are willing to be a preceptor. More information regarding the Academy’s list of preceptors can be found here.
• Consider searching on job boards (such as indeed.com) and type in “dietetic intern” to see if there are any available intern rotations near you. You may also use a similar search through Google (look for hospitals, long term care facilities, outpatient clinical sites in your area).
• Reach out to your professors, colleagues, family and friends for potential leads or suggestions.
• Check other networking websites:
  • www.healthprofs.com
    • It is recommended to contact the health professional through their website
  • PreRD.org
    • Be sure to check remote vs onsite opportunites and the total hours per week for the posted position
• If you still need preceptors, first determine what type of preceptor you need for the rotation you are looking for, including needed credentials.
• Obtain the phone number to call your potential preceptor. A phone call is preferred over emails. Call at least three times. Be sure to leave a call back number when leaving a voicemail message.
• Prepare a written script including: a greeting; state your name; state you are applying for a distance dietetic internship program with NutraCo Dietetic Internship; state what the rotation is for (such as clinical or food service); the length of the rotation; briefly explain the requirements of the rotation.
• If the potential preceptor wants to meet you first (many will), send them paperwork/forms prior to the meeting via email. This will give them time to review it, complete it, and even ask you questions before you actually meet. Remember, your prospective preceptor is very busy, and you want to expedite your meeting.
• If your prospective preceptor is not able to help you, ask if they have suggestions for other potential preceptors in the area.

Click here for the Preceptor Qualifications Form