“While finding fulfillment in ‘giving something back’ to the profession I love, I have also benefited as a preceptor from daily encounters with students enthusiastic about entering the workplace. Eager-to-learn students stimulate discussion, broaden perspective, and boost professional morale. I have often learned from students about the latest medications, modes of information retrieval, and new research findings. Our last student did a detailed presentation on vascular dementia, and I learned the latest recommendations regarding this disease”

Perspectives in Precepting

Precepting is a practice, one that provides students the opportunity to apply concepts and techniques, and to develop attitudes, values, and an individual approach to patient care.

Preceptors provide students with responsibilities that correspond to their capabilities and their school’s experiential learning program’s objectives.

Preceptors ask students questions to engage them in the active learning process, encouraging them to express opinions and share knowledge or experiences.

Preceptor duties will differ depending on the student’s school of pharmacy. Basic responsibilities exist however, and serve as the foundation of collegial relationships.

Preceptors are to guide and evaluate students in a continuous, consistent, and timely manner, to assure that both student and preceptor are on the same page.

Preceptors are also expected to incorporate information from other areas of practice, often times enhancing the student’s learning experience.

Preceptors must also provide constructive criticism when evaluating students and their learning process and above all, serve as a role model by acting and performing in a manner the exhibits professionalism and accountability.

The influence that preceptors have on the professional and personal development of future pharmacists remains significant for a lifetime.

Click here for references.


The Consultant and Senior Care Pharmacist
Preceptor Tool Kit

Interested in precepting? Help yourself to the ASCP Precepting Tool Kit, a collection of resources designed to help you introduce student pharmacists to consultant and senior care pharmacy practice.

How Teaching Students about Geriatric Pharmacy Can Help Patients — and You
The Consultant Pharmacist. Vol 20. No 1 January 2005 pp 16-28

Working with Tomorrow’s Professionals
The Consultant Pharmacist. Vol 20, No. 1 January 2005 pp 73-75

College of Pharmacy Experiential Program Contacts

A Guide to Effective Precepting
Tallutto, Beverly
Virginia Commonwealth School of Pharmacy

Preceptor Training for Experiential Education
Tallutto, Beverly
Virginia Commonwealth School of Pharmacy

Preceptor’s Glossary – commonly used acronyms, words, and phrases

APhA/NACDs Community Preceptor Training Program


Get Started

If you would like to let ASCP student members know about your practice and are currently or willing to provide them with a practice experience, complete a Preceptor form and submit it to ASCP via fax, mail, or email: