If you are not an ANPD member and wish to apply for PCOM, you must create a guest account here. Upon creation of your account, please reach out to education@anpd.org stating you wish to apply for the PCOM and an ANPD team member will enroll you in this course.

The Preceptor Certificate of Mastery (PCOM) recognizes healthcare preceptors who excel in helping others transition into a new setting, a new role, or a new profession. Preceptors also provide oversight for students in the clinical setting. Earning the PCOM credential demonstrates the preceptor’s commitment to high-quality patient care and ensuring the success of new colleagues.

Preceptor Definition: A preceptor is “an individual with demonstrated competence in a specific area who guides, assesses, and validates the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to transition to a new role, specialty, or environment in the healthcare setting” (Harper et al., 2023).

Target Audience: Preceptors who have at least 1000 hours (approximately 6 months of full-time practice) precepting who are looking to add recognition of their critical role. Practice settings can include:

Acute care hospital (adult, pediatric, maternity, other)

Specialty hospital (hospice, behavioral health, rehabilitation, other)

Subacute/Long-term care

Ambulatory (e.g., home health/hospice, dialysis center, wound care, physician’s office, surgery, urgent care center/emergency department, outpatient clinic)

And others

Requirements: The ANPD Preceptor Certificate of Mastery is awarded to those who demonstrate expertise and excellence in precepting by meeting the following requirements:

Successful completion of a 75-item, multiple-choice examination with a score of 85% or higher

Documentation of a minimum of 1000 hours of precepting experience undefined 3d">(access form here)

Documentation of completion of 6 contact hours of continuing education related to precepting and topics applicable to the preceptor role 

Completion of the ANPD Preceptor Assessment Tool by three individuals:

(1) Preceptor (self-assessment)

(1) Individual precepted by the applicant

(1) Manager/NPD practitioner/faculty who provides oversight for the preceptor/preceptee dyad

Payment is required prior to accessing the exam.

Here, you will find the instructions and exam needed to submit for your Preceptor Certificate of Mastery. For questions, reach out to education@anpd.org.