Dec. 22, 2015

The Commission has clarified its stance regarding preceptors supervising students in those settings where third party accreditation agencies [such as the Joint Commission, state departments of health, or federal agencies (e.g. military hospitals)] are in place, and there is a very clear and visible regulatory presence. The CAATE has a strict process when it comes to preceptor requirements at the university, high school, or privately owned clinics simply because these settings (and their preceptors) do not have any external regulatory oversight (e.g. Joint Commission; OSHA; etc.) required by law. In these situations, the CAATE Standards are needed to insure a consistent oversight for the student’s educational welfare and personal health and safety. However, those settings in which there is a clear third party regulatory authority or accreditor (e.g., Joint Commission facilities; EMS units; military hospitals; etc.), we recognize that students may have a limited, but very structured, clinical experience. Additionally, there may be multiple preceptor engagements, and thus, having a supervisory preceptor verifying compliance for all preceptors (e.g. 20-30) is acceptable. Therefore, in cases where there is a very clear regulatory authority, such as facilities accredited by the Joint Commission, a single lead preceptor who has completed the preceptor training for that AT program should serve as sufficient evidence for compliance. The lead preceptor must be in a leadership position with supervisory capacity over multiple potential preceptors at a given facility, and must have the ability to intercede for student’s educational and health/safety needs at the setting.