University of Phoenix Preceptor and Practicum FAQ
Everything University of Phoenix nursing students most often ask about the in-person requirement, who arranges the preceptor, what the hours and residency really are, what makes a site approvable, and how our service fits, gathered in one place with honest answers. Where a number governs your graduation, confirm it against your own Nursing Student Handbook; where we can, we point you to a fuller page.
Tell us your program and city. It is free to ask, with no obligation.
The programs and what they require
Phoenix offers post-licensure RN-to-BSN, MSN, and DNP nursing degrees. Every one combines online coursework with an in-person experience in an approved setting, but the type and size of that experience differs a great deal by program. The quick map:
| Program | In-person experience | Residency in Phoenix, AZ? |
|---|---|---|
| RN-to-BSN | Minimum 90 direct-care community/public-health hours | No |
| MSN, non-NP (NED/ADM/INF) | Minimum 60 clinical/practicum hours | No |
| MSN, FNP | Minimum 600 supervised clinical hours | Yes, 5-day residency |
| MSN, PMHNP | Minimum 600 supervised clinical hours | Yes, 5-day residency |
| DNP | 1000 practice hours plus an Applied Project | No |
Those figures reflect the current University of Phoenix Nursing Program Handbook and can change; confirm the exact requirement for your program against your enrolled handbook. Note that Phoenix's only nurse-practitioner tracks are FNP and PMHNP; it does not offer AGNP, pediatric NP, neonatal NP, or women's-health NP programs, and the DNP is not an NP-licensure program.
Who arranges the preceptor, and who can it be
Across all of these programs, you arrange the site and preceptor and the university approves them. The kind of preceptor you need depends on the program: a qualified community-health professional for RN-to-BSN, a board-certified FNP or in-scope primary-care physician for FNP, a board-certified PMHNP or psychiatrist for PMHNP, an education, leadership, or informatics preceptor for the non-NP MSN tracks, and a preceptor or project mentor for the DNP.
Every preceptor and site has to be approved, which generally means documentation such as a CV and a signed agreement. A willing clinician is not the same as an approved one. The find a preceptor page walks through the search, and the approved site page explains approval in detail.
The rest of the common questions
The FAQ below answers the specifics students ask most, workplace use, the residency, telehealth, cost, and what we do and do not control. If your question is not here, the contact page reaches a placement advisor directly.
Good to know
Does the University of Phoenix find my preceptor for me?
No. Phoenix programs combine online coursework with in-person experiences that take place in approved settings you arrange, which may include your workplace or local community. The university sets and approves the requirement; it does not source the preceptor. That sourcing and vetting is what we do.
How many clinical hours does my program require?
It depends on the program. RN-to-BSN requires a minimum of 90 community/public-health hours; the non-NP MSN concentrations require a minimum of 60 clinical hours; the FNP and PMHNP tracks each require a minimum of 600 supervised clinical hours; and the DNP requires 1000 practice hours plus an Applied Project. Confirm the exact figure for your program against your current Nursing Student Handbook.
Is there a required residency, and where is it?
For the FNP and PMHNP master's tracks, yes, an in-person 5-day residency on the Phoenix, Arizona campus, embedded in the Advanced Health Assessment course and typically running Thursday through Monday, with students arranging their own travel. The RN-to-BSN, non-NP MSN, and DNP programs do not have this residency. Confirm details against your handbook.
Does Phoenix offer an FNP or PMHNP program?
Yes. The University of Phoenix offers two direct-care nurse-practitioner tracks at the MSN level, the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). It does not offer AGNP, pediatric NP, neonatal NP, or women's-health NP tracks, and its DNP is a leadership and scholarship doctorate that does not lead to NP licensure.
Can I use my own workplace for the in-person hours?
Sometimes. Phoenix allows approved workplace settings, and your employer works best for the DNP project and the non-NP MSN practica. It often does not work for RN-to-BSN acute units or NP tracks lacking a qualified in-scope preceptor on site. Whether your workplace qualifies is a program decision; see our using-your-workplace guide.
Can any of the hours be done by telehealth?
It depends entirely on your program and your state's licensure rules, not on us. Some experiences may permit telehealth in part, but whether remote hours count, and in what proportion, is the university's and the state's decision. We confirm what is allowed against your handbook before treating any remote hours as part of a plan.
What does your placement service cost, and when do I pay?
Independent placement generally runs roughly 1,000 to 2,500 dollars per placement across the market, priced to your program and area. We price per placement and you pay only once your preceptor and approved site are confirmed. The fee is for our sourcing and approval work, never a payment to the preceptor. See our cost page.
Are you affiliated with the University of Phoenix?
No. We help you meet your program's requirements; final approval of any site or preceptor rests with the university.
Keep your comeback on schedule
Tell us your program, your city, and your timeline. We will come back with a placement plan and a realistic path to an approved site and preceptor.