 Pursuing an advanced nursing degree, such as becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is of interest to many RNs. However, the financial burden associated with advanced nursing education can be substantial. Fortunately, there are numerous scholarships and resources available to help reduce costs.. This article explores key scholarship opportunities and resources that aspiring NPs and APRNs can consider.
Why Scholarships Matter for NP and APRN Students Pursuing an advanced nursing degree is not just academically demanding. It can be expensive! Scholarships can help qualified candidates advance their education. By securing scholarship support, students can focus more on clinical training and less on financial stress. These awards also reduce the need for loans, helping graduates enter the workforce with less debt, which is especially important in primary care roles that serve underserved populations. Financial aid is crucial, but so is securing strong clinical placements. Learn more about the preceptor challenges NP students face and how to plan ahead. 1. Federal Scholarship Programs National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program The NHSC Scholarship Program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), offers scholarships to students pursuing primary care health professions training, including nurse practitioner programs. In exchange for a commitment to provide primary care services in underserved communities, the scholarship covers tuition, fees, and provides a monthly stipend. The service obligation is typically two years, with the possibility of extension based on the length of scholarship support received. For more information, visit the NHSC Scholarships page.National Health Service CorpsBureau of Health Workforce+4National Health Service Corps+4National Health Service Corps+4Bureau of Health Workforce Nurse Corps Scholarship Program Also managed by HRSA, the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program provides financial support to nursing students in exchange for a minimum two-year, full-time service commitment at an eligible health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses. The scholarship covers tuition, eligible fees, and other reasonable costs and includes a monthly stipend. Preference is given to applicants with the greatest financial need. Details can be found on the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program page.Bureau of Health Workforce+3Bureau of Health Workforce+3Bureau of Health Workforce+3National Health Service Corps+3Bureau of Health Workforce+3National Health Service Corps+3 2. State and Regional Scholarships Advanced Practice Healthcare Scholarship Program (APHSP) – CaliforniaFor California residents, the APHSP offers scholarships to students pursuing advanced practice healthcare degrees, including nurse practitioners. Recipients commit to providing direct patient care in a qualified facility in California. The application cycle typically opens in August. More information is available on the APHSP page. Bureau of Health Workforce+2HCAI+2Bureau of Health Workforce+2 3. Professional Association Scholarships American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Scholarships The AANP offers scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 to its members who are enrolled in accredited graduate programs pursuing an advanced degree as a nurse practitioner. Applicants must have completed at least one semester and be scheduled to complete their program between August 2025 and July 2026. Visit the AANP Scholarships page for application details. AANP American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Scholarships AACN provides various scholarships for nursing students through partnerships with organizations like Uniform Advantage. These scholarships are awarded to students enrolled in master's and doctoral programs and are based on academic performance and financial need. Information on available scholarships can be found on the AACN Scholarships page. 4. Additional Scholarship Resources NursingCE Central – California RN Scholarships NursingCE Central offers a comprehensive list of scholarships for California RNs pursuing graduate nursing degrees. These scholarships cater to various specializations and can significantly offset tuition costs. Explore the list on the NursingCE Central Scholarships page. Nursing CE Central Scholarships.com – Nursing/Nurse Practitioner Scholarships Scholarships.com provides a directory of scholarships specifically for nursing and nurse practitioner students. The database includes scholarships with varying eligibility criteria and award amounts. Visit the Nursing/Nurse Practitioner Scholarships page for more information. Scholarships.com 5. Tips for Securing Scholarships
Final Words Paying for NP or APRN school isn’t easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. With so many scholarships, grants, and repayment options out there, taking the time to apply can really pay off. Stay organized, don’t wait until the last minute, and go after every opportunity you can. The effort you put in now can make a big difference for your future and for the patients you’ll care for down the road. Need a preceptor to complete your journey? Many times you can use your scholarship funds to help pay for our services. We’re here to help! Find your perfect match today. About the Author Lynn McComas is the CEO and founder of PreceptorLink and a recognized expert in precepting nurse practitioners and advanced practice provider students. With over two decades in primary care, Lynn has served as a coach, advisor, mentor, and preceptor for countless healthcare professionals, including NPs, nurses, and medical assistants. She co-founded a successful skills and procedures business and speaks nationwide on NP-related issues. Lynn is also a regular contributor on LinkedIn, KevinMD, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @preceptorlink, X @LynnMcComas, and her blog, where she addresses the growing NP and PA professions and the urgent need for preceptor sites. Her unique perspective, shaped by her business, clinical, and educational experiences, positions her as a key voice in tackling preceptor shortages. Lynn is committed to driving change—through a paradigm shift in NP education, reducing barriers, offering preceptor incentives, and advocating for reforms within the profession.
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 I’m honored to share that I was recently published on KevinMD, one of the most widely read platforms in healthcare.
In my article, “The Preceptor Paradox: PAs Get the Nod While NPs Are Sidelined,” I explore a growing and perplexing trend in NP education: some schools are allowing Physician Assistants (PAs) to precept Acute Care NP (ACNP) students, while simultaneously telling experienced Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) they aren’t qualified to do the same. This inconsistency not only hurts students trying to complete their training, but it’s a broader issue of professional recognition and respect within advanced practice nursing. As someone who has worked in both the academic and clinical spaces, I believe this is a conversation we need to have, openly and constructively. 👉 Read the full article on KevinMD here. I welcome your feedback and experiences. Let’s bring clarity and equity to how NP students are trained. We need our FNPs working in AC with their wonderful AC backgrounds and experience!  If you're reading this, you're probably asking the same question hundreds of PMHNP students ask each semester: How do I find a PMHNP preceptor? And let me say this first--you’re not alone. As someone who works with nurse practitioner students every single day, I hear the stress, the frustration, and even the panic that comes with trying to secure a solid clinical rotation. In fact, I just got off the phone with a student, and you could hear it in her tearful voice. What you students often have to go through to find a preceptor is so challenging!
The search can feel like a full-time job—but with the right tools, a proactive approach, and a bit of support, you can absolutely find a PMHNP preceptor who helps you grow both professionally and personally. Let’s walk through what’s really going on out there—and how to get through it. Why It’s So Hard to Find a PMHNP Preceptor Right Now Before we dive into how to find a PMHNP preceptor, let’s talk about why it’s become such a challenge. When I speak with students and preceptors, there are a few common factors we see again and again:
How to Find a PMHNP Preceptor: Step-by-Step Ask Your School If They Have a Preceptor List This seems obvious, but I’m surprised how many students have not asked. Clearly schools have these lists because they have affiliations already. And an affiliation is key to success! Start Early—Earlier Than You Think One of the biggest mistakes I see students make is waiting too long. If your rotation starts in six months, you should already be searching now. In high-demand areas like psychiatry, many PMHNP preceptors are booked 6 to 12 months in advance. Use a calendar. Set weekly goals. Break the process into steps: research, outreach, follow-up, and documentation. This isn’t something you can leave for “later.” Tap Into Your Personal and Professional Network Before you send cold emails to 50 clinics, look around you. The best leads are often closer than you think:
One PMHNP student I worked with found a great rotation through a former RN manager who had transitioned to a psychiatric NP role. She didn’t know her manager even precepted, but asking the question opened the door. Tip: When reaching out, don’t just ask if they precept. Ask if they know someone who does. That opens up their network, not just their availability. Use Preceptor Directories and Online Platforms There are some great resources online—if you know where to look:
Reach Out to Local Clinics, Hospitals, and Private Practices This is where persistence really pays off. Make a list of psychiatric providers within your state or region and start emailing or calling. When reaching out, make sure your message is short, clear, and professional. Include:
And don’t forget to follow up! A polite nudge 5–7 days later can make a big difference. Consider Telehealth and Remote PMHNP Preceptors The pandemic changed everything—including clinical rotations. Many PMHNPs now offer telehealth services, and some are open to precepting students remotely. This option can be a game-changer, especially if:
Just make sure your school allows telehealth rotations and that you meet all state licensure and HIPAA requirements. Some state BONs have specific requirements for taking students from out of state too. (As if it wasn’t hard enough already!) Try a Preceptor Matching Service This is where we come in! I started PreceptorLink® because I saw how many students were struggling to find preceptors. I figured we could help with this challenging job. We’re a service, and like many services, sometimes it’s worth it to pay someone else to do a job you don’t want to or can’t do on your own. We help students who are overwhelmed, out of time, or just can’t get a “yes.” We do our best to vet every preceptor to help ensure they meet program standards, and we assist with matching, documentation, and coordination. This isn’t a shortcut—it’s a lifeline when your own search hits a wall. Pro Tip: The best PMHNP preceptors get booked quickly. If you plan to use a service, start the process early! And if you feel stuck, we’re here to help. Still wondering how to find a PMHNP preceptor? Visit PreceptorLink.com to get started. We believe in your journey—and we’re here to support it. About the Author Lynn McComas is the CEO and founder of PreceptorLink and a recognized expert in precepting nurse practitioners and advanced practice provider students. With over two decades in primary care, Lynn has served as a coach, advisor, mentor, and preceptor for countless healthcare professionals, including NPs, nurses, and medical assistants. She co-founded a successful skills and procedures business and speaks nationwide on NP-related issues. Lynn is also a regular contributor on LinkedIn, KevinMD, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @preceptorlink, X @LynnMcComas, and her blog, where she addresses the growing NP and PA professions and the urgent need for preceptor sites. Her unique perspective, shaped by her business, clinical, and educational experiences, positions her as a key voice in tackling preceptor shortages. Lynn is committed to driving change—through a paradigm shift in NP education, reducing barriers, offering preceptor incentives, and advocating for reforms within the profession.  Would we love to be free? Absolutely! We actually believe that schools should be doing more to help NP students secure preceptors. Why Don’t All Schools Place NP Students in Clinical Rotations?—after all, clinical training is a core and mandatory part of your education. But the reality is that many schools don’t help, leaving students to find their own preceptors. All of this is exactly why I started PreceptorLink® over a decade ago—to help NP students navigate this frustrating process. I saw students complain on Facebook groups and the NP forums. I heard them begging for preceptors at the NP meetings. Fast forward 10 years and thousands of placements later, and we’re still here, committed to making the process easier for students. We’re the OG! So, is PreceptorLink free? No. But here’s why: For one, most of the time we provide an honorarium to our preceptors. Now, some preceptors don’t require an honorarium, and THAT is why we created the National Database of Paid and Unpaid Preceptors. We just charge our business expenses for those rotations. It also costs us money to find and secure quality preceptors. It’s a complex, time-consuming process. Our team works tirelessly to recruit, vet, and manage preceptors, handle paperwork, and ensure rotations go smoothly. Then there are tech costs. We constantly invest in our technology—(You might hear us refer to it as "The App") It’s an advanced web-based platform that we built from the ground up to provide as seamless an experience as possible for students, preceptors, sites, schools, and our team. Beyond that, we have regular business expenses, including e-commerce costs, customer service, legal and compliance fees, and normal operational overhead. Sadly, we simply can’t afford to be free. But time is money, and most students agree that it’s money well spent to hand this difficult job over to PreceptorLink®! If you’re ready to have PreceptorLink® find you a preceptor, follow these simple steps: 1️⃣ Visit PreceptorLink.com and click “Find A Preceptor.” 2️⃣ You can use the filters to search the database by specialty, location, and dates available, but know we have LOTS more preceptors than are listed. 3️⃣ Ideally, create a profile and a rotation. That way, we can see your specific needs and guide you appropriately. You can even add people to your Favorites. You can always reach out to us to confirm that the potential preceptor really has availability and is the right fit for your rotation. 4️⃣ Secure your preceptor! Don’t be confused by similar companies or names. PreceptorLink®- We are your LINK to clinical preceptors. 5️⃣ We even handle the paperwork if your school allows it in order to ensure a smooth rotation. We know how hard it is to find a preceptor—we’ve been doing this for over a decade, helping thousands of NP and APRN students secure high-quality clinical rotations. While we wish this process was easier (and free!), we’re here to take the stress off your plate. If you need a reliable, vetted, and experienced preceptor-matching service, PreceptorLink® is here to help. Let’s get you placed! 👉 Find a Preceptor Now We know how hard it is to find a preceptor—we’ve been doing this for over a decade, helping thousands of NP and APRN students secure high-quality clinical rotations. While we wish this process was easier (and free!), we’re here to take the stress off your plate. About the Author Lynn McComas is the CEO and founder of PreceptorLink and a recognized expert in precepting nurse practitioners and advanced practice provider students. With over two decades in primary care, Lynn has served as a coach, advisor, mentor, and preceptor for countless healthcare professionals, including NPs, nurses, and medical assistants. She co-founded a successful skills and procedures business and speaks nationwide on NP-related issues. Lynn is also a regular contributor on LinkedIn, KevinMD, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @preceptorlink, X @LynnMcComas, and her blog, where she addresses the growing NP and PA professions and the urgent need for preceptor sites. Her unique perspective, shaped by her business, clinical, and educational experiences, positions her as a key voice in tackling preceptor shortages. Lynn is committed to driving change—through a paradigm shift in NP education, reducing barriers, offering preceptor incentives, and advocating for reforms within the profession. |
About Lynn:As a longtime NP with a desire to help and make positive changes to her beloved profession, Lynn often writes opinion pieces about the NP profession. Archives
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