Clinical Experience Requests

The PA Program will acquire and coordinate all clinical rotation sites and Preceptors for students. Students are not required to obtain their own sites or Preceptors. (ARC-PA standard A3.03) Students may, however, suggest sites or Preceptors to the PA Program. The Program, at its sole discretion, will review and evaluate student-suggested sites and Preceptors for educational suitability before approving them for use as clinical sites.  All clinical sites and Preceptors must meet Program expectations and policies.

Before considering a clinical experience request, the student must ensure that the potential Preceptor/site does not pose a conflict of interest.  If there is any potential for conflict of interest, the request should not be made. 

In-State Requests (Colorado): If a student is interested in a clinical experience at a certain site or with a specific Preceptor within the state of Colorado, the following protocol must be followed: 

  • Refrain from contacting the site or Preceptor until a discussion with a member of the PA Clinical Team has occurred.
  • Discuss preferences and interests during a one-on-one meeting and/or record your preferences in the elective interest surveys. 
  • Complete as much information as possible on the Preceptor recommendation link.
  • Communication with the site and/or Preceptor will follow the Clinical Team’s established process. 

Out-of-State Requests: The student should only contact sites/Preceptors where a personal relationship has previously been established.  Students should not “cold-call” sites/Preceptors or contact other PA Programs requesting clinical experiences.  

If a student is interested in a clinical experience at a certain site or with a specific Preceptor outside of Colorado, the following protocol must be followed: 

  • Complete as much information as possible on the preceptor recommendation link: If the rotation is deemed appropriate, a member of the Clinical Team will extend a courtesy call to the PA Program(s) in that state to ensure there is no conflict with their scheduling needs.
  • The student is responsible for arranging transportation and housing for their out-of-state clinical experience.  
  • Some states require additional authorization or fees for an out-of-state student to complete a rotation. The student will accept responsibility for the fees and additional paperwork needs.