Graduate Preceptorship and Externship Requirements

The Graduate Preceptorship Program (GPP) is a program that allows a new graduate (extern), while completing the licensure process, to begin practice and gain additional experience for up to 12 months under the direct supervision under a licensed and experienced practitioner.

A Preceptor is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic who is acting as a supervisor for a person who is a graduate of a fully accredited college of chiropractic (extern) and who is pursuing their license to practice.

As noted above, the preceptor is essentially a teacher continuing the education of a graduate who is pursuing licensure. Among other things the preceptor is required to take an active role in the supervision of the extern and be in the practice environment at all times services are being provided by the extern. The Preceptor must involve the extern in all aspects of patient care including history taking, examination, taking x-rays, treatment, preparing reports, conducting lab tests, and maintaining patient records. The preceptor must also take care to assure that patients are not misled, and are fully informed that the extern providing services is not a licensed doctor of chiropractic, and that they give their consent to receiving services from the extern. The rules [Minn. R. 2500.2515, Subd. 4 (e),] require the use of a specific informed consent form. The Preceptor should be diligent in the use of this form to avoid misunderstandings.

As noted above, the extern must also take care to assure that patients are not misled as to the extern's status. Such misunderstandings may lead to severe compromise of the relationship between the Preceptor (doctor) and the patient, including potential legal liabilities. The seemingly overwhelming urge for the Preceptor and the extern to refer to the extern as "Doctor" may be misconstrued by the patient in the absence of other safeguards to prevent misunderstanding. The extern must acquire and maintain malpractice insurance during the entire period of time they are providing services to patients under this program.

Coming soon!  The online system will soon allow online applications!  Until then, you may download the appropriate form below in Adobe Acrobat.  For legibility reasons, we ask that you fill the forms online and then print them.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you may download it at no cost form Adobe Acrobat.  Please click on the form that you need:  

• Graduate Preceptorship Application - Preceptor and Extern

The Graduate Preceptorship Application Fee = $100.00

An application for preceptorship is good for one calendar year, terminating on the anniversary of the application's approval.  During that year, a preceptor may supervise more than one extern.  However, with very few and specific exceptions, Preceptors may NOT supervise more than one Extern at the same time.  If the externship is terminated, for example by the extern becoming fully licensed, then the Preceptor may make arrangements to supervise another extern.