The Tennessee Nurse Preceptor Incentive, explained for ETSU students

What the incentive is

The Tennessee Nurse Preceptor Incentive pays Tennessee-licensed APRNs for teaching APRN students. The Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) says a state grant funds it, and THA administers it in partnership with Tennessee's Center for Health Workforce Development. It started as a pilot in 2024.

In each cycle, an eligible preceptor receives a single payment whose tier depends on how many precepting hours are approved. Money is handed out first come, first served until the cycle's funds run out, and the cycles THA lists include Summer and Fall 2026. Since January 14, 2026, preceptors enroll and record their hours on the Whitecoat platform.

The program sets its own tiers and terms. Anyone interested should read THA's incentive page for the current cycle rather than rely on a figure passed along secondhand.

How it works, step by step

From the preceptor's side, the path THA describes runs in this order. Each step belongs to the preceptor and the program; your part as the student is to mention the incentive and keep ETSU's own paperwork moving.

1. Complete the UTHSC courseA one-time preceptor course comes first; once done, it carries forward to later cycles.
2. Enroll on WhitecoatEnrollment has run through the Whitecoat platform since January 14, 2026.
3. Precept at an approved siteHours count only where a Tennessee program has approved the site and holds a current clinical affiliation agreement for it. ETSU separately requires a contract before any clinical begins.
4. Log the hoursPrecepting hours go into Whitecoat during the cycle.
5. Receive one tiered paymentApproved hours set the tier, one payment is made per cycle, and funding goes first come, first served.

How to raise it with a prospective preceptor

Mention the incentive briefly and plainly in your first message: Tennessee funds it, THA and its workforce partner run it, a one-time UTHSC course comes first, and enrollment happens on Whitecoat. Send the preceptor to THA's page for the current terms instead of describing payment levels yourself.

Keep the promise modest. Funds are first come, first served, an employer's policy can rule a preceptor out, and eligibility is the program's decision. The incentive helps an NP say yes; the conversation still rests on your course, your schedule and a site that fits.

Pair it with what ETSU will ask of the preceptor: time with you on site, ProjectConcert access through a welcome email to review your hours, and mid-term and final evaluations. Our page for preceptors lays that out in the preceptor's own terms, and the preceptor requirements page covers who qualifies to teach you.

Why ETSU students choose us for Tennessee outreach

When your placement advisor contacts a Tennessee-licensed NP for you, the incentive is part of the conversation, alongside a clear picture of your ETSU course, its hours and the population it serves. Preceptors hear what ETSU will ask of them and what the state program offers, which makes agreeing an easier decision.

Next we collect every detail your Intent Form and onboarding entry require, tell you early whether the site will need a contract with ETSU, and stay with you through the term. If a preceptor later steps away, we look for a replacement with the same care, incentive conversation included, so your hours keep moving. Name your course and the county you live in using the form below, and your placement advisor takes it from there.