Walden practicum and preceptor FAQ

All five NP specializations (FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP, and PNP) require 640 hours, completed as 160 hours across four practicum courses. The one common exception: students who enrolled as new or readmitted students on or after March 1, 2025 and plan Kansas APRN licensure complete 750 hours instead. Confirm your total in your program of study. Walden MSN practicum requirements.

A minimum of 1,000 post-bachelor's practicum hours. NURS 8600 counts 72 hours per credit and NURS 8601 counts 80 hours per credit, tied to your DNP project. Walden DNP requirements.

RN-to-BSN students complete a 100-hour capstone practicum (NURS 4300/4301) plus leadership field hours (NURS 4210/4220). Walden BSN requirements.

Yes. You can log a maximum of 12 practicum hours per day, hours must be spread over at least 8 weeks, and they must be complete by the end of Week 10 (Week 11 for Tempo). Plan your schedule with these caps in mind so you are not stuck at the end of the term.

Walden uses Meditrek (edu.meditrek.com/waldenu/student). You enter your time and patient encounter logs there, and your preceptor signs off on hours and evaluations. You cannot register for a practicum course until your Meditrek application is approved, so start it early. The Office of Field Experience supports the process. Walden field course success.

Before you can register for the practicum course. Build in buffer time, because approval depends on your nominated preceptor, the site's affiliation agreement, and your compliance file all being in order.

Generally no. You secure your own preceptor and site, then nominate them in Meditrek for approval before the course starts. Walden supports you with coaching calls, prescreen checklists, roundtable webinars, and an affiliation agreement database, but does not usually assign preceptors. Some sites do require Walden to finalize the placement directly, which you start with a coaching call. Walden find a preceptor.

Yes, this is exactly what we do. We source a qualified, willing preceptor and an approved site in your area, then hand you a clean nomination to submit in Meditrek. See how it works.

CastleBranch (myCB, under DISA) at walden.castlebranch.com is Walden's compliance platform. Before practicum you complete a background check, drug screen, immunizations, and required trainings, often with state-specific items. Walden does not accept outside background checks, so you complete the process through CastleBranch even if you have records elsewhere. Walden onboarding.

As early as you can. Immunization titers and some trainings take time, and a single missing item can hold up your Meditrek approval and your course registration.

No. Tempo Learning, Walden's competency-based, self-paced, subscription-priced format, is offered only for Nursing Education, Nurse Executive, and Nursing Informatics. The NP specializations are course-based and are not available through Tempo. Walden nursing catalog.

No. Direct patient care hours must be done in person with an approved preceptor at an approved site. Telehealth may count only within the limits your specialty and preceptor allow. If location is your barrier, we focus on finding placements close to you.

Pricing depends on your program and how many courses you need covered. You pay nothing until you are matched with an approved preceptor, and we aim to match you within 5 days. The fastest way to a real number is a free consult. See pricing for ranges.

Our guarantee is a match within 5 days. Timelines can vary by specialty and location, and your consult will give you a realistic window for your situation.