Aspen University Nursing Programs That Need Field Experience
Most Aspen University nursing programs build in hands-on field experience or a practicum, and most leave it to you to find your own preceptor and approved site. Here is what each program requires, and the two ways we help you get there.
Why field experience trips students up
Across Aspen’s nursing programs, the coursework is online and well-structured, but the experiential component is where students stall. Aspen’s Office of Field Experience assists with documentation and approvals, yet you are responsible for securing your own preceptor and site. In practice, many students spend months searching, and the search often drags on with no clear path.
That is the gap we close. aspenpreceptor.com is an independent service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with Aspen University. What we do is source a qualified, specialty-matched preceptor and an approved field-experience site so your hours can move forward. Below is each program and what it asks of you.
RN-to-BSN field experience
The RN-to-BSN program centers on community- and public-health field work rather than hospital clinical rotations. It carries roughly 110-120 documented field hours: N492 Community Health I (30 hours), N493 Community Health II (80 hours), and N496 Nursing Leadership (10 hours).
No preceptor is required for RN-to-BSN, and hours are documented and approved before each course is completed. If you need help identifying an appropriate community or public-health setting and getting your hours approved on time, see RN-to-BSN field experience.
MSN and its five specializations
The MSN is 36 credits across 12 online courses in an 8-week format, completable in as little as 24 months. Each of its five specializations requires a 120-hour practicum with a preceptor: a Registered Nurse affiliated with the practicum site who holds a master’s degree with expertise relevant to your specialty.
The five tracks are Forensic Nursing, Nursing Informatics, Administration & Management, Nursing Education, and Public Health. The Nursing Education, Forensic Nursing, and Public Health tracks require a minimum of 20 direct-care hours within the 120. Practicum courses include N550, N552, and N586, graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. Each specialty has its own appropriate site types, for example, forensic nursing in emergency departments, correctional facilities, or medical examiner’s offices; public health in local or state health departments and school nurse offices. Explore all five on the specialties overview.
RN-to-MSN and DNP
The RN-to-MSN pathway runs 19 courses (7 undergraduate plus 12 graduate) with no separate BSN, taking about four years. It carries the same five specializations and the same 120-hour preceptored practicum as the standalone MSN. Details are on the RN-to-MSN page.
The DNP is 42 credits and requires 1,000 clinical-practice immersion hours, with up to 500 previously precepted hours bankable. It requires access to a clinical site and a preceptor, plus a DNP Project / Capstone; DNP880 requires submitting and obtaining Aspen University IRB approval. See DNP immersion for how we support site and preceptor access at this level.
Two ways we help, and you pay when matched
For every program above, we offer two service pillars. The first is physical placement matching: we source a real preceptor and an approved in-person site suited to your program and specialty. The second is our virtual practicum service: a remote preceptor and virtual experience when that fits your situation better.
We assist with the match; we never guarantee placement, and we are independent of Aspen University. If you are tired of an open-ended preceptor search, find a preceptor with us, and you only pay when you are matched.
Frequently asked questions
Which Aspen nursing programs require a preceptor?
The MSN and RN-to-MSN both require a preceptor for their 120-hour practicum, and the DNP requires a preceptor and clinical site for its 1,000 immersion hours. RN-to-BSN does not require a preceptor, its 110-120 community-health field hours are documented and approved without one.
How many field-experience hours does each program need?
RN-to-BSN is roughly 110-120 community-health field hours (30 + 80 + 10 across N492, N493, and N496). The MSN and RN-to-MSN each require a 120-hour practicum, with a 20-hour direct-care minimum on the Nursing Education, Forensic Nursing, and Public Health tracks. The DNP requires 1,000 clinical-practice immersion hours, up to 500 of which can be banked from previously precepted hours.
Are you affiliated with Aspen University?
No. aspenpreceptor.com is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with Aspen University. We help students secure a qualified, specialty-matched preceptor and an approved site, and we walk you through Aspen’s process.
Do you offer virtual placements for these programs?
Yes. Alongside physical placement matching, we offer a virtual practicum service, a remote preceptor and virtual experience, as an option across programs. We assist with the match; we do not guarantee placement, and you pay only when matched.
Get your Aspen practicum handled.
Tell us your program and specialty. We’ll map your field-experience requirement and start the search, in person or virtual. No payment until you’re matched.