Colposcopy Education & Clinical Training Standards By NPWH - National Association of Nurse Practitioner in Reproductive Health Order the 'Colposcopy Education & Clinical Training Standards' booklet from the NPWH (go to 'Publications'). Preceptorship/Mentorship Guidelines:            All colposcopy courses must include a preceptorship/mentorship component. The clinical components listed below represent minimum requirements. Some student colposcopists may require additional clinical training, depending on the level of their clinical expertise.             Potential preceptors must be reviewed for their competence as clinical preceptors. Qualifications for preceptors include training and experience in colposcopy. Preceptors must be able to provide adequate opportunities for the student colposcopist to meet specific clinical requirements. Colposcopist preceptors may include physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants or nurse midwives.             Prior to practicing hands-on skills under direct supervision, the student colposcopist is expected to observe colposcopy, biopsy, endocervical curettage, triage, referral and other procedures performed by the preceptor, or other experienced colposcopist as designated by the preceptor.             NPWH has set the following minimum requirements for the colposcopy clinical preceptorship: Fifty (50) colposcopic examinations with at least 45 abnormal cervical exams. (Recommended: 100 colposcopic exams with at least 80 abnormal cervical exams, 10 of which are high grade lesions.) Forty-five (45) cervical biopsies. (Recommended: 80 cervical biopsies.) Forty (40) endocervical curettage procedures. Ten to twenty(10-20) cryotherapy procedures(recommended). If management of vaginal or vulvar lesions is a goal: 10 abnormal vaginal and /or vulvar colposcopic exams and biopsies of lesions under the supervision of a preceptorship with expertise in evaluation and biopsy of vulvar and/or vaginal lesions. If management of penile and/or anorectal lesions is a goal: 10 biopsies under the supervision of a preceptor with expertise in evaluation and biopsy of lesions on the penis. Follow-up for patients examined and treated or referred. Follow-up of Pap smear results.             It is recommended that the preceptorship clinical requirement be fulfilled within one year following completion of the didactic component of the course.