Fieldwork supervision information
Level II Fieldwork
The goal of level II fieldwork is to develop competent, entry-level, generalist occupational
therapists. Level II fieldwork must be integral to the program’s curriculum design
and must include an in-depth experience in delivering evidence based occupational
therapy services to clients.
Students are supervised by Occupational Therapists Registered (OTR) or Certified Occupational
Therapy Assistants (COTA) with at least one year of clinical work experience. Students
may also be co-supervised by OTRs with less than a year of experience, COTAs, and/or
other professionals. Group and part-time supervisory models may be used at some fieldwork
sites.
Students may have multiple supervisors who contribute to the evaluation and daily experiences as determined by the facility to provide the student with opportunities to learn while maintaining the integrity of the site and protection of the consumers.
- AOTA fieldwork data form
- Attendance and communication
- Progress during Level II Fieldwork
- Site specific objectives
- Resource article about productivity and students
- Sample 8 week schedule
Level I fieldwork
As stated in the 2018 Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) Standards: “The goal of Level I fieldwork is to introduce students to fieldwork, apply knowledge to practice, and develop understanding of the needs of clients.”
Level I fieldwork is integral to the curriculum design and include experiences designed to enrich coursework. This is completed through directed observation and participation in aspects of the occupational therapy process.
The program will ensure that qualified personnel supervise Level I fieldwork. Examples
may include, but are not limited to, currently licensed or otherwise regulated occupational
therapists and occupational therapy assistants, psychologists, physician assistants,
teachers, social workers, nurses and physical therapists.
Students will work on developing professional behaviors, attitudes, and skills while
on Level I Fieldwork. In general, experiences are provided to help students progress
from making observations, to co-treating individuals and/or groups, contributing to
data collection, intervention plans, and documentation under the supervision and direction
of their FW supervisor and at the discretion of the fieldwork educator to ensure consumer
safety.
Level I Fieldwork (FW) may be scheduled for part of a day, full days, or full weeks,
that does not interfere with the students class schedule and is convenient and agreeable
with the fieldwork supervisor. The student’s personal schedule (child care, work
schedule, recreation schedule, social time, etc) is NOT to interfere with the completion
of Level 1 fieldwork. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the fieldwork
educator to arrange the scheduled hours.