OT Fieldwork Educator Resources

Fieldwork Education is an important part of the occupational therapy curriculum. It is the time for students to apply and expand the knowledge and skills they have learned in class. Fieldwork education is the portion of the curriculum where occupational therapy students  acquire, practice, and are evaluated on required skill sets. Formal evaluation of the application and integration of these skill sets is completed by a fieldwork educator who directly supervises the students.

Fieldwork Sites
The occupational therapy program has a variety of fieldwork education sites in which the OT student can complete their fieldwork education. These include hospitals, outpatient clinics, healthcare and rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, substance abuse programs, mental health facilities, pediatric clinics, school systems, and a variety of other community environments.

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) states the goal of Level I fieldwork is to introduce students to the fieldwork experience, to apply knowledge to practice, and to develop understanding of the needs of clients. 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 occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on the application of purposeful and meaningful occupation and research, administration, and management of occupational therapy services. It is recommended that the student be exposed to a variety of clients across the life span and to a variety of settings.

Fieldwork education at Florida Gulf Coast University is a crucial part of the students’ professional preparation and is integrated as a component of our curriculum design. Level II fieldwork provides our students the opportunities necessary to carry out professional responsibilities under the supervision of a “qualified” occupational therapy practitioner serving as role model.