OTA Program Fieldwork
Building upon your skills and lab experiences, fieldwork is critical in your OTA education, helping you transition from student to practitioner. Online coursework and simulation labs are how you can learn and practice your initial skills. Fieldwork, however, provides the real-world firsthand experience you’ll need to practice professionally.
Your OTA program fieldwork will take place in different occupational therapy settings. Divided into two levels, Fieldwork I and Fieldwork II, the experiences give you direct access to clients of all ages and situations in a real-world setting.
Level I Fieldwork
Level I Fieldwork introduces you to the fieldwork experience so you can develop a basic comfort level when working to understand client needs. The intent is to enrich your online coursework through direct observation and select participation rather than to develop independent performance.
Level II Fieldwork
Level II Fieldwork allows you to apply the theoretical and scientific principles you learned during your didactic coursework. You can address actual client needs and develop a professional identity as an occupational therapy practitioner, sometimes in an interdisciplinary context.
Fieldwork Hours
Your OTA program fieldwork experiences will occur on a set schedule throughout your curriculum, allowing you to apply your knowledge in the real world. Your fieldwork includes:
- Three-day intensive experience in group-model virtual Level I Fieldwork focused on psychosocial conditions and practice.
- Three-day intensive experience in Level I Fieldwork in psychosocial setting.
- Eight weeks full-time in a traditional model Level II Fieldwork in a physical disabilities practice setting.
- Eight weeks full-time in a traditional model Level II Fieldwork working in an emerging practice setting or special interest area.
Fieldwork Settings
You can expect to complete your OTA program fieldwork in four approved settings.
Common OTA practice settings are hospitals, schools, nursing homes, outpatient centers, and mental health facilities. We conveniently offer fieldwork opportunities across the United States. A dedicated fieldwork coordinator will work with you to identify the best possible locations for your needs.
For More Information
Want to learn more about St. Kate’s level I or II fieldwork and how it will enhance your educational experience? Speak to an admission advisor.
The Ultimate Guide to Occupational Therapy and OTA
Get answers to your questions about the field, about the OTA career path, and about St. Catherine University’s Online OTA program.
