Master of Occupational Therapy Fieldwork

Level I Fieldwork, for both OTA and OT students, is designed to enrich didactic coursework through directed observation and participation in selected aspects of the occupational therapy process. The focus of these experiences is not intended to be independent performance. Each academic program structures these experiences slightly differently. It is best to discuss the learning objectives and activities with the student’s academic fieldwork coordinator. 

The purpose of Level II Fieldwork is to develop competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants. Level II Fieldwork shall include an in-depth experience in delivering occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on the application of purposeful and meaningful occupation. For OT students only, not OTA students, Level II Fieldwork may also focus on research, administration and management of occupational therapy services.

• Level I rotations vary depending on site, but will complete a week-long experience during week 9 or 10 of trimesters 1-4.

Students will complete two Level II fieldwork experiences at the end of the didactic portion of their education. Each Level II experience is full-time and twelve weeks in length.

Most students will need to travel to a clinical site, which may be located anywhere in the United States. Every effort is being made to secure sites in the San Diego area and southern CA, but due to the high demand for clinical placement sites and multiple programs in the San Diego Area, you may be expected to travel within the U.S. There will be no international travel at this time.

• Access to current and new practice areas and research
• Deepen clinical reasoning skills and expand supervisory skills
• Opportunity to give back and influence the future of the profession
• Professional development units through NBCOT for fieldwork supervision (Level I supervision = 1 PDU, Level II supervision = 1 PDU per week supervised)
• Identification of future employees – many graduates go on to become employees of the organizations where they complete fieldwork!

• During Level I rotations During Level I fieldwork, supervision may be overseen by:
  • Occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants.
• Other qualified professionals on-site at the facility, which may include:
  • Psychologists
  • Physicians/PA’s
  • Physical Therapists
  • Speech Language Pathologists
  • Social Workers
  • Nurses
  • AIU MOT Faculty
• During Level II Fieldwork you must be an occupational therapist licensed in the state of California (or whichever state you will be supervising the student in) with at least 1 year of practice experience since licensure.
  • Adequate preparation for becoming a fieldwork educator.
  • If there is not an occupational therapist on staff, you must plan for provision of occupational therapy services and supervision by a currently licensed or otherwise regulated occupational therapist with at least 3 years’ full-time or its equivalent of professional experience prior to the Level II fieldwork. Supervision must include a minimum of 8 hours of direct supervision each week of the fieldwork experience. An occupational therapy supervisor must be available, via a variety of contact measures, to the student during all working hours. An onsite supervisor designee of another profession must be assigned while the occupational therapy supervisor is off site.

Yes, supervision of a level I or level II fieldwork student can be split in numerous ways. The fieldwork sites can collaborate with the academic fieldwork coordinator to develop the best plan for split supervision.

At Alliant University, we believe that “hands-on” experience is of utmost importance. While we may include simulations, case studies, and standardized patients, they will be in addition to the 4 Level I fieldwork experiences and 2 Level II fieldwork experiences.

Students will complete one week of level I Fieldwork experience during each of the first four trimesters of the program, usually during Week 9 or 10. The two Level II Fieldwork experiences will be at the end of the didactic portion of the program during Trimesters 5 and 6. Each experience will be 12 weeks long if participating full-time.

There are a variety of practice settings in which students can perform level II fieldwork, including but not limited to acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, outpatient pediatric rehabilitation, mental health facilities, school systems, outpatient adult rehabilitation, home health care, and nontraditional settings.

If you have a site that you’re interested in completing a Level II Fieldwork, and we do not currently have a contract with them. You can provide the information to your AFWC, and they will contract the site directly. Do not reach out to the site on your own.

To ensure adequate preparation for the NBCOT exam following graduation from our OT program, at this time, we require that our students complete both level II fieldwork experiences within the United States.