Level I Fieldwork

As stated in the 2018 ACOTE Standards and Interpretive Guide, 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 shall be integral to the program's curriculum design and include experiences 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. Level I fieldwork experiences may or may not occur in an occupational therapy setting with an occupational therapist. Qualified personnel for supervised Level I fieldwork include, but are not limited to, occupational therapy practitioners initially certified nationally, psychologists, physician assistants, teachers, social workers, nurses, and physical therapists.

Level I fieldwork will occur in three semesters. The fieldwork experiences are part of the three-course Level I Fieldwork sequence. Students must successfully complete all Level I Fieldwork experiences to complete the Program and be granted the master's degree.

Each semester is 12 - 15 weeks long, and it is planned that each student will be in a Level I practice setting for approximately 80 hours per semester. Actual days and times of a fieldwork experience will be determined by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, with the fieldwork sites and the fieldwork educators, to maximize the benefits for students, and to ensure that fieldwork educators are available to meet student needs.

At least one Level I Fieldwork experience will be in a psychosocial setting in which the primary goal is for the student to use and apply the OT Process in order to understand how psychosocial components impact occupational performance. Psychosocial is a term used to include psychological, cognitive, social, cultural, and spiritual aspects of occupation. For this experience, students may be placed in a variety of settings which could include day programs, inpatient or outpatient behavioral health, respite programs, homeless shelters, nursing homes, support group associations, substance use treatment or residential settings, or other organizations as determined by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinators. In these settings, students may work one-on-one with clients, develop programs for a group of clients, lead group activities, conduct surveys or needs assessments, plan and deliver educational activities, write proposals for programming, implement new programs, and/or participate in evaluating the outcomes of a program.

Level II Fieldwork

As stated in the 2018 ACOTE Standards and Interpretive Guide, 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 lifespan and to a variety of settings. 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 and/or research, administration and management of occupational therapy services. The fieldwork experience shall be designed to promote clinical reasoning and reflective practice; to transmit the values and beliefs that enable ethical practice; and to develop professionalism and competence as career responsibilities.

Level II fieldwork requires a minimum of 24 weeks full-time experience, most often for 12 weeks each semester. Level II fieldwork is scheduled to occur in the winter and spring of the second professional year of the program, on a full-time basis, for 12 weeks each semester. Alternative scheduling will be considered in extenuating circumstances, on a case-by-case basis. Level II fieldwork will occur following successful completion of the student's didactic course work to include thesis or research projects. After successful completion of Level II fieldwork and grades are posted to the official transcript students will be eligible to take the NBCOT examination.

General Fieldwork Policies

The fieldwork portion of the academic program is the most important practice element of the curriculum, because it is the element that allows students to have intensive and extensive contact with clients and to move toward professional competence. It is the goal of the Program to provide students with a variety of experiences, which support the occupational science focus of the program. Each student will have a Level I Fieldwork placement in a child & adolescent setting, a psychosocial setting, and a physical rehabilitation & disability setting. The Level I experience may occur at a site without an occupational therapist. All Level II experiences will include supervision by an occupational therapist.

This approach has been taken to ensure that students experience client contact in some of the major areas of occupational therapy intervention. We are aware that these areas do not cover every possible treatment environment in which occupational therapists work, however, we hope that we will give students maximum general exposure to the most common environments. To this end the following policies have been developed:

1. All didactic courses must be satisfactorily completed, demonstrating 80%competency in order for students to proceed to the next level.


2. During Level I and Level II Fieldwork experiences, all students are expected to invest time researching, reading, and talking with student colleagues to understand the role of OT in a particular setting. Students are expected to be self-directed and goal-oriented during each placement to maximize their own learning and development.


3. Level I & Level II fieldwork placements will be made by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator based on the nature and availability of fieldwork sites. Students will be asked to provide information about place of residence and setting of interest. However, due to the utilization of fieldwork sites, the number of students needing placement, and facility staffing requirements it is impossible for every student to be assigned to their preferred choices. The Academic Fieldwork Coordinator will work with each student individually to ensure placement in a quality Level I & II site, which will meet the students' needs. Level I Fieldwork placements will be provided approximately 1 month prior to the start date and Level II Fieldwork placements will be provided approximately 6 months prior to the start date.


4. Students are not to contact potential fieldwork sites/supervisors on their own until they have consulted with the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. That is, if a student has a specific request, s/he must present this request for approval to the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. Attempts to bypass this process will be considered a breach of professional behavior.


5. Students are expected to be in attendance for all assigned fieldwork hours. In the case of illness or other circumstances, which cause an absence in a Level I setting, students must contact both the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and the Fieldwork Educator to be granted an excused absence. In a Level II setting, contacting the Fieldwork Educator for an excused absence is sufficient. Make-up requirements for excused absences are to be negotiated with the Fieldwork Educator and approved by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. Unexcused absences will not be granted make-up privileges, and more than one unexcused absence will result in a grade of NC for that fieldwork experience.


6. Every effort will be made to provide students with a Level I fieldwork experience that is no more than 120 miles from their homes and Level II fieldwork experiences within 90 miles from their homes. However, due to the utilization of fieldwork sites, the number of students needing placement, and facility staffing requirements, the Program may have to arrange for sites that are more distant, regardless of the students' homes. Students will have an opportunity to discuss their needs individually with the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, who will make all final decisions.


7. Level II fieldwork sites can be completed at any location worldwide. However, the fieldwork educator (occupational therapist) must be a graduate of a WFOT accredited school. Additionally, the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator must review and approve the site.  


8. For the Level II experience, if a student wishes to be assigned to a particular facility with which GVSU does not have a contract, it is possible for that site to be developed. If the site is subsequently developed and the assignment is arranged for the student, that student is obligated to use that assignment as his or her fieldwork placement. Exceptions to this policy will be made only in the most extreme circumstances, as determined by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and the Program Director.


9. Once a fieldwork assignment has been made, it will not be changed, except in the event of extreme extenuating circumstances, as determined by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and the Program Director.


10. In order to provide accessibility to Level II fieldwork sites for students with mobility restraints due to physical or socioeconomic limitations, those students who have dependent family (children or elderly) or other special needs to remain at home, will be given priority for placement at facilities close to their homes. All other students should plan on being assigned more distant placements. Again, students will have an opportunity to discuss their needs with the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in advance of this planning, to determine if they qualify for this accommodation.


11. The objectives of the fieldwork experiences, and the learning activities designed to meet these objectives, are developed collaboratively between the site fieldwork supervisor, the fieldwork educators and the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. This ensures that fieldwork objectives are collaboratively developed and are appropriate and adequate to prepare students for entry-level competency, as required in the Standards, (AOTA, 2018).


12. The determination of passage or failure of a fieldwork experience is ultimately the purview of the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, with input from the fieldwork educator. This determination is based upon performance in the field and in related clinical reasoning demonstrations/discussions.


13. While students are on fieldwork, the policies of the fieldwork facilities in use will apply to them, such as requirements for dress, professional behavior, health, safety, hours of practice, etc. Students are to make themselves aware of any such policies, and be prepared to comply, prior to the start of their fieldwork experiences.


14. Consistent with AOTA requirements, all Level II fieldwork must be completed within 24 months of completion of the didactic program.