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ASOT OTD Handbook: Fieldwork Educator Resources and Information​​

Overview

Level II Fieldwork

The goal of Level II fieldwork is for students to achieve entry-level competentence as generalist practitioners of occupational therapy. The role of the Level II fieldwork student is initially observer and participant, but quickly and progressively transitioning into an entry-level practitioner of occupational therapy. Students will complete 24 weeks of full-time Level II fieldwork (ACOTE standard C.1.10.).  Per the ASOT curriculum design, students will complete two 12-week, full-time Level II fieldwork experiences (specifically 480 hours for both Level II fieldwork experiences per ASOT policy) that are strategically designed to occur after successful completion of all foundational classes and all Level I Fieldwork experiences. While students are engaged in Level II Fieldwork, students will assume the their Fieldwork Educators' schedules.  There are no permitted days off from fieldwork for students; all student absences from fieldwork (planned or unplanned) must be made up for the student to meet the minimum 480 hours, per ASOT requirment.

Level II fieldwork courses are:
• OT 830, Level II A
• OT 840, Level II B

These courses occur during trimesters 6 - 7 in the ASOT Program of Study. Upon successful completion of both Level II Fieldwork experiences, students will return to campus to complete their final 2 trimesters of course work (focusing on leadership, management, and research) prior to graduation and eligibility to take the certification exam.

A Fieldwork Educator is the individual(s) identified by the agency as the lead person who guides and supervises students of occupational therapy during fieldwork learning experiences. Fieldwork Educators for OT student Level II Fieldwork experiences must be currently licensed or otherwise regulated occupational therapists who have a minimum of 1 year full-time (or its equivalent) of practice  experience subsequent to initial certification and are adequately prepared to serve as a fieldwork educators (ACOTE standard C.1.11.).  The supervising therapist may be engaged by the fieldwork agency or by the educational program (i.e. ASOT).

If a student performs his/her Level II Fieldwork experience at an agency without an occupational therapy presence, a qualified on-site Fieldwork Educator will be identified and will provide daily supervision of the student.  In addition, a licensed occupational therapist with a minimum of 3 years of experience will provide the student with a minimum of 8 hours of direct supervision per week. This occupational therapist will be accessible at all times when not on-site during normal business hours (unless otherwise specified) via phone, emial, etc. A documented plan for how supervision will occur will be created by the ASOT Academic Fieldwork Director in conjuction with the Fieldwork Educators and student for all parties to reference.

Please visit the Level II Fieldwork section of the ASOT Student Handbook (by clicking the hyperlink) for more details about Level II Fieldwork. Please carefully read the ASOT Level II Fieldwork Withdrawal Policy if passing the Level II Fieldwork experience is not likely by the end of week 12 (information found at bottom of page).

In addition, please visit the following links about Level II Fieldwork Course Objectives and Level II Fieldwork Assignments found in the Student Handbook for further information about these topics. 

Writing Site-specific Student Objectives

Instructions for Creating Site-specific Student Objectives for Level II Fieldwork 
 
ASOT students will complete 2 different full-time Level II Fieldwork experiences for 12 weeks each toward the end of the curriculum. In order to help guide the hosting fieldwork agency and its OT students during the Level II Fieldwork experience, creating objectives specifically tailored to the agency will promote better understanding and clearer communication for all who are involved with the learning experience.  Site-specific student objectives will describe specific tasks or learning experiences students will accomplish for the duration of the fieldwork experience.  These tasks are meant to facilitate student growth and learning as well as provide a mutually beneficial experience to the clients/participants, staff, and leaders of the fieldwork agency.
Often times, fieldwork agencies will already have their own site-specific student objectives that they share with the OT program and with the student. For fieldwork agencies who do not have student objectives at this time, the links below provide suggested templates for how fieldwork agencies may craft their site-specific student objectives. Fieldwork agency leaders and/or staff will edit the preferred template to match the general tasks, expectations, and outcomes the site has for Level II Fieldwork students from this program. This template’s structure aligns with the 12 week Level II Fieldwork schedule, the AOTA Fieldwork Performance Evaluation of the Level II Occupational Therapy Student, and the Level II Fieldwork course objectives.
Please remember the objectives listed in these templates are merely suggestions. They are meant to be edited according to the specific expectations of the fieldwork agency, given the 12 week time frame for Level II Fieldwork. Once the site-specific student objectives have been finalized, please return a copy to Leslie Reed, Academic Fieldwork Director, and retain a copy for the agency’s records to share with students prior to or on the first day of fieldwork and to continually edit as needed. Please visit AOTA's website for more examples of site-specific objectives and see attachments below.

Level II FW Dos and Don'ts

Level II Fieldwork "Dos and Don'ts"

Below is a table that briefly identifies what is and is not recommended for Level II Fieldwork experiences. The recommendations below are based on information provided to this program by AOTA, ACOTE, and other sources like Fieldwork Educators and professional experiences. Items that are requirements are identified by asterisks (**) and italicized font.

Your questions and comments are strongly encouraged in order to help structure a successful and enjoyable fieldwork experience for all who are involved. Please email or call Juliet Steffe, Academic Fieldwork Director, at any time. Email: [email protected]; Direct Office Phone: 502-873-4227

​"Dos"

"Don'ts"​
  • ​**Keep the agency and its clients/participants' safety and interests as first priority at all times, even if it means altering the student's fieldwork experience as agency circumstances dictate.**
    • Should this occur, please communicate with the Academic Fieldwork Director and the OT student to discuss a contingency plan.
  • **Provide direct and indirect supervision commensurate with the student's competence and according to the fieldwork agency's policies and regulatory/ reimbursement bodies.**  Ensure appropriate ratio of Fieldwork Educators to students to enable proper supervision, protection of consumers, appropriate role modeling, and ability to provide frequent assessment of student progress in achieving stated fieldwork objectives.
    • For agencies who receive reimbursement from Medicare, please click on the following link to review the Medicare Supervision Requirements found on AOTA's website. AOTA membership is not required to access this information. Please request assistance from the Academic Fieldwork Director if you are having difficulty viewing this document.
    • To view the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Occupational Therapy, please click the link to review supervision policies for students of occupational therapy (201 KAR 28:130.).
  • **Complete the midterm and final AOTA Level II Fieldwork Performance Evaluation of the Occupational Therapy Student.**
    • This form is provided to the Fieldwork Educator through Formstack. Upon completion of the fieldwork experience, the form is submitted into Formstack so that the Academic Fieldwork Director may officially award a grade to the OT student and for the Fieldwork Educator to be awarded his/her earned continuing competency units.
    • For professionals of occupational therapy, 1 CCU is awarded for each 40 hours of student fieldwork education.  
  • Expect communication from the OT student matched with the fieldwork agency at least 3 months before the first day.
  • Ask students for their health records, background checks, and certifications before the first day of fieldwork (or per the fieldwork agency's policies).
  • Provide students with an orientation on or before their first day (per the fieldwork agency's policies).
  • **Provide students with the fieldwork agency's site-specific student objectives.**
    • Please refer to Writing Site-specific Student Objectives section above and/or request assistance from the Academic Fieldwork Director to create student objectives.

  

  • Provide positive and constructive feedback as well as professional coaching as opportunities arise.
    • Please consult with the Academic Fieldwork Director if support or assistance is needed.
    • Students will complete weekly meeting forms and review with the Fieldwork Educator to facilitate this dialogue.
  • Expect email communication from the Academic Fieldwork Director around midterm (weeks 5-7) to discuss student progression.
  • Visit the Fieldwork Educator Resource for Level II Fieldwork prior to the students arrival by clicking this link, which provides a general Level II Fieldwork overview for this program.
  • Communicate with the ASOT Academic Fieldwork Director or other ASOT faculty members at any time for anything related to fieldwork, this OT program, or Spalding University.
  • **​To promote an environment of safety and discretion, do not permit students to engage in any fieldwork learning experience that may jeopardize the client/participant's safety, the agency's interest, or the Fieldwork Educator's professional licensure.**
    • If unsure, please consult the agency's leaders and/or the Academic Fieldwork Director.
  • **To promote discretion on behalf of the fieldwork agency and Fieldwork Educator, do not perform any task requested by this program or by the student that is beyond the purview, scope, policies, or comfort level of the agency, its leaders, or the Fieldwork Educator.**
    • If unsure, please consult with the Academic Fieldwork Director.
  • **To promote compliance with federal and state regulatory and payer requirements, do not permit student engagement in fieldwork learning experiences that do not abide by supervision and reimbursement regulations provided by these bodies.**

 

 

    • See 2nd bullet point in the "Dos" column for website links to visit.
    •  **To promote protection of client privacy and safety, do not permit students to remove any article (i.e. documentation, programs, etc) with any client identifying information on it from the fieldwork agency's premises.**
      • Marking out or removing client names/information on materials is not 100% fail-safe, and HIPAA/HITECH is at risk of being compromised.

 

 

    • To promote ASOT student compliance with fieldwork agency in-processing policies and requirements, do not permit students to start fieldwork until all agency-specific requirements have been satisfied.
      • Please communicate with the Academic Fieldwork Director should this occur.
      • To promote professionalism, do not accept ASOT student performance or behavior that is not aligned with the fieldwork agency's policies to which all employees and volunteers must abide.
      • To promote mutually beneficial fieldwork experiences, do not allow students to plateau before week 8 or 9 (according to the site-specific objectives).
        • If students are progressing faster than expected, provide them with additional challenges to continue their development as well as to provide a deeper service to the fieldwork agency and its clients.
        • If unsure, please consult the agency's leaders and/or the Academic Fieldwork Director for ideas.
All information found on the OTD Program Fieldwork website is property of the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy at Spalding University in Louisville, KY. Information contained in ASOT fieldwork LibGuide may be borrowed or edited with credit given to this program. Please report any malfunctions related to the information or links found on this page to the Academic Fieldwork Director, Juliet Steffe. Email: [email protected]; Phone: 502-873-4226.