To be a capstone site mentor, there is no specific level of experience is required. However, to be a capstone site mentor you must show documented proof of expertise in your field. Additionally, capstone site mentors do not have to be occupational therapists.
An OTD student is required to complete their doctoral capstone experience in a minimum of 14 weeks (560 hours). No more than 20% of the 560 hours can be completed off site from the mentored practice setting to ensure that the doctoral capstone experience is concentrated to the designated area of interest, in accordance with ACOTE standards D.1.5.
A capstone site mentor can earn 1 professional development unit (PDU) for every two hours spent mentoring. Capstone site mentors can earn up to a maximum of 18 PDUs per NBCOT renewal period.
To become a capstone site mentor you should contact the designated capstone coordinator for a specific school. Visit our 'Meet the Fieldwork and Capstone Coordinators' page to connect with Michigan's capstone coordinators.
Becoming a capstone site mentor is an important professional responsibility. Therefore there are many resources to offered to support capstone site mentors when taking on a student, including information and resources on this website, AOTA's website, and through MOTEC fieldwork and capstone educator days that offer in-person training opportunities.
If you have a student at your site that is not passing specific tasks based off the capstone performance evaluation or is not fulfilling/meeting requirements of the specific goals set up by your capstone site, the first step is informing/notifying your capstone student of their risk for failing. Then you should notify the student's capstone coordinator and encouraging the student to contact their capstone coordinator.
To be a fieldwork educator, according to ACOTE standard C1.11;
OT student must be supervised by an occupational therapist who must have a minimum of one year full-time of practice experience
OTA student can be supervised by an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant who must have a minimum of one year full-time of practice experience
OT student: Level II fieldwork placements for OT students are full-time as defined by the clinical site, for 24 weeks each, in accordance with the ACOTE standards C1.10. ACOTE intentionally does not specify a specific number of hours.
OTA student: Level II fieldwork placements for OTA students are full-time as defined by the clinical site, for 16 weeks each, in accordance with the ACOTE standards C1.10. ACOTE intentionally does not specify a specific number of hours.
A fieldwork educator can earn 12 professional development units (PDUs) for providing 12 weeks of full-time level II fieldwork for an OT student and 8 professional development units (PDUs) for providing 8 weeks of full-time level II fieldwork for an OTA student. Fieldwork educators can earn one PDU for each week of level II fieldwork supervision. NBCOT Renewal Activities Chart
To become a fieldwork educator you should contact the designated academic fieldwork coordinator for a specific school. Visit our 'Meet the Fieldwork and Capstone Coordinators' page to connect with Michigan's fieldwork coordinators.
Becoming a fieldwork educator is an important professional responsibility. Therefore there are many resources to offered to support fieldwork educators when taking on a student, including information and resources on this website, AOTA's website, and through MOTEC fieldwork and capstone educator days that offer in-person training opportunities.
According to ACOTE Standard C.1.13, it states that "supervision is direct and then decreases to less direct supervision as appropriate for the setting, the severity of the client's condition, and the ability of the student to support progression toward entry-level competence." Supervision rules are also determined by the place of employment and the reimbursement source for the payment of therapy services.
Yes, it is possible to provide split supervision when supervising a level II fieldwork student. The fieldwork sites should collaborate with the academic fieldwork coordinator to develop the best plan for the student's split supervision. Supervision can be spilt between different OTs or between an OT and an OTA.
If you have a student at your fieldwork site that is not passing specific tasks based off the fieldwork performance evaluation or is not fulfilling/meeting requirements of the specific goals set up by your fieldwork site, the first step is informing/notifying your fieldwork student of their risk for failing. Then you should notify the student's Academic fieldwork coordinator (AFWC) and encouraging the student to contact their AFWC.
Typically, the student has liability insurance through their academic program when registering for a fieldwork course. Make sure to check with the student's program to validate.