First-Time Level 2 Educator Guide

Welcome to the wonderful world of OTA Fieldwork! We are so glad you're here. 

Fieldwork is an important part of occupational therapy education where students learn to apply concepts they have learned in the classroom to real patient populations. For level 2 fieldwork, this is under the direct supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.  The goal of level 2 fieldwork is to develop skilled, entry-level practitioners who are ready to join the field of occupational therapy.  

Your role is to supervise the student and provide them appropriate feedback needed for them to develop. Levels of supervision will progress as students skills improve, however some payers have more specific requirements that can be found here. By the end of fieldwork, the student should be functioning independently with very little feedback needed, and be ready to enter the field following their board exam. 

The Pima AFWC will work with you prior to the start of fieldwork to develop or update site-specific objectives that reflect expectations for entry level practice in your setting. These will include a week-by-week guide to help keep you and the student on-track throughout the 8-week placement. 

Level 2 fieldwork is full time for 8 weeks. This is 320 hours at 40 hours per week. Students must achieve 320 hours and 8 weeks. They can not end early if they reach 320 hours prior to 8 weeks, and must continue past 8 weeks if they do not reach 320 hours by the end of 8 weeks. Both minimums must be met. They are able to complete up to 4 "outside hours" per week, if approved by the fieldwork educator. These hours may be used to work on a project or presentation that will be turned in during fieldwork that has been assigned by the fieldwork educator. Each week, students will submit their timesheets to be approved by the fieldwork educator via email. 

You will be asked to review or complete an AOTA Fieldwork Data Form prior to the experience, this is so that we maintain up-to-date records for all fieldwork sites for students to review when they make requests or determine preferences. At Pima, students are matched based on their preferences whenever possible. 

You can earn continuing education credit for NBCOT certification renewal and Colorado license renewal. 1 PDU per week per student supervised is awarded. 

Students are evaluated using the Fieldwork Performance Evaluation developed by AOTA. This is available electronically and will be sent out at the beginning of each rotation.

Thank you for providing this invaluable learning opportunity and helping to ensure the development of skilled occupational therapy assistants.