Fieldwork | Master of Occupational Therapy

Clinical experiences link education to clinical practice, and are therefore an essential component in the curriculum. Level I experiences are designed to introduce students to the practice of occupational therapy in various traditional and non-traditional practice areas, to the health care system, and to different client/patient populations. They are not intended to develop independent practice skills, rather to foster a level of comfort within a treatment setting. These experiences occur throughout the curriculum and are intermingled with course content for that semester.

Level II fieldwork experiences are immersive and are each 12-weeks in duration and are equivalent to full-time work, with some extended evening or weekend hours depending on the site. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that students plan accordingly.

Clinical rotations most often occur at placement sites away from campus and thus may necessitate additional housing, living expenses and relocation costs. These additional expenses are the student's responsibility. The location of clinical sites cannot be guaranteed, however, decisions regarding rotation locations will be collaborative and will take into account students' preferences, the program's needs and site availability.

Note that clinical experiences of Level I and Level II fieldwork are not only fundamental to the MOT program but are also required as Standards for an Accredited Educational Program in Occupational Therapy. The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) requires successful completion of Level II fieldwork in order to sit for the board certification examination. Further, clinical sites that host students for these clinical rotations may require additional background checks and screenings prior to successful placement in the facility. Please be aware that certain results of screenings and checks may prevent a student from being placed for fieldwork rotations. In this case, program requirements would be incomplete and the student could not graduate.

Per NBCOT, students must sit for the certification examination within two years of completion of coursework and fieldwork. The Carroll University MOT program requires satisfactory completion of all Level II fieldwork requirements within 18 months of completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). Many states also require licensure to practice; however, you should review the requirements for the state you wish to practice in.

*A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Please see NBCOT for further details: www.nbcot.org