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DOCTORATE

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Entry-Level) · OTD

Hybrid (Primarily Online) | 8 semesters/2.6 years

Best of State 2025 medal

Curriculum Development

Fieldwork Education Resources

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Site Specific Learning Objectives*

Success in the site-specific objectives will demonstrate the student’s knowledge, skills,
and abilities to practice in a safe and ethical manner. Additionally, it will establish a baseline for the student in being able to effectively carry out the occupational therapy process, in the practice setting, as an entry-level occupational therapy assistant.

*These are only some examples of site-specific objectives. Feel free to adjust any as you need.

Professional Behavior Expectations

  • Objectives for learning and professionalism in practice
    Commitment to Learning
  • Formulates and verbalizes appropriate questions.
  • Seeks out & utilizes diverse resources to obtain information.
  • Demonstrates and articulates a positive attitude (motivation) toward learning.
  • Participates in and/or assists in meaningful & therapeutic activities and occupations (assessment and intervention) to support client’s
    performance skills and performance patterns to enhance occupational engagement, as directed by Fieldwork Educator (FWE).


Interpersonal Skills

  • Respects and listens to the opinions and ideas of others in an unbiased manner.
  • Respects the cultural and personal differences of others.
  • Communicates verbally and/or in writing with others in a respectful, professional manner.
  • Talks about difficult issues with sensitivity and objectively in a constructive manner.
  • Demonstrates an awareness of and ability to monitor own biases to facilitate the process of occupational therapy.

Professional Behavior Expectations (Specified expectations)

  • Objectives for learning and professionalism in practice


Fundamentals of Practice
Adheres to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Code of Ethics and all federal, state, and facility regulations. 
Examples: Medicare, Medicaid, client privacy, social media, human subject research.

  • Maintains strict client confidentiality and adheres to all HIPAA procedural guidelines.
  • Accurately documents and bills for services provided.
  • Maintains quality client care and client satisfaction as a guideline for professional behavior.
  • Identifies and addresses ethical concerns in the context of clinical supervision.
  • Recognizes personal strengths and limitations and uses intervention modalities that are within level of ability and experience.


Adheres to safety regulations and reports/documents incidents appropriately. Examples: fire safety, OSHA regulations, body substance precautions, emergency procedures

  • Consistently uses infection control precautions and procedures.
  • Maintains a clear and orderly work area, including equipment and supplies.

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Site Specific Learning Objectives*

  • Orientation with FWE and/or FW Coordinator
  • Attend in-services provided by therapists for the next few weeks
  • Observe supervising therapist while treating
  • Review equipment in clinics
  • Review student objectives with supervisor
  • Attend orientation if applicable
  • Attend assigned meetings with FWE
  • Continue in-services with other therapists
  • Begin co-treating with FWE
  • Assign one patient/client, report in all assigned meetings
  • Complete all relevant paperwork on assigned patient/client and have FWE review by week’s end
  • Observation of PT and SLT treatments preferably on assigned patient/client
  • Begin patient/client treatment with appropriate supervision
  • Assign up to three patients
  • Complete written documentation for patients and review with FWE
  • Begin development of in-service training (Presentation week 6-8)
  • Responsible for treatment (with appropriate supervision) of 3 to 5 patients/clients
  • Complete all required documentation with FWE review
  • Continue reporting in meetings
  • Observe at another site
  • Choose a client for case study
  • To be completed by week 5
  • Complete case study at weekly rehab meeting
  • Continue patient treatment and all documentation with appropriate supervision
  • Complete in-service training
  • Complete AOTA Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE) FWE and Student fills out student self assessment to compare at the midterm meeting
  • Establish and maintain a full case load as determined by FWE (This is site dependent, ie. Acute care, ICU may take longer)
  • Complete all treatment and documentation for patients with appropriate supervision
  • Continue with appropriate case load as determined by the FWE
  • Continue with all documentation and reporting on case load
  • Complete assigned project approved by FWE
  • Continue full patient case load
  • Continue full patient case load
  • Transition case load to therapists or FWE
  • Complete AOTA Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE) FWE and Student fills out student self assessment to compare at the final meeting

Project Ideas (something tangible to give back to the facility/department):

  1. Occupation Based Kits
  2. Functional activities
  3. Protocols
  4. Patient Education Handouts
  5. Present a case study
  6. Present an in-service

This schedule allows students to gradually assume more responsibility while maintaining the support they need as they develop their skills. Let me know if you’d like any adjustments or additional details for each week!

Goals & Tasks

Begin assisting with minor tasks (e.g., prepping materials, observing assessments).

Supervision Level

Mostly Observation (90%)

Goals & Tasks

Begin assisting with minor tasks (e.g., prepping materials, observing assessments).

Supervision Level

Mostly Observation (90%)

Goals & Tasks

  • Begin conducting parts of sessions with guidance.
  • Start documentation with feedback.

Supervision Level

Direct Supervision (75%)

Goals & Tasks

  • Conduct full sessions under close supervision.
  • Manage full documentation for specific cases.

Supervision Level

Direct Supervision (75%)

Goals & Tasks

  • Manage a few cases with increased independence.
  • Receive feedback on treatment and documentation.

Supervision Level

Moderate Supervision (50%)

Goals & Tasks

  • Increase caseload and maintain regular documentation.

  • Implement and adapt treatment
    plans independently.

Supervision Level

Moderate Supervision (40%)

Goals & Tasks

  • Handle most cases independently.
  • Seek feedback as needed on complex cases.

Supervision Level

Periodic Supervision (30%)

Goals & Tasks

  • Full caseload management.
  • Independently handle documentation and patient interaction with minimal guidance.

Supervision Level

Limited Supervision (20%)

Goals & Tasks

  • Continue with full caseload.
  • Focus on treatment refinement and advanced documentation skills.

Supervision Level

Limited Supervision (10-20%)

Goals & Tasks

  • Work independently; supervisor available for check-ins.
  •  Implement advanced techniques and
    adapt treatment.

Supervision Level

Minimal Supervision (10%)

Goals & Tasks

  • Function fully independently, using the supervisor as a resource.
  • Refine problem-solving and critical thinking.

Supervision Level

Minimal Supervision (5-10%)

Goals & Tasks

  • Conduct a final review with the supervisor.
  • Reflect on growth and prepare for future independent practice.

Supervision Level

Supervisor as Resource (5%)

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Fieldwork Educators Handbook

PLEASE NOTE: These are external links and resources. The views expressed on these pages & links are not affiliated with Rocky Mountain University & 
do not necessarily reflect official university policy.

Outside Resources

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

American Journal of Occupational Therapy

Baucum, B. Acute Care OT Fieldwork Education: Clinical Skill Development & Professionalism From the Clinical Instructor Perspective. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, July/August 2023, Vol. 77(Supplement_2), 7711510227p1. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2023.77S2-PO227

Sage Journals

Eddy, E., Tickle-Degnen, L., and Evenson, M. ‘Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Educators: Examining Professional Quality of Life’. Work, 1 Jan. 2021: 479 – 491. http://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-213586

My OT Spot

Meydam, J. (2023, June 8). Tips on becoming a great OT fieldwork clinical instructor. myotspot.com. https://www.myotspot.com/fieldwork-clinical-instructor/

Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran

Pashmdarfard M, Hassani Mehraban A, Shafaroodi N, Soltani Arabshahi K, Parvizy S. Strategies to Promote the Quality of Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Education: A Qualitative Study. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2022 Mar 28;36:27. https://doi.org/10.47176/mjiri.36.27 PMID: 35999930; PMCID: PMC9386749.

American Journal of Occupational Therapy

Preissner, K., Bernice Duke,K., Killian, C., Luangdilok Ouyang, R., Jarek, E.D., &  Kottorp, A.; The Revised American Occupational Therapy Association Fieldwork Performance Evaluations: Evaluation of Content Validity—Part 1. American Journal of Occupational Therapy November/December 2020, Vol. 74(6), 7406205090p1–7406205090p13. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.044180

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Rogers, O., Graves, C., Turner, T., Hanson, D. J., & Klug, M. G. (2022). Level II Fieldwork Educators’ Perceived and Experienced Challenges with Using the Collaborative Fieldwork Supervision Model. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 6(1), 12. https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol6/iss1/12/

Additional Resources

Program Accreditation

Accreditation: The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at Rocky Mountain University has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD  20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

The program must have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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 individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.