Fieldwork

Fieldwork offers hands-on practice outside of the classroom where you can integrate academic knowledge into real life and treatment situations. The occupational therapy fieldwork that you complete in our program will enrich your coursework and shape you into entry-level clinicians. Fieldwork is similar to a residency program for physicians or student teaching for classroom teachers. It is required to be awarded your master's degree and to be eligible to sit for the NBCOT examination. 

As you move through the two levels of fieldwork (Level I and Level II), you will have increasingly complex experiences. Early experiences start with guided observation and hands-on practice of concepts intended to reinforce course content that you are learning in a particular semester. Later experiences will require that you take full responsibility for assessment and intervention of your supervising therapist's caseload and all the multitude of responsibilities related to being an entry-level occupational therapist. 

The Fieldwork Experience

Placement Settings

Placement settings for occupational therapy fieldwork may include:

  • Public and private schools
  • Sensory integration or privately owned pediatric clinics
  • Outpatient or hand therapy clinics
  • Hospitals
  • Skilled nursing facilities
  • Summer camp programs
  • Mental health settings
  • Community-based or home-based programs
  • other traditional and non-traditional locations

Questions or interested in being a fieldwork site for our students?

Rita Daly
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
204 Smiddy Hall
Ithaca College
953 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850