MOT Fieldwork

“UINDY's MOT program established the foundation of knowledge necessary for a successful fieldwork experience through traditional learning techniques of lectures, readings, and class assignments. However, the true value of my education is the result of non-traditional, community-based, hands-on opportunities outside of the classroom that enabled me to develop the skills necessary to succeed in any environment." - Sarah L. King, MOT/OTR

Level I Fieldwork
Level II Fieldwork
Fieldwork Sites

What is the purpose of fieldwork?
Supervised fieldwork experience has been recognized as a valuable and integral part of the occupational therapy education process throughout the development of the profession. It is intended to complement academic preparation by offering additional opportunities for growth, for learning to apply knowledge, for developing and testing clinical skills, and for validating and consolidating those functions that comprise professional competence, including service management and research. Our national organization, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), provides guidelines for fieldwork but each individual school or program, creates specific objectives and relationships with various fieldwork sites. University of Indianapolis endeavors to offer a variety of fieldwork experiences throughout the curriculum, either as part of specific academic course work or through the formal Level I and Level II Fieldwork experiences mandated by AOTA.

What kinds of things will I be expected to do on fieldwork?
The School of Occupational Therapy details specific responsibilities of the fieldwork site. The facility will select fieldwork educators who have the qualifications necessary to perform fieldwork teaching responsibilities including the following: competence in the area of occupational therapy practice in which they teach; demonstrated effective teaching and evaluation of students; demonstrated effective communication skills; and a record of ethical behavior and involvement in professional development opportunities.

Specific competencies achieved during level I and level II fieldwork, include but are not limited to:

• Demonstrate ethical and responsible behavior.

• Demonstrate skill in occupational therapy screening and evaluation of occupational performance and underlying impairments.

• Demonstrate the ability to set goals for OT intervention and create an appropriate intervention plan in collaboration with clients.

• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, with clients, family members, and colleagues.

• Creatively design and implement intervention that utilizes therapeutic occupation to enhance client independence and quality of life.

• Utilize therapeutic use of self and interpersonal skills to enhance change in occupational performance.

• Promote, design, evaluate, market, and implement the occupational therapy practice within the community and non-traditional areas of practice, as well as traditional areas of practice.

Due to the nature of this program, which involves direct contact with patients throughout each year, it is necessary to mandate certain health record requirements, such as CPR certification and TB testing, among others. Students are also required to have an annual criminal background check completed while in the program. Students must be prepared to provide their own transportation and housing for fieldwork rotations.


UIndy Fieldwork Educators, click here.

UIndy Fieldwork Students, click here.