Virginia Commonwealth University
Department of Occupational Therapy
Fieldwork Selection Criteria for Level II Clinical Placements*
Criteria
Description
OT
Initially NBCOT certified for at
least one year prior to
supervising a fieldwork II
student.
Supervisors agree that their
program is compatible with
VCU’s OT philosophy and
mission, curriculum design,
and fieldwork objectives for
students.
Supervisors given general VCU
FW II objectives to review and
sign.
Supervisors receive a copy of
VCU’s OT mission and
philosophy.
Site has clearly established
objectives for fieldwork that
are shared with the AFWC.
Site must be willing to give these
to the student the first day of
clinical and share with our
institution as needed.
Utilizes evidence in assessment
and treatment decisions.
Utilizes evidence based
assessment and treatment
Utilize client centered
treatment
Utilize occupation based
treatment
Caseload size sufficient to
support learning
Opportunities for intra- and
inter-disciplinary
collaboration
Document at least one of the
following:
• Client centered care objective
in clinical FW manual
pertaining to client centered
care
• signing VCU’s FW II
objectives
• Engage in a discussion with
the FW Coordinator about the
facilities philosophy of clientcentered care.
Combination of other treatment
approaches as well but
outcomes relate to the client’s
occupational participation
There must be enough clients so
students will be able to maintain
a caseload of their own.
Opportunity to interact and team
with a variety of disciplines.
Comments
FW II students must have
OT supervisors who meet
the licensure, certification
and registration
requirements of the state in
which they practice
Provided to facility on first
contact, and prior to student
placement; always available
on FW webpage. Students
will present PowerPoint
about curriculum and
courses
Would be helpful to our
curriculum design if there is
a project incorporating this
principle.
Students must be able to
clearly articulate how client
centered practice is
implemented at the White
Students must be given the
opportunity to incorporate
occupation-based
treatment...
Caseloads may need to be
modified according to
student learning needs and
the facilities’ entry-level
expectations
This may include other
disciplines and
professionals with various
levels of training (e.g.
Criteria
Description
Support for supervisors
from their facility
Supervisor must be given time to
effectively supervise students
Supervisors onsite
Supervision onsite at least 20%
of the time; when the main
supervisor is not on site there is
a responsible person available
on site.
Site must consider
psychosocial functioning
with all clients
Document at least one of the
following:
• Psychosocial functioning
objective in clinical FW
manual pertaining to client
centered care
• Signing VCU’s FW II
objectives
• Engage in a discussion with
the FW Coordinator about the
facilities philosophy of
psychosocial functioning.
Supervisors will be invited to our
free continuing education
through the Virginia Fieldwork
Council. It is highly
recommended that this be
attended either in person or by
conference call.
Supervisors utilize adult
learning principles with FW
students.
Supervisors promote
clinical reasoning and
model values and beliefs
that enable ethical practice
Comments
COTA, teachers,
physicians, other therapists,
etc.)
Supervisors should be
given support from their
agency (e.g., reduced
caseloads or relief from
other responsibilities).
Ideal preference is for
onsite supervision at least
50% of the time. Students
should be given the “chain
of command” when their
supervisor is absent.
Students must be able to
clearly articulate how
psychosocial functioning is
addressed at the FW site
Supervision in-services and
forms will be available on
the FW webpage. AFWC
will be available for
consultation.
Supervisors communicate
theoretically grounded
clinical reasoning to
students.
*3-31-11 Adapted from Cincinnati State Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
If a new site is being developed, any of these items may also be considered:
• FW site’s Medicare ratings or hospital ratings (if available) are above average
• Discussion with previous OT programs who have used the FW site in the past;
• Site visit or a telephone interview (see FW Site Visit forms for questions asked including
reviewing the mission and philosophy, curriculum and FW objectives.
• Likelihood of continuous placement of students in FW I or II.
• Contributes to diversity of fieldwork sites offered to VCU OT students