Fieldwork
Contact Us
OTA Fieldwork
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
OTAFieldwork@sac.edu
(714) 564-6684
About OTA Fieldwork
Level I and Level II Fieldwork studies are substantial components of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Students are expected to experience and assume professional roles and responsibilities throughout their Fieldwork experiences and placements. Demonstrating clinical competency is essential to ensure optimal patient care, and successful completion of Level II Fieldwork is required by AOTA in order to be eligible for the certification examination.
Level I Fieldwork is integrated into the academic curriculum to introduce students to clinical practice through structured experiences in psychosocial and physical dysfunction settings. These experiences allow students to observe, participate, and connect classroom learning with real-world practice.
- Level I Fieldwork occurs during the 2nd and 3rd semesters of the program.
- It is embedded in OTA 120 (Psychosocial Dysfunction) and OTA 130 (Physical Dysfunction).
- Students must complete 32 hours outside of regularly scheduled class time to meet clinical exposure requirements.
- Students are also required to complete course assignments associated with Level I Fieldwork, which help integrate clinical observations with academic content.
Level II Fieldwork occurs during the 4th (final) semester after all academic coursework is completed. Students participate in immersive, full-time clinical placements to develop entry-level competencies in diverse practice settings.
- Level II consists of two full-time, eight-week clinical placements (OTA 202 and OTA 203).
- Fieldwork sites are pre-selected by the department and maintain active affiliation agreements with the college.
- Students must complete both Level II placements within 18 months of finishing the OTA academic preparation.
Requirements Prior to Level I and Level II Fieldwork
Before beginning any Fieldwork experience or placement, students must have:
- A current CPR card with BLS for Healthcare Providers from the American Heart Association
- Current personal health care insurance
- Current malpractice (professional liability) insurance
Additional Requirements Prior to Level II Fieldwork
Before beginning Level II Fieldwork placements, students must also have:
- Completed all academic coursework (prerequisites, OTA core courses, and general education) with a grade of “C” or better
- Met with a counselor and submitted a graduation petition
- Met with Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in 3rd semester to discuss fieldwork settings
- Completed and submitted a Student Profile to the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator