AV整氈窒

 

Fieldwork

Education in action

At AV整氈窒���s School of Occupational Therapy, you will participate in the only program in Canada with dedicated fieldwork education across each of the Atlantic Provinces. (Note: International Fieldwork is presently on hold.)

Participating in fieldwork is an essential part of becoming an occupational therapist. Our program gives you the opportunity to gain 1,000 hours of valuable, hands-on experience. This unique fieldwork component will give you the practice you need to grow, both personally and professionally.

Fieldwork finances

As a student in the泭MSc(OT) - Entry Level program you are responsible for paying travel and living costs associated with fieldwork classes. There may be some travel and accommodation support through the school���s Rural and Remote Fieldwork program when you apply.

Fieldwork Dates 泭

  • OCCU5009 ��� Fieldwork Practice & Integration: September-December/Fall Term, Lecture based泭
  • OCCU5019 ��� Fieldwork and Practice Integration: January-April/Winter Term, Lecture based泭
  • OCCU5029 ��� Fieldwork II - Level 1 Fieldwork: May/June (8 weeks)泭
  • OCCU6019 ��� Fieldwork III - Level 2 Fieldwork: January-February (8 weeks)泭
  • OCCU6029 ���泭Fieldwork IV - Level 3 Fieldwork: March-April (8 weeks)泭

*Please consult the course instructor for specific dates.

Support for rural placements

The School of Occupational Therapy is committed to providing rural health care for those living in Atlantic Canada. In order to ease the financial burden on students who travel to remote locations for their fieldwork, we provide support whenever possible.

Contact: Fieldwork Coordinator泭(otfwork@dal.ca)

Fieldwork fundamentals

As a AV整氈窒 Occupational Therapy student, you���ll complete your fieldwork in four parts, over two years.

OCCU 5009 + 5019泭 The students gain first hand experience of the personal and environmental factors that influence occupational development, participation and engagement of individuals/groups in this first part-time, community-based fieldwork learning experience. Students participate in community programs and reflect in small group tutorials with licensed occupational therapists to link their fieldwork experiences to their growing professional knowledge. Course learning objectives, integrated with learning opportunities available at community organizations, provide structure for developing the core professional skills of professional behaviours/responsibilities and communication. Students also have the opportunity to learn observation skills, professional/clinical reasoning, peer learning and feedback, self-directed learning and collaboration skills.
OCCU 5029 At the end of first year, students start their first full-time fieldwork placement. They will work alongside and under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist for an 8-week block during the months of May-June. Students can be placed in any of the Atlantic provinces.
OCCU 6019泭泭 The second full-time fieldwork placement is completed during the winter term of year two. They will work alongside and under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist for an 8-week block during the months of January-February. Students can be placed in any of the Atlantic provinces.
OCCU 6029泭泭 This final fieldwork placement occurs after OCCU 6019 as an eight-week placement. They will work alongside and under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist for an 8-week block during the months of March-April. Students can be placed in any of the Atlantic provinces.

Please note: Students who require accommodations to meet fieldwork placement requirements are strongly encouraged to contact the Student Accessibility Centre (SAC) and/or the Fieldwork Education Coordinator early in their first academic term to review available supports.

Additional Information

Fieldwork FAQs

  1. What steps will I need to take before going out on fieldwork?���&紳莉莽梯;
    Students will��畜e required��眩o provide documentation to each placement site. This documentation will be similar to what was collected by the School of OT. Some sites may require documentation beyond what has already been collected by the school. Some examples of the documentation submitted to each placement site include (but are not limited to) criminal record checks, immunization records, etc.��特tudents��畝re responsible for��畝ny associated costs incurred.���&紳莉莽梯;
  2. Can I arrange my own placement?���&紳莉莽梯;
    No, students are not��皰ermitted��眩o recruit placements. Doing so may result in a placement cancellation. What you can do is notify the fieldwork team of any parties interested in being a preceptor.��胼��&紳莉莽梯;
  3. Am I��盍equired��眩o do course work and do fieldwork at the same time?���&紳莉莽梯;
    Full-time fieldwork blocks (OCCU 5029, OCCU 6109, OCCU 6029) are 8 weeks long.��浴uring this time, there are no other classes scheduled. 
  4. How many hours is each placement block?���&紳莉莽梯;
    To achieve the accreditation standard of 1000 hours, the three full-time 8-week fieldwork blocks consist of 300 hours each. This 300 hours results from a typical 7.5-hour working day, 5 days a week, for 8 weeks.��胼��
    The remaining ~100 hours��畝re accomplished��疳n OCCU 5009/5019 and in the introduction to fieldwork classes.��胼��&紳莉莽梯;
  5. Is there an exemption from doing placements outside of Halifax?���&紳莉莽梯;
    The school does not provide exemption to this; accommodations or accessibility matters may be discussed with the SAC.��胼��&紳莉莽梯;
  6. Is there a chance I can do more than one placement outside of Halifax?���&紳莉莽梯;
    Yes, some students do all three placements outside of the Halifax area.��胼��&紳莉莽梯;
  7. Are international placements allowed?���&紳莉莽梯;
    Currently, international placements are on hold.��胼��&紳莉莽梯;
  8. Will I be paid for my work on fieldwork placement?���&紳莉莽梯;
    No, all placements are unpaid with no exceptions to this standard.��胼��&紳莉莽梯;
  9. Do preceptors get paid to have students?���&紳莉莽梯;
    While some regional health authorities offer a stipend but most often preceptors are volunteers.��胼��&紳莉莽梯;
  10. Can I choose my preceptor? Can a preceptor choose me? Can I swap with another student?���&紳莉莽梯;
    No, providing��畝n equitable��畝nd consistent experience across students and classes is integral to our fieldwork process.��胼��
  11. What is the fieldwork matching process?���&紳莉莽梯;
    We use��浹SPnet��眩o gather offers from the field and present them to students as a cohort. We then ask the students to rank their choices, usually 15, and��真tilize��眩he system to optimize matches between students and placements.��胼��&紳莉莽梯;
  12. How will I know which placement has been assigned to me?��� 
    Students will be notified via��浹SPnet��畝nd a confirmation email will be sent from the fieldwork coordinator to the student and preceptor.��胼��&紳莉莽梯;
  13. Will I��盍equire��畝 car or access to a vehicle for placement?���&紳莉莽梯;
    This will be clearly noted in��浹SPnet��畝nd is becoming an increasingly common requirement. 
  14. How much notice will I get before knowing where I am going for placement?���&紳莉莽梯;
    Our aim is to have all placements recruited 12 weeks prior to the start date, and at the latest have the matching completed and confirmed at 8 weeks prior to the start date.��胼�狼his may not always be possible.
  15. What are the responsibilities and expectations for students going out into the field?���&紳莉莽梯;
    AV整氈窒���s catchment area includes all of Atlantic Canada. Students should prepare to complete at least one placement outside of Halifax. You will be asked about your��皰roficiency in other languages (e.g. French), as some placement opportunities may require additional language proficiency (e.g. in New Brunswick). 
    Fieldwork experiences are based on policies set out by the school and national accreditation standards to prepare students to work professionally after graduation. We have a responsibility to provide experiences across settings and demographics (breadth of experience). 
  16. What if I am out on placement and I have a concern about how I or clients are being treated?���&紳莉莽梯;
    If students have a concern on fieldwork about treatment from their peers or supervisors, or the treatment of their clients, there are reporting pathways to support students. Please contact the fieldwork coordinator or course instructor. 
  17. Do placements adhere to stat holidays?���&紳莉莽梯;
    Yes, most placements adhere to stat holidays, and this is considered and accounted for in our proposed fieldwork schedules.��胼��&紳莉莽梯;
  18. Do I get sick days on placement?���&紳莉莽梯;
    While��疳t���s��疳mportant to not go into work while you are ill, all missed hours must be made up. If the absence is greater than 3��留ays,��皰lease consult with the Fieldwork Coordinator.��胼�烈lease also consult institutional policies and regulations at your assigned placement site. 
  19. What if I have appointments or a pre-arranged event during fieldwork time?���&紳莉莽梯;
    Students are expected to prioritize fieldwork learning during the placement block. In case of unforeseen circumstances, please consult with the Fieldwork Coordinator or course instructor. 

Thank you

We want to express our thanks to all of the organizations, student coordinators and preceptors who help our students by providing exceptional fieldwork opportunities. We appreciate your support.