Fieldwork

Education in action

At ÃÀÅ®×ö°®â€™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 theÌýMSc(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 Ìý

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

*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 CoordinatorÌý(otfwork@dal.ca)

Fieldwork fundamentals

As a ÃÀÅ®×ö°® Occupational Therapy student, you’ll complete your fieldwork in four parts, over two years.

OCCU 5009 + 5019Ìý 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 6019ÌýÌý 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 6029ÌýÌý 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? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    Students will be required to 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. Students are responsible for any associated costs incurred. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
  2. Can I arrange my own placement? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    No, students are not permitted to 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.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
  3. Am I required to do course work and do fieldwork at the same time? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    Full-time fieldwork blocks (OCCU 5029, OCCU 6109, OCCU 6029) are 8 weeks long. During this time, there are no other classes scheduled. 
  4. How many hours is each placement block? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    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.  
    The remaining ~100 hours are accomplished in OCCU 5009/5019 and in the introduction to fieldwork classes.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
  5. Is there an exemption from doing placements outside of Halifax? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    The school does not provide exemption to this; accommodations or accessibility matters may be discussed with the SAC.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
  6. Is there a chance I can do more than one placement outside of Halifax? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    Yes, some students do all three placements outside of the Halifax area.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
  7. Are international placements allowed? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    Currently, international placements are on hold.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
  8. Will I be paid for my work on fieldwork placement? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    No, all placements are unpaid with no exceptions to this standard.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
  9. Do preceptors get paid to have students? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    While some regional health authorities offer a stipend but most often preceptors are volunteers.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
  10. Can I choose my preceptor? Can a preceptor choose me? Can I swap with another student? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    No, providing an equitable and consistent experience across students and classes is integral to our fieldwork process.  
  11. What is the fieldwork matching process? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    We use HSPnet to 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 utilize the system to optimize matches between students and placements.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
  12. How will I know which placement has been assigned to me?  
    Students will be notified via HSPnet and a confirmation email will be sent from the fieldwork coordinator to the student and preceptor.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
  13. Will I require a car or access to a vehicle for placement? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    This will be clearly noted in HSPnet and is becoming an increasingly common requirement. 
  14. How much notice will I get before knowing where I am going for placement? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    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.  This may not always be possible.
  15. What are the responsibilities and expectations for students going out into the field? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    ÃÀÅ®×ö°®â€™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 proficiency 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? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    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? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    Yes, most placements adhere to stat holidays, and this is considered and accounted for in our proposed fieldwork schedules.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
  18. Do I get sick days on placement? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    While it’s important to not go into work while you are ill, all missed hours must be made up. If the absence is greater than 3 days, please consult with the Fieldwork Coordinator.  Please 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? &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
    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.