Hands-on Opportunities

What are Fieldwork Placements?

OT students at U of T have lots of opportunities to gain real, hands-on experience. One of the most important of these is the mandatory fieldwork placements. Fieldwork is an integral part of the Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy program, giving students an opportunity to learn outside of the classroom and practice in a clinical setting.

Fieldwork placements provide students with the opportunity to integrate theoretical and practical knowledge and to develop professional behaviours and skills. In addition, students have the opportunity to learn more about local facilities and make contacts that may facilitate their job search after graduation. One introductory block fieldwork experience (two weeks full time) occurs during the first term of the program; four full-time fieldwork blocks (six to eight weeks) occur throughout the program. Students complete placements focusing on physical and psychosocial health issues and will have the opportunity to work with a variety of client ages, issues and concerns including but not limited to: hand therapy, paediatrics, eating disorders, stroke rehabilitation, case management, private practice, etc. Placements are available in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community agencies, and private practice. A computer program randomly assigns students to a placement (taking preferences into account).

As part of the M.Sc.OT program, students must complete a minimum of 1000 hours of approved clinical fieldwork. Completion of fieldwork, along with the academic program requirements, ensures that students qualify to write the certification exam and work in Canada after successfully completing all qualifications.

A fieldwork manual will be provided to each student. This manual contains extensive information about the philosophy of fieldwork, professional standards, health policies, the fieldwork process, objectives, evaluation, international opportunities, etc.

Fieldwork placements are completed in a variety of facilities. The University of Toronto is fortunate to have an extensive catchment area, which includes facilities in and around the Toronto.

The majority of our fieldwork sites are listed in the fieldwork section of this website, although new and exciting opportunities are being created every year. Students are encouraged to inform the Fieldwork Coordinators about potential fieldwork opportunities that they are familiar with which may not be on the current list of sites. However, students must never contact a site themselves about the possibility of undertaking a placement in a site.

After successful completion of the first block of placements and the maintenance of a satisfactory grade average, students can choose to go outside of the Toronto area for one or more of their placements. This means that students can travel within Canada or decide to investigate an international experience. Students in recent years have completed placements in British Columbia, New York City, Australia, South Africa and India.

For detailed information regarding clinical fieldwork, see our student fieldwork handbook.