Character Requirements For Fieldwork And Nbcot Certification
You may be required by fieldwork sites to complete screenings including but not limited to: criminal background checks, drug screenings and health/immunization requirements. Failure to successfully complete such requirements may lead to limited options for fieldwork. Contact in the fieldwork office if you have questions about the criminal background check process to meet fieldwork requirements.
You must also pass similar requirements imposed by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy to be eligible to sit for the NBCOT exam.
Prospective students are encouraged to participate in NBCOTs Early Determination Character Review prior to applying to the program. If you have questions or would like additional information you may visit the NBCOT web site or contact them at 990-7979 or .
Our Master’s Programs In Occupational Therapy
Please note: Students who entered this program in August 2021 formed the last M.O.T./M.S. class. Learn about our O.T.D. program.
Our programs are designed to offer the best educational practices in occupational therapy through carefully integrated programs of academic coursework, practice, and research. Program highlights include:
- Immersion in practice from the first semester onward through integrated Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences
- Hands-on learning experiences that are directly linked to academic content, theory, and research
- A pronounced emphasis on professional reasoning skills and leadership development
- Opportunities to benefit from one to one mentoring by expert researchers
- Opportunities to develop a specialty area of focus
- Develop skills needed to create and obtain funding for new community-based practices that meet real-world occupational needs
Professional Graduate Training Programsotd Advising Team
CSU has developed an entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program which begins in May 2022. This program is designed for prospective students who are interested in career tracks as occupational therapists. Learn more about the application process for the O.T.D. program. Contact with questions.
Read Also: Iv Iron Therapy Guidelines 2020
What Are The Financial Aspects Of Fieldwork
You are responsible for the financial aspects of doing fieldwork, including but not limited to:
- Personal Protective Equipment required by fieldwork site
- Access to the E*Value fieldwork database system paid through student course fees $58
- CastleBranch Package OK30: Criminal background check, drug test, HIPAA/OSHA eLearning package $93
- American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification $70
- Professional Liability Insurance billed directly to student account approximately $15
- CSU OT Student Name Badge $10
- Prerequisites including immunizations that are required by fieldwork sites
Occupational Therapy Doctoral Programs

We offer two distinct doctoral programs. One is geared for entering careers in research and academia, while the other focuses on preparing you for licensure and practice as an occupational therapist.
Our O.R.S. Ph.D. program prepares you to pursue academic careers in research and higher education.
- Level I Fieldwork Locally Integrated with Occupational Therapy Coursework
- Small Classes 5 to 25 students in lectures and labs
- 200 Statewide and National Level I and II Fieldwork Placements
- SupportiveProfessional Learning Environment
- Scholarships and Teaching and Research Assistantshipsavailable to a large number of students
- 300 Days of SunshineOur Campus is Nestled in the Rocky Mountains
Recommended Reading: Cycles Approach For Speech Therapy
How Am I Assigned My Fieldwork
- To achieve a successful learning experience, we are committed to matching your interests and abilities with characteristics of the fieldwork sites.
- You are provided group and individual advising for fieldwork site selection.
- We provide regularly scheduled fieldwork meetings to guide you during the fieldwork program.
Admitted Student Virtual Q& a Sessions
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 5:00 PM MST
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 5:00 PM MST
Designed to help admitted students make an informed choice about whether or not our program is the right fit, join us online to get answers to your questions about CSU-OT. Simply join our Zoom meeting on the day and time that works best for you to begin your session hosted by a current CSU OT student.
Also Check: What Is Dpt In Physical Therapy
What Do I Need For Otr Certification
To practice occupational therapy, you must pass NBCOTs national certification exam. After successful completion, you will be an OTR . Many states require licensure to practice however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification exam and continuing education requirements that are unique from state to state.
Additional information about occupational therapy can be obtained by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association at 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929, phone 652-2682.
Brain Structure And Function
Course must appear on your transcript as taken in the year 2012 or later.
Acceptable courses address the structure AND function of the human brain. The syllabus must include this information in the course description, course objectives, and/ or course weekly schedule.
This can be accomplished if any one of the following are included the syllabus:
- Brain development
- Motor control or motor learning including sensory-motor loops and integration
- Motor control including circuits involving major motor centers leading to the final common pathway
- Sensory processing, including the connections of separate sensory modalities to their respective areas of the brain
- Cognitive processing including association areas and signal processing
- Neurological conditions and the areas of the brain affected in each condition
Course must be a minimum of 3 semester credits. The following course titles meet this requirement, have been approved by our department, and do not need to be reviewed by the department: Brain and Behavior, Neuroanatomy, Behavioral Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, Neurophysiology, Neuropsychology, Neurobiology, Physiological Psychology, Biological Basis of Behavior and Biological Psychology.
Please note: Courses on the history of neuroscience, or history of cognitive theory, or cognitive theory itself do not fulfill the brain and behavior requirement.
CSU Online courses: PSY 252 or PSY 458
Also Check: Jumper’s Knee Physical Therapy
Prospective Student Virtual Info Sessions
Tuesday, September 13, 2022 2 p.m. MT
Tuesday, September 27, 2022 5 p.m. MT
Tuesday, October 11, 2022 2 p.m. MT
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 5 p.m. MT
Join us online to get answers to your questions about CSU-OT and the application process. Simply join our Zoom meeting on the day and time that works best for you to begin your session hosted by a current CSU OT student.
From The Department Headwelcome
This is an exciting time to be an occupational therapist, and Colorado State University is one of the best places in the world to study, practice, and research.
We are recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a top-10 program. Our outreach centers, the Assistive Technology Resource Center, and the Center for Community Partnerships, are world-class. Each year we graduate approximately 50 new practitioners and two or three new researchers from our Ph.D. program in Occupation and Rehabilitation Science. Our research teams produce meaningful work enabling participation in everyday life, an understanding of body structures and functions that underlie participation and access to services.
I am proud to boast about our exceptional faculty, staff, students, and programs.
Anita Bundy, ScD, OT, FAOTA, FOTARA
Read Also: St Mary’s Outpatient Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapyvisit The Otd Program
There are so many ways to explore life as a future Ram. Join us in beautiful Fort Collins for a tour, or stay home and check out our online events, like our virtual information sessions or Q& A sessions. Get answers about the admissions process, learn more about our program, and discover opportunities that will shape your college experience. Check out the options below to visit, make connections, and get to know Colorado State University and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate.
The Right Track For Careers In Research And Academia

When you graduate from our ORS Ph.D. program, you will be ready for an academic career in research, academia, industry, or government. Contact us if your background is in one of the following fields and let us help you determine if your research interests would be a match for our program:
- Bachelors or graduate degree in occupational therapy
- Bachelors or graduate degree in a field related to occupational or rehabilitation science*
* Other allied health disciplines, biomedical science or engineering, anthropology, education, etc. If you have questions please contact our Ph.D. program director.
Recommended Reading: How Much Is Cupping Therapy
Application Requirements And Deadlines
NOTE: There are three separate applications required for your application to be considered complete and reviewed for admission. Applications that do not include all items listed below by the FINAL application deadline date are incomplete and will not be considered for admission.
Opens for the 2022-2023 academic year on Apply by Thursday, at 9:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time
Additional Required Document: CV/Resume
Applicants must submit a resume or CV to OTCAS. This will be used as part of the admissions review process at CSU-OT. This document should include the following information as applicable:
- Education, other professional training and licenses
- Complete work history including internships and other major life experiences
- Research experience
Application #2: CSU Graduate School online applicationOpens for the 2023 Summer semester on Apply by Friday, October 28, 2022 at 9:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time
Statement of Purpose: Upload the same personal statement submitted to OTCAS
CSU Identification Number
Application #3: CSU-OT Departmental Application MaterialsApply by Thursday, at 9:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time
As stated previously, applicants will need a NetID and password to access this application. Therefore, you must complete the CSU Graduate School application before accessing these OT Departmental application materials. To create this NetID and password:
OT Departmental application materials include the following:
CSU OT Personal Statement:
Further Your Career With A Phd In Occupation And Rehabilitation Science
Students and faculty mentors in the Occupation and Rehabilitation Science program investigate human performance and participation in everyday occupations from the perspectives of occupational science and rehabilitation science. Core research areas include:
- Cognitive, motor, sensory, and neurophysiological performance
- Everyday occupation, play, and meaning
- Health services research, disability, and rehabilitation
Read Also: Carolina Physical Therapy And Sports Medicine
Where Are The Fieldwork Sites Located
- There are in-state and out-of-state fieldwork placements available in our network of over 280 contracts. The fieldwork office does ALL recruiting of ALL Level I/II placements.
- Because of limited availability of fieldwork sites however, and to ensure the best possible fit between you and a fieldwork site, you may be required to commute up to 1½ hours OR to relocate to another region for level I and level II fieldwork.
Submit Csu Graduate School Application
Applicants apply to the Department of Occupational Therapy and the CSU Graduate School by completing a CSU Graduate School application. Applicants will be required to submit the following mandatory information:
You May Like: Neuromd Corrective Therapy Device Reviews
What Is Fieldwork In Occupational Therapy
Fieldwork is where you will apply the professional reasoning and practice concepts you learned in class. You will get hands-on experience in a variety of practice settings such as:
- skilled nursing
Additionally, your fieldwork experience will:
- Prepare you as a future leader in occupational therapy.
- Become a role model by providing occupation-based services to clients using evidence and reflective practice to guide decision-making.
- Engage clients to optimize human performance and participation in everyday occupations and contexts across the lifespan.
Center For Community Partnerships
The CCP is a direct service and outreach arm of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University. The CCPs mission is to provide and improve vital individualized, consultative, and educational services that focus on increasing access to employment, education, independent living, recreation, and the community as a whole for young adults and adults with disabilities.
Read Also: Physical Therapy After Carpal Tunnel Surgery
Specialized Occupational Therapy Services
Hand and upper extremity therapyCertified Hand Therapists provide individualized rehabilitation for various upper extremity injuries and conditions ranging from carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and other chronic conditions to fractures, trauma, and burns. Services include customized splinting and post-operative management. We also offer conservative/non-operative treatment such as ergonomic assessment, therapeutic exercises and training, and symptom management.
Low vision rehabilitationThis program uses a team approach combining ophthalmology and occupational therapy services. The occupational therapy evaluation focuses on assessing the functional limitations experienced by the patient due to the vision loss. Occupational therapy treatment emphasizes training the patient to use remaining vision as efficiently and effectively as possible to complete daily activities. Certified Low Vision Therapists instruct individuals in the efficient use of remaining vision with optical devices, non-optical devices, and assistive technology, and can help determine the need for environmental modifications in the home, workplace, or school.
Lymphedema therapyOur therapists help patients manage severe swelling in the arms and legs or other areas of the body by using manual lymph drainage and low-stretch compression bandaging techniques.
What Is The Csu Ot Policy On Fieldwork Sites Charging Fees For Student Placements

There is the possibility that sites expect academic programs to assume the financial responsibility to pay for students to do fieldwork, which is unrealistic and impossible given the sheer numbers of students in academic programs and financial hardship it entails.
Recipients of service, vested stakeholders in the fieldwork education process, also lose opportunities to influence and guide future OT practitioners. Many clients value the opportunity to work with energetic students who bring fresh ideas and new ways of doing into the traditional practice environment. Students motivate and invigorate clients in the therapeutic context with mutually valuable learning and service provision.
The CSU OT Department renounces and discourages fieldwork sites from charging fees for placements by not paying fees charged for fieldwork placements. The CSU OT Department neither supports nor endorses fieldwork sites charging fees for student placements. We stand united, alongside other fieldwork education consortiums , against this threat to the fieldwork education partnerships in occupational therapy. Asking for payment from OT students, whose earning power will never even approach that of other professionals who have traditionally paid for internships is a travesty.
Also Check: Bay State Physical Therapy Quincy
What Immunization Health And Student Records Are Required For Fieldwork
- Negative Two-Step PPD . An X-ray may be required if the test is positive
- Varicella vaccine, varicella titer, or date of chickenpox documented by medical records
- Student Authorization to Release Records, OT Policies and Procedures for Fieldwork
- Student Authorization Information Form
- CastleBranch Package OK30: Criminal background check, drug test, HIPAA, and OSHA eLearning package $93
- CSU OT Student Name Badge $10
- Basic Life Support Certification
Medical documentation is required for each immunization.
Note: Costs for immunizations, titers, and health checks vary across the country, check your local healthcare provider for information in your area.
How Does Fieldwork Progress Over The Program
- Fieldwork is integrated with occupational therapy coursework to apply course concepts in practice with mentorship from occupational therapy faculty and fieldwork educators.
- Students gradually acquire performance competencies and professional behaviors expected of an occupational therapist through progressively greater responsibility and independence during supervised fieldwork experiences.
- Fieldwork is divided into two stages of professional performance with progressively higher expectations, level I and level II fieldwork.
- There are three level I fieldworks and two level II fieldworks. Each Level II fieldwork is for 12 weeks full-time.
Recommended Reading: Physical Therapy For Piriformis Syndrome
Teaching And Learning Philosophy
The practice of occupational therapy is complex, in part because the profession serves to meet the occupational needs of an ever-changing society. Given its complexity, best practice in occupational therapy requires a deep base of knowledge that helps each student develop a professional identity as an occupational therapist. That knowledge base must directly address the use of occupation in facilitating change, growth, adaptation, and occupational participation toward the goals of health and wellness, quality of life, well-being and occupational justice . In preparing our graduates to be collaborative and enduring change agents and leaders in our profession, our curriculum thereby embraces learner-centered and subject-centered learning, where the core subject is occupation and individuals are considered occupational beings. Consistent with the educational philosophy of the AOTA , our curriculum centers study on the core subject of human performance and participation in everyday occupations and contexts across the lifespan at both the clinical doctoral and Ph.D. levels.
Optimal learning occurs when students
References
Choosing The Right Track
All of our students are admitted to our M.O.T. program. During the first semester, you get to learn about thesis options and, if interested, you can apply to pursue an M.S. degree. Each program of study involves at least 24 months of study during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. This includes Level I and II fieldwork experiences.
You will complete all your coursework on our CSU campus located in Fort Collins, Colorado. Fieldwork requirements are completed in a variety of locations in Colorado and across the nation.
Recommended Reading: How Much Does Physical Therapy Assistant Make
How Do Patients Benefit From Uchealth Occupational Therapy Services
Common occupational therapy interventions include helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services also include recommendations for adaptive equipment and training in its use, and guidance and education for family members and caregivers.
Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective. They focus on adapting the environment to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team.
Occupational therapy services typically include:
- Individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the persons goals
- Customized intervention to improve the persons ability to perform daily activities and reach their goals
- Outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met, and/or to make changes to the intervention plan.
Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and preventor live better withinjury, illness, or disability.