Document Type (Journals)
Original Research
Abstract
Fieldwork educators are essential in educating future occupational therapy practitioners, yet they are often not formally trained for this role. Fieldwork educator preparation programs may help strengthen educator effectiveness; however, limited research has examined the impact of these programs. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Fieldwork Educator Certificate Program (FWECP) is a two-day professional development course designed to enhance the supervisory and teaching competencies of fieldwork educators. This study examined the effectiveness of the FWECP from the perspective of participants who completed the program between June 2019 and June 2024. An anonymous retrospective survey was distributed to past participants, yielding 314 responses (11.4% response rate). Quantitative findings indicated the FWECP strengthened participants’ ability to design educational experiences, adapt supervisory approaches, provide effective feedback, evaluate performance, and establish their professional identity as fieldwork educators. Qualitative analysis revealed high satisfaction with content related to program development, teaching and learning styles, student supervision, and feedback and evaluation. Suggested improvements included updating program content to reflect current Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) standards, revising delivery format, and offering advanced training opportunities. These findings highlight the importance of structured training programs in equipping fieldwork educators with the necessary skills to deliver high-quality fieldwork experiences that shape the next generation of occupational therapy practitioners.
Biography
Susan M. Higgins, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA is the Director of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at the University of New Haven. She has been a trainer for the AOTA Fieldwork Educator Certificate Program since its inception in 2009.
Tiffany L. Benaroya, OTD, OTR serves as the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and an Assistant Professor for the Rutgers, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Her research focuses on fieldwork education, pedagogy, and mental health.
Declaration of Interest
The authors report no declarations of interest.
Recommended Citation
Higgins, S. M., & Benaroya, T. (2026). Effectiveness of the AOTA Fieldwork Educator Certificate Program: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Participants. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 10 (1). Retrieved from https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol10/iss1/14
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