Internship (OT/OTA Hospital Inpatient) Summer 2026 OT Fieldwork

Opportunity time frame varies by program:

• OT fieldwork rotations: 12-week internship, 40 hours per week, beginning in June for 12 consecutive weeks.
• OTA fieldwork rotations: 8-week internship, 40 hours per week, beginning in June for 8 consecutive weeks.

Start date is flexible for both programs.

Eligibility Requirements

• Current student of an accredited Occupational Therapy Institution.
• OT students must be at the Master’s or Doctoral degree level; OTA students must be at the Associates degree level.
• Must be enrolled at an academic institution that has an existing contract with Sheppard Pratt.
• Strong foundation required in:
  • Child/adolescent mental health theory and related OT theory and practice.
  • Clinical reasoning.
  • Foundations of evidence-based practice.
  • Group theory and application.
  • Teaching/learning concepts and applications related to staff, client, and caregiver education.

Learning Model

Occupational therapy is part of the continuum of care and collaborates with the multidisciplinary team. Supervision is provided in a 1:1 model by a licensed occupational therapist who is on-site daily. Services include:

• Both group and individual OT sessions for all clients.
• Typically 2-3 OT groups each day, plus 1:1 sessions and assessments as deemed appropriate.

Student Expectations

• Self-directed learning and independently seeking learning opportunities and feedback.
• Flexible thinking and adaptability.
• Readiness to learn from all experiences.
• Patience and compassion when working with this challenging patient population.