I want to shadow OT practitioners prior to applying to OT school. How do I do this? 

NCOTA does not offer shadowing opportunities or facilitate connections between potential students and clinical sites. We recommend you consider your areas of interest and/or knowledge gaps related to occupational therapy practice. Reach out to settings you are curious about and ask to shadow an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant. A list of common OT practice settings and ‘not so common’ options are listed below for guidance:

  • Local hospitals (acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, psychiatry)
  • Outpatient clinics (hand, orthopedics, low vision, pediatric/sensory settings)
  • Schools
  • Home health companies
  • Adult day health centers (geriatrics experience)
  • Departments on Aging
  • Eating Disorders clinics
  • And many more…