Therapy Clinical Fieldwork: Pediatric and school-based opportunities.

Congratulations—you've made it to one of the most exciting stages of your journey toward becoming a licensed therapist.

Clinical fieldwork is where classroom learning becomes real-world experience. It's your opportunity to build confidence, develop clinical skills, work directly with patients, and learn from experienced professionals in the settings where you may eventually build your career.

At Kelly Pediatric Therapy, we partner with graduate students studying occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavior analysis to provide supervised clinical fieldwork opportunities in pediatric settings. Through mentorship, clinical guidance, and meaningful experiences with children and youth, we help students take the next step toward becoming confident clinicians.

Key Takeaways:

• Clinical fieldwork is a required supervised experience for most therapy disciplines and is necessary for licensure eligibility.
• Pediatric clinical fieldwork provides hands-on experience working with children and families across educational and healthcare settings.
• School-based placements offer mentorship, predictable schedules, and exposure to collaborative care teams.
• Kelly Pediatric Therapy offers clinical fieldwork opportunities in school-based, outpatient, and early intervention settings.
• Students gain practical experience, professional connections, and confidence as they prepare to enter the workforce.
• School-based fieldwork provides a schedule that supports work-life balance.

What is clinical fieldwork?

Clinical fieldwork is a supervised educational experience completed as part of a graduate or professional therapy program. Sometimes called a clinical internship, clinical placement, or clinical rotation, fieldwork allows students to apply classroom knowledge while developing the skills required for independent practice.

During clinical fieldwork, students work under the supervision of licensed professionals and may participate in:

• Observation and assessment
• Client evaluations
• Goal development
• Treatment planning
• Therapy implementation
• Documentation
• Collaboration with families and interdisciplinary teams

Fieldwork experiences are designed to help students build competence, confidence, and readiness for professional practice.

Where can therapy students complete clinical fieldwork?

Depending on your program and discipline, clinical fieldwork may take place in a variety of settings, including:

• Hospitals
• Outpatient clinics
• Schools
• Early intervention programs
• Rehabilitation centers
• Community agencies

Each setting offers unique learning opportunities. For students interested in pediatrics, school-based and pediatric placements provide valuable exposure to child development, family-centered care, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Why choose a pediatric clinical fieldwork placement?

For many students, pediatric fieldwork becomes the experience that shapes their future career path.

Working with children allows you to build specialized skills while making a meaningful impact during critical stages of development. Benefits of pediatric clinical fieldwork include:

Hands-on experience with children and families. Work directly with children from preschool through young adulthood while learning how therapy supports educational, developmental, behavioral, and functional outcomes.

Exposure to diverse needs. Gain experience supporting children with a wide range of developmental, communication, sensory, physical, and behavioral challenges.

Collaborative learning. Work alongside educators, therapists, families, and support staff as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Strong foundation for future employment. Many clinicians discover their passion for pediatric therapy during fieldwork and go on to build successful careers in schools, clinics, and early intervention programs.

Benefits of school-based clinical fieldwork.

School-based therapy is one of the fastest-growing areas of pediatric practice and offers a unique perspective on how therapy supports student success.

Students completing school-based fieldwork often appreciate:

• Predictable schedules. School placements typically follow consistent daytime schedules, making it easier to balance academic, personal, and professional responsibilities.

• Meaningful long-term impact. Unlike some clinical settings where interactions may be brief, school-based therapists often support students over extended periods and witness their growth firsthand.

• Interdisciplinary collaboration. School-based clinicians regularly partner with teachers, special educators, psychologists, administrators, and families.

• Exposure to the IEP process. Students gain firsthand knowledge of special education services, individualized education programs (IEPs), evaluations, and educational planning.

• Work-Life Balance. School-based careers often align with the academic calendar, including weekends, holidays, and school breaks.

Clinical fieldwork requirements by therapy discipline.

Requirements vary by profession and academic program, but all clinical fieldwork experiences are designed to prepare students for safe and effective practice.

Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fieldwork

Aspiring speech-language pathologists must complete clinical hours required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). This includes 400 total clinical hours for aspiring SLPs (25 observation, 375 direct service), and 100 hours of fieldwork for SLP Assistants (SLPA).

Occupational Therapy Fieldwork

The American Occupational Therapist Association (AOTA) requires occupational therapy students to complete Level I and II fieldwork, progressing from observation to full-time clinical placements and more in-depth, often ranging from 24 to 48 weeks.

Physical Therapy Clinical Rotations

Doctor of Physical Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant programs requirements come from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Candidates must achieve a minimum of 30 weeks of full-time clinical experience for DPT programs, or 520 hours for PTA programs, supervised by a licensed physical therapist.

Behavior Analysis Fieldwork

Future BCBAs complete supervised fieldwork hours while applying behavior analytic principles in real-world settings.

Behavior Analyst Certification Board sets the requirements for fieldwork. Many behavior analyst candidates begin their fieldwork while completing their graduate program, gaining both the academic foundations and real-world application of those skills simultaneously. 1,500 to 2,000 supervised hours are required, depending on the density of supervision each month.

How Kelly Pediatric Therapy supports clinical fieldwork students.

Choosing a fieldwork site isn't only about meeting graduation requirements. It's about finding a learning environment where you'll feel supported, challenged, and prepared for the next stage of your career. Kelly Pediatric Therapy provides students with:

• Individualized mentorship. Learn directly from licensed clinicians who are committed to helping you develop your skills and confidence.

• Real-world pediatric experience. Work with children and youth from pre-K through age 21 in educational and pediatric settings.

• Diverse placement settings. Gain experience across school-based therapy, early intervention, and/or outpatient pediatric environments.

• Professional networking opportunities. Connect with experienced clinicians and build relationships that can support your future career growth.

• Confidence for your first professional role. Our goal is simple: help you graduate feeling prepared to succeed as a practicing clinician.

Frequently Asked Questions about clinical fieldwork.

Can I complete clinical fieldwork in a school setting?

Yes. Many therapy disciplines allow students to complete clinical fieldwork in school-based environments under qualified supervision.

Is pediatric clinical fieldwork a good career choice?

Pediatric therapy can be an excellent career path for students who enjoy working with children, collaborating with families, and supporting developmental growth.

Do clinical internships lead to jobs?

While fieldwork does not guarantee employment, students often build professional relationships, gain valuable experience, and develop skills that make them stronger job candidates after graduation.

What is the difference between clinical fieldwork and an internship?

The terms are often used interchangeably. Both refer to supervised clinical experiences completed as part of a professional training program.

Who can apply for clinical fieldwork with Kelly Pediatric Therapy?

We welcome inquiries from graduate students studying occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavior analysis who are seeking pediatric learning experiences.

Apply for pediatric clinical fieldwork opportunities.

If you're looking for a clinical fieldwork experience that combines mentorship, hands-on learning, and meaningful work with children, we'd love to connect with you.

Kelly Pediatric Therapy partners with future therapists to provide supportive learning experiences in school-based, outpatient, and early intervention settings.

To learn more about current clinical fieldwork opportunities, contact us at TherapyUniversityRelations@kellyservices.com.