Elevate your Occupational Therapy career in Belize! This 12-week fieldwork placement provides the perfect blend of professional growth and cultural immersion. Develop your expertise in culturally sensitive assessment and intervention, working with varied populations in Belize. You'll gain hands-on experience, collaborate with other professionals, and refine essential OT skills such as activity analysis, environmental modification, and client-centered care. This program is designed to equip you to become a globally-minded and highly competent OT practitioner, ready to excel in any clinical context.

You'll gain practical experience in various settings, including schools and community centers, working with individuals facing a range of occupational performance deficits. The fieldwork placement emphasizes the development of culturally appropriate assessment and intervention techniques, and you'll learn to adapt your OT practice to a low-resource environment. Supervision is provided by a US licensed Occupational Therapist who also offers cultural resources and insights.

A note from our Founder: Therapy Abroad aims to provide more than just a study abroad program. Our goal is to support academic excellence and experiential education by offering custom program experiences relevant to students in their chosen field of study, along with opportunities for faculty involvement and research collaborations.    -Dr. Jessica Brown, PhD., CCC-SLP, MT-BC

Are you an OT graduate student ready to elevate your clinical expertise and broaden your global perspective? This 12-week clinical placement is your gateway to an extraordinary professional and personal journey. Immerse yourself in Belizean culture while gaining essential clinical skills and making a meaningful impact. If you're adaptable, resourceful, and passionate about culturally competent care, this is your chance to gain invaluable experience and set yourself apart. Get ready to gain a competitive edge and embark on a journey that will shape your career! 

These 12-week Level II(B) fieldwork placements are full-time clinician experiences designed to meet the participating university's clinical fieldwork guidelines and provide students with a valuable experience. Students must receive prior approval from their departments to participate in this experience. While in Belize, you'll provide occupational therapy services in a variety of locations, including local schools, our Therapy Abroad clinic in San Ignacio, and other partner organizations. These placements are crucial because the communities we serve act as a central hub for many smaller, underserved villages with limited access to healthcare. You may also travel to other cities (such as San Pedro or Punta Gorda) to see clients referred by the Ministry of Education’s special needs unit. You'll have access to our full range of treatment materials and resources.

This fieldwork placement is designed to propel you from the classroom to the professional world, providing a dynamic bridge between university studies and your future career. Over 12 weeks, you'll gain the confidence and expertise to:

• Master Diverse Clinical Skills: Immerse yourself in varied approaches and philosophies within Occupational Therapy, encompassing everything from diagnostic techniques to transformative rehabilitation practices.

• Gain Real-World Experience: Step beyond observation and engage directly in evaluation and treatment, building practical skills that are culturally relevant. 

• Collaborate and Connect: Work alongside OTs and other professionals, forging valuable relationships and expanding your interdisciplinary network.

• Become a Global Practitioner: Study abroad and experience the rewards of providing care in a culturally rich and immersive environment, developing a global perspective that's essential in today's world.

• Build a Foundation for Success: Acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in your chosen field, setting yourself up for a fulfilling and impactful career.

This fieldwork placement isn't just about clinical hours; it's about building a robust skillset that will make you a confident and effective practitioner. You'll learn to:

• Collaborate Effectively: Become a valuable member of an interdisciplinary team, working seamlessly with local professionals to achieve shared patient goals.

• Master Documentation: Gain proficiency in essential documentation procedures, including SOAP notes, evaluation reports, and patient education resoureces.

• Adapt and Thrive: Develop the resourcefulness and adaptability needed to navigate low-resource environments and unfamiliar circumstances.

• Embrace Cultural Competence: Cultivate a deep understanding of Belize's diverse norms, languages, and cultures, and learn to integrate this awareness into your clinical practice.

• Deliver Culturally Sensitive Care: Learn to identify, assess, and treat individuals from diverse backgrounds, tailoring your approach to respect their unique cultural and linguistic identities.

• Refine Your Therapeutic Approach: Acquire and hone new therapeutic skills, benefiting from personalized feedback that fosters professional and personal growth.

• Design and Implement Interventions: Develop the ability to create and adapt culturally appropriate intervention plans, utilizing a variety of strategies, approaches, materials, and instrumentation to meet the unique needs of each client and their family.

Known as the "Jewel" of the Caribbean, Belize is a vibrant Central American country rich in history and culture. Formerly British Honduras, it gained independence in 1983 and continues to expand services for its special needs population. Therapy Abroad partners with Belize’s Ministries of Education and Health to support these efforts. With English as the official language and a diverse mix of languages—including Kriol, Spanish, and Mayan—Belize offers the perfect setting to develop cultural competence and clinical skills. Students will gain hands-on experience while exploring the country’s rich history, unique communities, and stunning natural environment.

Students will stay in a shared home or apartments with modern amenities including a kitchen with a full-size refrigerator, Wi-Fi, a western style toilet, showers, and communal space to relax and hang out. Laundry services are available. Students will be within walking distance to downtown areas & a plethora of restaurants, shops & local markets. Plus the warmth and hospitality of the people and culture will make everyone feel at home in no time! 

The total program cost includes round-trip international airfare to Belize City. Therapy Abroad staff will assist you with booking your flight from your preferred departure airport. We will contact you to arrange this as your departure date approaches. Transportation from the airport to your accommodations in Belize will be provided.

The total tuition is $8,200:

• Non-refundable deposit: $1,000 (due at booking)

• Remaining balance: $7,200 (split into 2 payments of $3,600)

And if you’re worried about payments, we’ve got options to help:

• Explore our Fundraising Guide with strategies and resources.

• Use our new built-in Contribution Page feature—just like GoFundMe, but directly linked to your program's tuition balance! So each time someone donates, you automatically owe less on your next payment.

• Bring a friend! We offer a refer-a-friend discount of $100 each. So help us spread the word while you lower your tuition.

• To save on extra processing fees, we recommend making your payment by ACH (direct bank transfer).

• Need more flexibility? We can help customize a payment plan that works for you—just ask!

If you choose to cancel, we will hold onto your initial deposit for you to use on a future Therapy Abroad trip. This deposit is not transferable to another person. Refund percentages include the non-refundable deposit:

• 100% refund for cancellations made 90+ days before departure.

• 75% refund for cancellations made 90–60 days before departure.

• 50% refund for cancellations made 59-30 days before departure.

• 0% refund for cancellations made within 30 days of departure.

Safety is our top priority, and we take a hands-on approach to ensure every aspect of your experience is secure. Every location, accommodation, and activity is personally vetted by Therapy Abroad directors. Belize is a safe destination with strong infrastructure, and we work closely with the Ministries of Education and Health to organize every detail of your trip. From departure to return, we provide a seamless, worry-free experience. You’ll always be part of a group led by experienced facilitators—never outsourced staff. Our team ensures access to medical care, clean food and water, and reliable communication at all times.

Sustainability is at the heart of our mission. Our programs are designed with Belize’s needs in mind, incorporating hands-on teacher training, modeling, and professional presentations to ensure lasting impact. What sets Therapy Abroad apart is our year-round commitment to building services—not just meeting immediate needs. We collaborate with educators, nonprofits, and community groups to create sustainable, culturally relevant solutions in speech-language pathology, education, and community health.

Here are some links to our website that are worth exploring:

• More about this specific trip

• Explore TherapyAbroad.org

• Our mission at Therapy Abroad

• Meet our team

• Why travel with us

• Read student and staff reviews

• FAQ