Pre-registration placements
Explore our resources
In this section, you’ll find resources to support practice-based learning (placements). They’re for learners, practice educators and university teams - anyone involved in practice-based learning.
Our resources are organised around our AHP principles of practice-based learning. We know that people have different amounts of time and prefer different ways of learning. We offer a mix of formats, including in-depth articles, short reads and case studies.
Together, these resources support high-quality practice-based learning and help learners build a strong foundation for their occupational therapy careers.
We all have a role in supporting practice-based learning. The role of practice educator expands your CPD in numerous ways, such as developing your facilitation of learning skills, contributing to shaping the future of the profession and learning from students and apprentices with diverse backgrounds.
Reflect and learn
AHP principles of practice-based learning: working together to develop our future workforce
We worked with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) to develop seven principles of practice-based learning. These principles support the development of high-quality, sustainable placement opportunities for pre-registration learners.
The principles set out a shared approach to high-quality practice-based learning. They focus on inclusive, flexible and team-based ways of learning, where everyone involved feels valued and supported. Together, they emphasise continuous improvement to create sustainable, impactful learning opportunities for future professionals.
The Principles are designed to be used by everyone involved in practice-based learning: learners and apprentices, education providers, practice educators, service leads, business owners and more.
The principles have been widely adopted. Eight other UK allied health professional bodies now use them, as well as the German Occupational Therapy Association (Deutscher Verband Ergotherapie).
Read our AHP principles for practice-based learning
Anita Volkert shares how Glasgow Caledonian University have embedded the principles and provides suggestions to support you implementing them in your placement offer.
Find out more about each principle
Resources to support you embedding them in your practice and placement opportunities.
Case study series: Bringing the AHP principles to life
RCOT members spoke to Nichola Gadsby, RCOT Education Enhancement Advisor, about how they have put the AHP principles into practice within their placements.
Each 10-minute read highlights the Principles in action, showing that effective practice-based learning can be delivered in different ways.
Success comes from:
- Adapting to context
- Supporting different learning needs
- Creating opportunities for collaboration and reflection
- Building environments where learners feel safe, valued, and able to grow
Whether through peer-assisted models, leadership placements, or interprofessional learning, these approaches demonstrate how practice education can be both innovative and sustainable.
Case studies
Placement Cafés
Our Placement Cafés brought together people who support placements for pre-registration learners. You can catch up on previous cafés here.
Quality assuring practice-based learning
Practice-based learning is a vital part of occupational therapy pre-registration education, helping learners apply knowledge in real-world settings and develop the confidence, skills and professional identity needed for practice. High-quality, inclusive learning experiences, shaped through strong collaboration between education and practice, are key to preparing a diverse and adaptable future workforce.
Read our Learning and development standards for pre-registration education to understand more about the Standards which support quality and consistency in practice-based learning.
Read our Learning and development standards for pre-registration education