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  • Become Certified
    • Academic Requirements
    • Eligibility Assessment
    • Pre-Internship Experiences
    • Clinical Internship
    • Certification Exam
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    • Annual Maintenance
    • Recertification
  • Resources
    • Forms and Manuals
    • Child Life Code of Ethics
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Pre-Internship Experiences

What is a Pre-Internship Experience?

While a pre-internship is not required to seek an internship and is not an eligibility requirement for certification, many internship programs prefer to select candidates who have had one or more pre-internship experience. A pre-internship experience can provide an individual with knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as it relates to working with infants, children, youth, and families. The resources provided below are shared to assist students in navigating the pre-internship process.

Examples of Pre-Internship Experiences

Aspiring professional can gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) necessary to apply for a clinical internship through one or a combination of the following.

The CLCC does not require pre-internship experiences to sit for the Certification Exam.

ACLP Pre-Internship Modules

The CLCC does not endorse any specific pre-internship experiences.

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Volunteer & Work Experience

The CLCC does not endorse any specific pre-internship experiences.

Child Life Practicum

A Child Life Practicum is NOT a requirement to sit for the Certification Exam or to apply for an internship. 

The CLCC does not endorse any specific pre-internship experiences.

ACLP Pre-Internship Modules

The ACLP Pre-Internship Learning Modules can be used by aspiring professionals as well as supervisors in healthcare and other community-based settings in which psychosocial support is provided to children and families in stressful situations.

*The CLCC recognizes that practicums have become a barrier within the pathway to the child life profession. The CLCC does not endorse practicums or other pre-internship programs. These modules are designed for sites and learners who may find them supportive.

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Volunteer & Work Experience

The internship application requires applicants to document their experiences with infants, children, youth, and families in the following areas:

  • Within Healthcare: Any environment involving children and families due to medical encounters. Examples include but are not limited to volunteering in a hospital, programs for children with medical diagnoses, child life pre-internship experiences, volunteering at hospice sites, paid work experience in a hospital setting.

  • Outside of Healthcare: Any environment involving children and families who are not impacted by medical encounters. Examples include but are not limited to coaching a sports team, volunteering at a school, working in retail, working at an early childhood program. Experience with well children is necessary to learn how to identify typical development.

The CLCC does not endorse any specific pre-internship experiences. 

Child Life Practicum

A child life practicum is an introductory experience for individuals pursuing a career in child life. This experience can provide valuable knowledge of evidence-based, developmentally appropriate child life interventions. 

The CLCC and ACLP do not require or have specific practices or protocols for child life practicums. Practicums are not a requirement to sit for the Child Life Professional Certification Exam.

Pre-Internship Experiences

Additional Considerations

  • Give attention to the depth and diversity of your experiences.

  • Be able to articulate what you learned from your experiences and how they relate to the Internship Readiness KSAs.

  • Look for opportunities to gain experience with a variety of ages and/or developmental levels.

The CLCC does not endorse any specific pre-internship experiences. 

FAQs: Pre-Internship Experiences

Read the frequently asked questions related to pre-internship experiences that are necessary to sit for the Child Life Certification Exam.

Where can I gain Pre-Internship Experiences?

Where can I gain Pre-Internship Experiences?

Due to the competitive nature of the field, many students choose to diversify their applications with paid and unpaid experiences. There are many different areas where you can gain knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience:

● ACLP Pre-Internship Modules
● Volunteer & Work Experiences
● Child Life Practicum

The CLCC does not require any specific pre-internship experiences to sit for the Certification Exam.

Are practicums required for the clinical internship application?

Are practicums required for the clinical internship application?

The CLCC and ACLP recognizes that practicums have become a barrier within the pathway to the child life profession. None of the pre-internship experiences are required by the Child Life Certification Commission, and the CLCC and ACLP do not endorse practicums or other pre-internship programs.

Do I need different types of pre-internship experiences?

Do I need different types of pre-internship experiences?

Both the Internship Readiness Common Application as well as most Internship Applications ask you to list your experiences working with children/families in healthcare settings, in stressful situations, and with well children and/or families. Consider this when deciding where to gain experiences.

The CLCC does not require pre-internship experiences to sit for the Certification Exam.

Do I need to volunteer in a program where I am supervised by a child life specialist?

Do I need to volunteer in a program where I am supervised by a child life specialist?

 Possibly. It is your responsibility to clarify the specific expectations and application requirements of each child life practicum, clinical internship, and academic program. 

The CLCC does not require pre-internship experiences to sit for the Certification Exam.

  • Become Certified
    • Academic Requirements
    • Eligibility Assessment
    • Pre-Internship Experiences
    • Clinical Internship
    • Certification Exam
  • Maintain Certification
    • Annual Maintenance
    • Recertification
  • Resources
    • Forms and Manuals
    • Child Life Code of Ethics
    • CCLS Digital Badge
    • PDU Pre-Approval
    • CCLS Directory
  • About CLCC
    • Governance
    • CLCC Policies
    • CCLS Connection Newsletter
    • Contact Us
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