Pre-Internship Experiences
The internship application asks you to document your knowledge, skills, and abilities alongside your experiences working with infants, children, youth, and families. The following are some ways a pre-internship learner could gain that knowledge:
The Pre-Internship Learning Modules can be used by Pre-Internship learners as well as supervisors in healthcare and other community-based settings in which psychosocial support is provided to children and families in stressful situations.
Download the Pre-Internship Modules here.
*ACLP recognizes that practicums have become a barrier within the pathway to the child life profession. Pre-internship experiences are not required by the Child Life Certification
Commission and ACLP does not endorse practicums or other pre-internship programs. These modules are designed for sites and learners who may find them supportive.
Volunteer & Work Experience
The internship application asks you to document your 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.
Child Life Practicum
A child life practicum is an introductory experience for individuals pursuing a career in child life. Mainly observational, this experience can provide valuable knowledge of evidence-based, developmentally appropriate child life interventions. ACLP does not require or have specific practices or protocols for child life practicums, and practicums are not a requirement to sit for the Child Life Certification Exam.
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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
-Look for opportunities to gain experience with a variety of ages and/or developmental levels.
More information and details about the certification process can be found in the Certification Candidate Manual. Questions? Email certification@childlife.org.
Academic Requirements
There are two academic requirements to become a Certified Child Life Specialist.
1.
Bachelor’s degree
2.
Coursework (two options)
- Option #1: Graduation from an ACLP-endorsed child life academic program
Endorsement is a voluntary process of self-study and external review intended to evaluate, enhance, and publicly recognize academic programs which meet the standards prescribed by ACLP. The purpose of this process is to promote the interests of students through improving the quality of teaching, learning, and professional practice.
You can locate a list of ACLP-endorsed child life academic programs
here.
- Option #2: 10 college courses* in the following content areas:
1 Child life course taught by a CCLS
2 child development courses
1 Family systems course
1 Play course
1 Loss/bereavement or death/dying course
1 Research course
3 additional courses in related areas
*For each of the 10 required courses, it is recommended that students take a 3-credit course or the equivalent to have an appropriate depth of instruction.For a course to count, the required content must be the primary focus of the course.
This
guide will explain the details of the specific course requirements.
This
video will help you understand the specific course requirements.
Some academic institutions have had courses pre-approved by the ACLP. These programs are identified on this
list.
The more you learn about becoming a child life specialist, you will begin to hear the term “
affiliation” and this term is defined in the glossary available on this webpage. We will also discuss this in the child life practicum and internship sections.
More information and details about the certification process can be found in the
Certification Candidate Manual. Questions? Email certification@childlife.org
Eligibility Assessment
The Eligibility Assessment is a process by which...
... prospective child life specialists submit their coursework information and clinical experiences for verification by the ACLP, and is required for the common application and to sit for the exam. Think of this as a virtual filing cabinet.
The Eligibility Assessment is a process that can be done all at once, or in phases. There is a one-time fee* when initiating the Eligibility Assessment.
Important points about the Eligibility Assessment:
- All courses must be completed, with a grade before they can be approved.
- It is the responsibility of the student to comply with each child life practicum/internship site’s application requirements.
- Some academic programs are endorsed by the ACLP. Click
here for more information on these programs. Students enrolled in an endorsed academic program should work with the program leader to complete the Eligibility Assessment process.
-There are specific dates that the Eligibility Assessment documents must arrive at the ACLP office for each internship cycle. Please look at the dates for upcoming cycles located
here.
View all the information regarding the Eligibility Assessment here.
There is a webinar outlining this process
here.
More information and details about the certification process can be found in the
Certification Candidate Manual. Questions? Email certification@childlife.org
*If the eligibility requirements change before eligibility has been established, applicants may be required to resubmit a fee for a new eligibility assessment.
Internship (Clinical Hours)
Students pursuing certification as child life specialists must complete a (minimum) 600 hour clinical internship in child life under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist.
What is an internship?
Internships are typically full-time, hands-on, and are required to meet the eligibility requirements for the child life certification exam. Most internships are unpaid at this time; however, there are a few child life programs that do offer paid internships.
Internships are experience-based and are designed to teach and develop independent skills of child life practice. Individuals are expected, by the conclusion of the internship, to be able to function as job-ready, competent child life professionals. Internship supervisors must have at least 4,000 hours of paid child life experience.
Securing an internship
Internships are very competitive. Applicants are not always offered placements the first time they apply. In fact, it is common for applicants to apply to more than one internship program and for more than one semester/application cycle before receiving an offer. There are far more applicants than there are available internship placements in any given semester. It is not unusual for an applicant to relocate temporarily to accept an internship offer. Asking for feedback, incorporating that feedback, and applying again are all typical parts of the professional development of future child life specialists.
Although not required, one way to guarantee your internship experience will meet all requirements for certification eligibility is to be accepted to an ACLP
accredited internship. ACLP Clinical Internship Accreditation assures that an internship program meets the minimum standards and requirements established for clinical preparation programs. More information regarding the benefits of participating in an accredited internship program is available
here.
Internship Supervisors
To be eligible to supervise internship hours, a CCLS must: maintain professional child life certification throughout the supervisory period, have a minimum of 4,000 hours of paid child life clinical experience prior to the start of the supervisory period, and take responsibility for the educational development and guidance of the candidate in the clinical setting. To learn more, click here.
Internship Readiness Common Application
ACLP recommends that programs utilizing the Internship Readiness Common Application as well as common internship application deadlines in order to make the process as equitable as possible for prospective interns.
The important dates of each internship cycle can be found
here.
The Internship Readiness Common Application can be found
here. The Internship Readiness Common Application
guide and
video will be helpful resources in guiding you through the details of the application process. Please read the tips and instructions within the application before submitting.
More information and details about the certification process can be found in the
Certification Candidate Manual. Questions? Email certification@childlife.org
Certification Exam
In order to become a Certified Child Life Specialist, you must sit for and pass the certification exam.
The Child Life Professional Certification Examination is an objective test that covers knowledge, understanding and practical application of important child life concepts. It is comprised of 150 multiple-choice questions, and the time allotted to complete the examination is four hours. Those who achieve a passing score become certified for a five-year period, after which time they must recertify.
Learn more about the Certification Exam HERE.
1. Preparing for the Exam
All requirements must be completed to sit for the exam:
Eligibility Requirements
- A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in any field of study, completed and documented by the registration date for the exam.
- Completed coursework in the content areas outlined
here.
- Completion of a 600 hour clinical internship, supervised by a Certified Child Life Specialist.
To read more about the full Eligibility Requirements,
click here.
Eligibility Assessment
- Detailed instructions on how to complete and submit your Eligibility Assessment can be found
here.
- The Eligibility Assessment verifies completed courses and clinical experiences, as well as the required degree.
- Once all requirements in your Eligibility Assessment are approved, you can register for an upcoming exam.
Recommended References & the ACLP Child Life Certification Exam Study Guide
Here you will find a list of publications and references that the CLCC recommends candidates use to study. These are the ONLY exam preparatory materials endorsed by the CLCC and ACLP.
View the references and exam study guide
HERE.
2. Registering for the Exam
There are three testing times throughout the year (March, August, and November), and each has an associated
registration deadline. We recommend registering as soon as you are able. More details about registration, testing locations, fees, and special accommodations can be found
here.
3. Taking the Exam
The Child Life Professional Certification Examination consists of 150 multiple choice questions, and you have 4 hours to complete the exam.
- You can find a breakdown of the subjects of those questions
here.
- For recommended readings in order to study for the exam, click
here.
- The ACLP has also created a webinar discussing how to best prepare for the exam, a study guide booklet, and a 50-question practice exam with answer key that you can find
here.
These are the only resources endorsed by the ACLP, and all other study materials available have been created by independent retailers.
- For more information on what to expect on exam day, click
here.
- You will find out if you passed the exam once you have completed it.
More information and details about the certification process can be found in the
Certification Candidate Manual. Questions? Email certification@childlife.org