Becoming Certified/Eligibility

To earn the Certified Child Life Specialist credential, candidates must successfully complete the Child Life Professional Certification Examination.

Applicants must establish eligibility for the exam, documenting the completion of all the requirements that are in effect at the time of their exam application.

Certification is never granted without documentation of all components of eligibility and the successful completion of the examination.

There are also requirements for maintaining certification, once it has been granted.

ACLP Video: Eligibility Assessment 101

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements for the certification exam include:

Eligibility Assessment

To begin, all applicants must complete an Eligibility Assessment to track their progress toward satisfying the requirements.

Step-by-step instructions for completing the Eligibility Assessment can be found by clicking here.

Please note that students who have graduated from or are enrolled in an ACLP-endorsed academic program must contact the ACLP office at certification@childlife.org in order to start their Eligibility Assessment.