Student opportunities in child life

Interested in a career in child life but not sure where to start? Check out these available resources.

1. If you are interested in gaining more experience working with children and families in a pediatric healthcare setting, please visit our volunteer services website for requirements and application information.

2. To find out more information about the child life profession (education requirements, related fieldwork, student resources, requirements for certification), please visit Association of child life professionals.

3. Due to patient confidentiality and infection control, we do not offer a Job shadow experience with the child life program. We do offer a "Chat with the child life specialist" to high school seniors and college students who are actively working towards a career in child life.

• If you are a high school senior or college level student actively pursuing a career in child life, please complete the "Chat with a child life specialist" interest form
• If you have additional questions regarding the "Chat with a child life specialist" interest form, please email childlife@childrenswi.org.

The Children’s Wisconsin child life program is reviewing practicum programming and considering the best approach for offering practicum experiences. This website will be updated when practicum opportunities return.

Children's Wisconsin's child life program offers a comprehensive, hands-on internship that cultivates the knowledge and skillset required to become an entry level child life specialist. Interns who participate in this sixteen week experience (640 clinical hours) have the opportunity to develop clinical skills in preparation, procedural support, assessment, play techniques and education.

At this time, we accept interns during fall and spring semesters only. We acknowledge the potential to have to pause programming should circumstances beyond our control change. This includes but is not limited to variables such as Covid-19, staffing, etc.

• An affiliation agreement is required to be in place with the academic institution and Children’s Wisconsin. Prior to applying to a Children’s Wisconsin Child Life & Creative Arts Therapies clinical placement, please discuss and confirm with your academic coordinator that an affiliation agreement exists between your academic institution and Children’s Wisconsin.

Application process

Should you meet the aforementioned criteria and remain interested in this experience, please submit the following documents to childlife@childrenswi.org and enable the “request a read receipt” feature for confirmation of submission:

• ACLP readiness common application
• Personal philosophy on the significance of child life services in pediatric healthcare
• One letter of recommendation from your academic child life program
• Obtained valid CPR certification (required if accepted for internship)

Deadlines and acceptance dates

We follow the internship application deadlines set by the ACLP for the fall and winter/spring semesters. 

Additional information

• Interns are responsible for transportation to and from internship site
• Interns are responsible for coordinating housing arrangements