Student Programming

Child Life at Phoenix Children’s offers an experiential practicum program for those interested in pursuing a career as a child life specialist. This practicum aligns with the Association of Child Life Professionals’ (ACLP) 2013 Practicum Task Force recommendations.

Over the course of the practicum, students will:

• Become acquainted with the hospital environment
• Shadow both child life specialists and child life assistants
• Learn why play is an important part of helping hospitalized children cope
• Learn how to prepare children for procedures, teach effective coping techniques and engage patients in therapeutic play

The practicum program is six weeks and requires students to spend a minimum of 120 hours in the hospital. Shifts are scheduled on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., with shifts and times changing throughout the summer based on staff schedules and availability.

Typically, in a two-week period, students will spend either four 10-hour shifts or five 8-hour shifts at the hospital. We offer the practicum during the summer semester only.

To qualify for the Child Life practicum, you must:

• Attend college.
  • Complete a minimum of 50 college credit hours.
  • Be in progress (or have completed) a bachelor’s degree in child life, child development, human development and family studies, psychology or a closely related field.
  • Have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Take a child life course.
  • Use the ACLP Academic Program Directory to find schools offering a CCLS course.
  • Complete a child life class taught by a certified child life specialist.
• Complete a minimum of five classes in one of the following or a related field:
  • Child life
  • Child development
  • Death or dying
  • Family systems
  • Loss or bereavement
  • Play
  • Psychology

For more detailed information, visit ACLP Coursework Guidelines for Certification.

• Have experience with children in a medical setting.
  • Spend a minimum of six months working or volunteering with children in any setting.
  • Spend a minimum of 50 hours working or volunteering directly with children in a medical setting, such as a hospital, clinic or medical camp.
• Have CPR certification.
  • Receive CPR certification from any certifying organization, such as the Red Cross or the American Heart Association (you can complete this certification at the time you apply).

To apply for the practicum, follow these steps:

1. Gather all listed materials in one envelope. Do not send items separately. Only include required items:
   • A completed Phoenix Children’s Practicum Application (Word)
   • Your resume with all relevant experiences and number of hours you’ve worked
   • College or University transcripts with cumulative GPA (can be unofficial transcripts or photocopies)
   • A letter from your employer or supervisor verifying time spent working or volunteering with children in any setting
   • A letter from your employer or supervisor verifying time spent working or volunteering with children in a medical setting
   • Two letters of recommendation from the past year with at least one letter from someone who has observed you working directly with children (letters should be in a sealed, author-initialed envelope)
   • A copy of your current CPR certification card
2. Mail completed application packets to:
   
   Child Life Department – Practicum Committee
   Phoenix Children’s Hospital
   1919 East Thomas Road
   Phoenix, Arizona 85016

During the Child Life internship, interns prepare for a career as a child life specialist. The internship aligns with recommendations from the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) and consists of three rotations in our inpatient and outpatient units.

Through hands-on clinical experiences under the supervision of experienced certified child life specialists, students will:

• Build critical thinking and clinical skills
• Participate in ongoing education, reflective activities, case studies and projects
• Prepare to sit for the Child Life Certification Exam

The Child Life internship is a rigorous, 600-hour, 15-week program.

We accept both affiliated and non-affiliated internship applicants. To qualify, you must meet these requirements:

• Education: Be enrolled in an ACLP-endorsed degree program (bachelor’s or master’s) OR have successfully completed 10 courses in content areas specified by the ACLP prior to your internship start date. See ACLP Coursework Guidelines for Certification for more information.
• Practicum: Complete a child life practicum supervised by a certified child life specialist in a hospital setting. The practicum may be in progress as of the application deadline, with offers conditional upon successful completion of the practicum. If the practicum is virtual, you must have more than 100 hours of child life hospital volunteer experience or work as a child life assistant. Work experience as a child life assistant may be accepted in lieu of a practicum.
• CPR: Receive current CPR certification from any certifying organization, such as the Red Cross or the American Heart Association. We require proof of certification prior to your internship start date.

At Phoenix Children’s, we follow the application, offer and acceptance guidelines from ACLP. You must submit applications by the deadlines outlined on the Child Life Certification website. To apply for the Child Life internship, follow these steps:

1. Complete the Internship Readiness Common Application fillable PDF on the ACLP website. The application requests transcripts and a completed ACLP Eligibility Assessment. The assessment can be in progress while you apply, but you must complete all coursework before the internship start date.
2. Submit the completed application online.
3. Receive a notification during the selection window (between the application deadline and the initial offer date). You may be contacted to schedule an interview. If you aren’t selected for an interview, you’ll receive an email letting you know.

Use ACLP resources to learn more about the internship application process: 

• ACLP Internship Readiness Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs)
• ACLP Internship Readiness Common Application Video Guide
• ACLP Language Associated with the Internship Readiness Common Application

Through shadowing and supervision, music therapy students learn and practice applying basic music therapy skills to address physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual goals.

Students are accepted to the practicum on a semester basis. They’re typically onsite for two hours per week for 10 weeks.

Phoenix Children’s currently partners with Arizona State University’s Music Therapy program. Institutions interested in partnering with our program to place practicum students can email us at CLinternship [at] phoenixchildrens.com (CLinternship[at]phoenixchildrens[dot]com).

Arizona State University students should work directly with their program faculty and advisors for practicum placement at Phoenix Children’s.