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How do i become a child life specialist


Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements

To establish eligibility for the Child Life Professional Certification Exam, applicants must successfully complete and document each of the following requirements.  All requirements must be met and documented via the Eligibility Assessment by the registration deadline for the exam administration for which the applicant is applying.

Individuals who established eligibility prior to January 1, 2019, must re-establish eligibility under the current requirements including the completion of a new Eligibility Assessment.

Bachelor's Degree Requirement

A bachelor's degree (in any field of study) from an academic institution accredited by an organization that is recognized by either the US Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation or the international equivalent. Must be completed and documented on or before the registration deadline for the desired exam date.  

Coursework

  • Child Life Course Taught by a CCLS
  • 2 Child Development Courses
  • Family Systems Course
  • Play Course
  • Loss/Bereavement or Death/Dying Course
  • Research Course
  • Three Additional Courses

IMPORTANT: Click Here for Required Coursework Details

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.

A minimum of one full course must be completed for each of the required areas of study. (A minimum of two courses are required for the child development requirement.)

For a course to count, the required content must be the primary focus of the course.

All points within the Required Content section of each course must be covered within the course.

Applicants are required to submit university-generated course descriptions when applying for an Eligibility Assessment.

Applicants must be prepared to provide university-generated syllabi, if requested.

Each course may satisfy only one of the requirements; none can be applied to meet two or more of these required courses. For example, a child life course that addresses play may not be used to fulfill both the child life course and the play course requirements. It may be used to meet the child life course OR the play course requirement, but not both.

Click here for more important additional details about the required coursework.

600-Hour Child Life Clinical Internship

Applicants must complete a minimum of 600 hours of a child life clinical internship under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist.

Supervisor Qualifications

To be eligible to supervise internship hours, a CCLS must:

  1. Maintain professional child life certification throughout the supervisory period
  2. Have a minimum of 4,000 hours of paid child life clinical experience prior to the start of the supervisory period
  3. Take responsibility for the educational development and guidance of the candidate in the clinical setting


A list of all Accredited Internship Programs can be found here.  

ACLP members also have access to search for an internship using the Internship Directory found here.

Verification of Requirements

All applicants must provide documentation of the successful completion of the eligibility requirements.

Learn More

Certification

Eligibility Assessment

To establish eligibility for the Child Life Professional Certification Exam, applicants must successfully complete and document each of the eligibility requirements.  All applicants must complete an Eligibility Assessment prior to registering for the exam. 

Applicants can expect to see their online profile updated within 3 weeks of the receipt of documentation at the ACLP office.  Please factor in this turnaround time when planning the submission of internship applications or registration for the exam.

Eligibility Assessment Fee:  $80.00 USD

  

Instructions

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

Step #1: Request and Pay for the Eligibility Assessment

  1. Log in or create a new customer record
  2. From the Customer Profile in the upper left hand-corner, click the small icon with 3 horizontal bars.
  3. Select Start an Eligibility Assessment - NEW!
  4. Click on Create New Collection.
  5. Click on Next.
  6. Select Credit Card from the drop-down menu for Payment Options.
  7. Select the appropriate credit card type from the drop-down menu for Payment Type.
  8. Click I'm not a robot.
  9. Click Submit.
  10. Enter your credit card information and click on Submit.
  11. Save your credit card information, if desired, and click Save.
  12. Click on the link to return to the dashboard.

Please Note: You must submit an official transcript before your degree and coursework will be reviewed.

Step #2: Enter Academic and Internship Information

To complete the eligibility assessment, you must complete each of the following three parts.  However, if you have not yet completed all the requirements, you may enter some information and return later to enter the other parts.

Please note: you must submit an official transcript before your degree and coursework will be reviewed

From the Customer Profile in the upper left hand-corner, click the small icon with 3 horizontal bars. 

Part 1: Click on Enter degree and courses for review

Applicants must enter their degree and each course to be reviewed. 

Applicants must submit an official transcript documenting the successful completion of the degree and courses before they will be reviewed.   Click here for additional information about submitting transcripts.

Applicants must enter college/university-generated course descriptions. 

Once your academic information has been reviewed, the Evaluation Report (in your profile, click on Certification Application Status to locate) will show which courses were approved and allow you to monitor your progress toward establishing eligibility. This report may be printed and shared with internship coordinators and others.

Part 2: Click on Enter child life course information for verification

Applicants must complete the online process or submit the Child Life Course Verification Form AND submit an official transcript documenting the successful completion of the course before it will be reviewed. Click here for additional information about submitting transcripts.

Part 3: Click on Enter clinical experience information for verification

Applicants must complete the online process or submit the Child Life Course Verification Form to document a minimum of 600 hours of child life internship under the direct supervision of a CCLS.

Step #3: Submit Documentation 


Applicants must submit supporting documentation for each of the requirements as described on the Verification of Requirements page. 

Review of your information will not begin until we receive your supporting documents.

For full details on the process of becoming certified, please see the Candidate Manual.

Submitting Your Results to 3rd Parties


Many internship programs require the submission of the Eligibility Assessment results. You may also wish to supply this information to other third parties. To do so:

Microsoft Users
On the evaluation report page, press CTRL+P.
For Destination, select Microsoft Print to PDF
Click on Print
Save the file which can then be shared as you wish

Mac Users
On the evaluation report page, press COMMAND+P.
For Destination, select Print to PDF
Click on Print
Save the file which can then be shared as you wish

Contact Us:

Email: certification@childlife. org

ACLP/CLCC
7600 Leesburg Pike
Suite 200 West
Falls Church, VA 22043

Fax: 571-483-4482

How to Become a Child Life Specialist • BUOM

Child Life Specialists work directly with children and their families during difficult times in their lives. If a child is sick or has experienced a traumatic event, a child life specialist can offer support and care. If you enjoy working with children, being a child life specialist can be fulfilling because you can be a positive influence on them. In this article, we will look at what a child life specialist is, what they do, how to become one, and what is the salary of a child life specialist.

What is a child life specialist?

Child life specialist is a healthcare professional who helps children and their families cope with illness, injury, or hospitalization. They usually work as part of a team that may include chaplains, nurses, social workers, and doctors. Child life specialists are health professionals who deal with the psychosocial needs of a child. They work to educate caregivers, the public and other professionals about the impact of high stress on children, general child health issues, and other topics related to children.

Where does the child specialist work?

Child life professionals often work with early intervention programs, community programs and bereavement groups, and some even visit children at home. Child life specialists may also work in the emergency room to provide mental health care for anxious children facing trauma or illness. While pediatricians treat children, they often rely on a child life specialist to help children and their families alleviate emotional trauma. They work in various conditions such as:

  • hospitals

  • Hospice programs

  • Medical clinics

  • Dental rooms

  • Camps

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    One of the benefits of working as a child life specialist is the variety of daily responsibilities. The responsibilities of child life specialists fall into three categories:

    Working directly with children

    The primary focus of a Child Life Specialist with Children is to support a child's mental, emotional and social needs. They can soothe a child before, during, and after a medical procedure. They do not provide direct medical care and do not prepare them for a medical procedure. Child life professionals can use play sessions to help children understand what happens when they have undergone major surgery, injury, or illness. A child life specialist can provide psychological help to children who have experienced a terminal illness or the death of a family member.

    Working with the child's family

    Child life specialists can work with families, providing prehospital and preoperative tours to soothe their fears. The specialist can explain the results of medical tests or answer questions about medical procedures the family may need. They also support the siblings of a sick child through basic counseling or therapy play to help them cope with their sibling's treatment.

    Educate the public

    Child life specialists educate the public on how to help children who have experienced violence or trauma. A child life specialist can teach community leaders and other child care professionals to watch for signs of depression, post-traumatic stress, or anxiety. They can also help communities develop and coordinate therapeutic interventions.

    How to become a child life specialist

    Here are seven steps to become a child life specialist:

    1. Get a bachelor's degree

    To become a child life specialist, you can earn a bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology, child development or human development. The content of the degree focuses on documentation, child development, communication, medical terminology, therapeutic play, and family care. Additional courses in expressive therapy, family dynamics, therapeutic relaxation, and cultural diversity may also be helpful.

    2. Earn a master's degree

    Although a master's degree is not a requirement to become a child life specialist, earning a master's degree can provide you with hands-on training and help you be more competitive in the job market. A master's degree usually takes at least two years after completing a bachelor's degree.

    3. Complete an Internship

    You must complete a 480-600 hour Supervised Internship to qualify as a Certified Child Life Specialist. Your internship supervisor must have at least 4,000 hours of paid child life clinical experience and a valid child life certificate. The internship provides hands-on experience in a variety of settings, such as a children's hospital, a pediatric burn center, or specialized camping programs for children diagnosed with diabetes, cancer, or another disease.

    4. Get certified

    There are professional organizations and associations that offer a variety of courses to help you qualify as a child life specialist. Certification exams take place throughout the year and often include multiple-choice questions to test knowledge and experience gained through internships and degrees.

    5. Recertify every five years

    The Child Life Specialist certification remains valid for five years. After five years, you need to re-certify by retaking an exam or taking continuing education courses. You can earn professional development units through supervised internships or courses.

    6. Decide on a specialization

    Child life specialists can remain generalist and work with a range of patients, but there are opportunities to specialize in working with specific types of patients such as emergency room patients, cardiac patients, or outpatient surgery patients.

    7. Decide on your career aspirations

    Child life specialists can work with patients throughout their career. Promotion opportunities exist for child life professionals interested in leadership and team management positions.

    Average salary

    The salary of child life specialists depends on their experience and education, as well as the location of the position you are applying for. Most child life specialists work full-time, but there are also contract positions. The average annual salary for a child life specialist is $51,418 per year.

    Advantages and disadvantages of being a child life specialist

    Becoming a child specialist has many advantages and disadvantages, for example:

    Benefits

    Benefits of working as a Child Life Specialist include:

    • Job Locations: Child care professionals can work in a variety of settings where children need support, such as hospitals, funeral homes or courtrooms.

    • Personal Satisfaction: Helping children who are traumatized or suffering from illness can be emotionally rewarding for a child life specialist when they see their patient doing well.

    • Various job responsibilities. The tasks of child life specialists vary depending on the context in which they are located, but they may act as an advocate for children's needs, provide information to families, or develop age-appropriate support strategies for children in need.

    • Be part of a team: Child life professionals often work with a multidisciplinary medical team to support a child and family.

    Disadvantages

    There are disadvantages to becoming a child life specialist. This includes:

    • Emotional stress: Child life professionals may work with terminally ill children and this can cause significant emotional stress for the specialist.

    • Competition: The labor market for child life specialists is very competitive. You may need to complete degrees and specializations to increase your competitive edge when applying for a position.

    How to Become a Child Life Specialist • BUOM

    When children must be hospitalized due to injury or serious illness, child life specialists in health care facilities help these patients and their families relieve stress and anxiety. These professionals focus on improving the quality of life and outcomes of children in the hospital setting. In this article, you will learn how to become a child life specialist and explore the requirements and expectations for this role.

    What is a child life specialist?

    Certified Child Life Specialist helps reduce the anxiety and stress children and families may experience when seeking medical care. This person contributes to effective coping with preparation, learning, and play to support the child's healthy development. Consider the interventions provided by child life specialists:

    • Medical Game

    • Preparation for analyzes, procedures and operations

    • Brave

    • Developing game

    • Support for Patients

    • Preoperative tours 9000

    • Emo 9000 9000 9

    • Family and child support

    Responsibilities of a child life specialist

    Individuals in this career should consider the following responsibilities:

    Relieve psychological discomfort

    Child life professionals focus on reducing anxiety and building confidence in their clients before they receive medical care. They use a variety of strategies to alleviate discomfort in families, depending on the needs and age of the patients. For example, children aged 4-6 who receive medical care often become anxious beforehand. A professional in this field can order parents to comfort their babies, joke and play with them to alleviate psychological discomfort.

    Help children understand medical procedures

    An older child going into medical procedures such as surgery may have something they want to know about medical procedures. The child life specialist can discuss and listen to the client's concerns. These professionals distract children with stories, books, or television to prepare them for medical procedures. While their strategies focus on increasing education and easing anxiety, they can also use similar strategies after a child has had surgery and other major procedures to help them cope with pain.

    Caregivers and Parents Comfort

    The work of a child life specialist goes beyond alleviating discomfort, and they help the caregiver deal with the concerns of a child's medical procedures. They also communicate with parents to comfort them when their children are undergoing major medical procedures. They may work with caregivers, children, and parents individually or together as a unit to comfort them.

    Help patients understand the treatment process

    Even when a child is not on the treatment list, child life specialists discuss current procedures with children in the hospital. It may be their parents who are undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy and it is necessary that the children know what is happening. In addition to discussing problems, children need someone to comfort them when their parents go through major medical procedures. Thus, the pediatric specialist will discuss the specifics with the children in order to better understand what is happening in the medical facility.

    Help children adjust to change

    Children in treatment may experience various challenges in hospitals and feel like they are in a new environment. The child life specialist's job is to communicate with clients and provide caregivers or parents with guidance on how to adjust. They may also refer children, parents, or caregivers to therapists if they find it difficult to adjust to change. Some child life specialists may work with outpatient facilities to continue caring for parents and children until they adjust to the changes.

    Provide assistance during treatment

    Child life specialists are not responsible for directly providing medication or medical care to patients, such as physically preparing a child for medical procedures. Sometimes pediatricians may need child life specialists to help them manage patients during care or after patients receive treatment.

    Child Advocate

    Most child life professionals discuss and listen to issues that children and parents have to do with health care. They can use the information they receive to inform pediatricians about how they can treat patients. They also represent other questions families may raise before, during, and after medical procedures. A child life specialist can provide useful information to pediatricians before they begin the treatment process.

    Build confidence

    A child life specialist can use play therapy to help children relieve pain, manage anxiety, and build confidence during and after treatment. Plays intended for young patients, such as stuffed animals, medical equipment, and dolls, help explain hospitalization, diagnosis, medication, and treatment.

    The multi-faceted responsibility of the child care professional is to meet the unique needs of the child, which may change during the course of care. They assess children and their needs beyond health care and insurance and develop age-appropriate support strategies.

    Create a safe environment

    Child life specialists advocate for children and their families. Managing child care and determining the right care strategy can be a challenge if families cannot share their concerns. It can also be difficult for younger patients to talk about their illnesses, and child life specialists can create a safe environment for children and families to share their concerns.

    These professionals help families and children acclimate to the new health care environment and are focused on making sterile hospitals feel normal and warm. In addition to creating a safe medical environment, they increase their confidence that medical procedures will be more comfortable.

    Develop a care strategy

    Creating a care strategy requires the professional to deal with the complexities of care, injury, disability, illness and hospitalization. Child life specialists should monitor the progress of patients' surgeries, cancer treatments, and note successful medical services.

    Child Life Specialists provide quality care to their clients, including infants, primary school children, young adults and toddlers. They may also work alongside social workers and coordinate medical procedures with doctors, surgeons, and nurses.

    Skills to Become a Child Life Specialist

    Those who aspire to pursue a career in child life specialist should possess the following basic skills and qualities:

    • act as mentors to others. They should also show leadership skills to newcomers to the field and how to become successful professionals in the field of child life.

    • Communication: Focus on improving your communication strategies and styles to meet the needs of both caregivers and children. Acquiring excellent communication skills can make treatment procedures effective.

    • Attention: Listen and involve children and their families before discussing problems and asking relevant questions.

    • Interpersonal relationships: Developing collaborative relationships with caregivers and clients can improve the effectiveness of services provided in a health facility.

    • Organizational: Managing group and organizational dynamics to create the best patient care strategy in the workplace.

    • Flexibility: Adjust your schedule to accommodate other important events or your organization's plans. You can include patients with urgent problems in your program and ensure that all of your client's medical needs are met.

    • Compassion: Prioritize your clients and help both the patient and the facility find solutions to a child's problems.

    How to Become a Child Life Specialist

    If serving children and families is satisfying, here's how to become a Child Life Specialist:

    1. Get a Bachelor's Degree

    Those who want to become a child care specialist must continue education and earn a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies. They will acquire the knowledge necessary to build a foundation for a career and understand how to create a safe environment for children to overcome illness.

    This core education program includes community and family partnerships, social sciences, family law, advocacy, critical thinking, and politics. A child life specialist may study counseling, health professionals, adolescent psychology and development, learning and play.

    2. Become Certified

    You can complete your bachelor's degree in human development and family studies with the Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) certification from the Association of Child Life Specialists (ACLP). Those who wish to take the CCLS exams must have a bachelor's degree in a related field and have completed an ACLP-accredited academic child life program. They must also complete a 600 hour Child Life Clinical Internship in order to be certified. Professional bodies, including the ACLP, have progressive education requirements to keep your certification.

    3. Get real experience

    Aspiring child life professionals should participate in volunteer programs and join internship programs that offer real experience. Employers hire candidates who have completed a pediatric internship under the supervision of a certified child life specialist. Volunteer work allows students to test their skills as a child life specialist and develop the organizational and communication skills that are essential elements of this career.

    4. Find a job

    Once you have received the requirements for this career, you can start this job. Many firms and medical institutions are demanding more child life specialists to work for them as the number of patients seeking medical care is expected to rise.

    Learn more