Child Life Internship
Thank you for your interest in our child life internship. We believe that child life interns must practice what they have learned, through formal and informal training, hands-on clinical practice and collaboration with peers.
The online application portal is currently open for applications for the fall 2022 semester. The portal will close after 60 applicants are received. The portal will reopen on Monday, July 11th, 2022 at 12:00pm for applications for the spring 2023 semester.
Diversity Scholarship
The Association of Child Life Professionals has funding for a limited number of scholarships to help support students of diverse backgrounds and experiences during their internships. Applications are available following each internship application cycle.
Completed application details
Cook Children's accepts the first 60 completed applications received each semester.
Details about when an application is considered complete are listed below.
Direct questions to childlifestudents@cookchildrens.org
Cook Children's only accepts the first 60 completed applications received each semester. Once 60 complete applications are received, the Cook Children's online application submission portal will close. This could happen well before the identified ACLP application deadline date. The following information details the parameters that dictate when an application would be considered "complete" by our program.
- ACLP Common Internship Application
- pages 1-9 are required (optional: pp. 10-12)
- pages 13-16 may also be needed and will be uploaded into specific areas of the application portal
- page 17 is unnecessary and should not be included
- pages 18-20 will be requested of and completed by your reference electronically (see p. 3 of this packet for details)
- Cover letter
- Professional resume
- Confidentiality agreement - available in the online application submission portal
- ACLP Eligibility Assessment - see p. 3 of this packet for details
- Unofficial academic transcripts(s) verifying courses/program required by the ACLP Eligibility Assessment
Program information and requirements
- We offer comprehensive child life internship opportunities three times a year beginning in January, May, and September
- The Child Life internship is a 15-1/2 week, full-time experience (40 hours/week)
- Students will obtain 616 hours of clinical experience
- Students are expected to be available for internship during regular business hours
- Some rotations require evening and weekend coverage
- Students will complete a minimum of two rotations
- Students must complete the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) Internship Curriculum Modules and a variety of assignments
- Required immunizations
- Full Hepatitus B Series
- MMR
- TDaP
- Varicella vaccination or titer
- Influenza Immunization
- Negative Tuberculin (TB) Test
- Covid-19 vaccination
Applicant requirements
- At this point in time, Cook Children's no longer requires the child life practicum for internship applicants
- Must be at least a college senior, graduate student or college graduate
- Must have a minimum of 100 hours of direct experience interacting with typically developing children in group settings
- Must have completed a minimum of 150 hours of experience with children and families experiencing stress, crisis or trauma
- Validation of coursework
- Completed Association of Child Life Professionals Eligibility Assessment indicating "passed" in all coursework requirements
- Unofficial transcripts are accepted
- Additional requirements specific to our internship program are outlined in the Clinical Internship Application Packet
Application information
The online application portal will open January 25 at 12:00 p.m. Central time to receive application submissions for the fall 2022 semester.
- Consideration for internship requires the student submit a complete application and meet our program's minimum requirements
- Submitting a complete application does not guarantee a student an interview or internship placement
- Paper applications are not considered
- The first 60 complete applications will be reviewed
- The application portal will close once 60 complete applications have been received
- Provide your reference names and contact information in the application portal
- References will receive a request via email to complete an electronic reference on your behalf. The electronic reference mirrors the ACLP reference form
Application Links and Resources
Clinical Internship Application Packet Child Life Internship Application Submission Portal Association of Child Life Professionals Common Internship Application Association of Child Life Professionals Eligibility Assessment
Internship application, offer and acceptance dates
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Internship SessionReference DeadlineInitial Offer DateAcceptance Date2nd Offer Date
-
Fall 2022
(Sept – Dec)March 15, 2022
11:59 p.m.May 3, 2022
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Central timeMay 4, 2022
No later than 4 p.m.
Central timeMay 5, 2022
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Central time -
Spring 2023
(Jan – April)Sept. 5, 2022
11:59 p.m.October 11, 2022
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Central timeOctober 12, 2022
No later than 4 p.m.
Central timeOctober 13, 2022
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Central time
Interview dates
All interviews will be conducted virtually via Zoom.
- Fall 2022 - Wednesday, April 27, 2022
- Spring 2023 - Thursday, October 6, 2022
Questions?
Please email us at ChildLifeStudents@cookchildrens.org.