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 11^th, 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

Internship Session

Reference Deadline

Initial Offer Date

Acceptance Date

2nd Offer Date
Fall 2022
(Sept – Dec)

March 15, 2022
11:59 p.m.

May 3, 2022
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Central time

May 4, 2022
No later than 4 p.m.
Central time

May 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 time

October 12, 2022
No later than 4 p.m.
Central time

October 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.