Student Practicum and Internship Programs
 Child Life Specialist Practicum and Internship Programs
Important Notice: The child life program at WakeMed will not be accepting applications in May 2013 for fall practicum or internship placements. We are working to enhance our student programming and child life programming system wide. We plan to resume accepting applications in September 2013 for spring practicum and internship placements.
Attention Out of State Applicants: The Child Life program at WakeMed is able to offer practicum and internship placements for students enrolled in colleges/universities in North Carolina and for students who attend Auburn University.
WakeMed offers Child Life internship and practicum placements three times each year (January, May, and September) for individuals interested in a career as a Child Life Specialist. All interested candidates must complete the application process. If selected an on-site interview is required.
If you are interested in learning more about child life, the Child Life Council (www.childlife.org) is a great resource.
Child Life Student Workshop
The Child Life Specialists at WakeMed offer a workshop each year for students interested in pursuing a career in child life or a related field. For more information about these workshops, please call 919-350-7166.
Our next student workshop will be in the Spring spring of 2014. Details will be available early 2014.
Practicum Placement
A practicum placement is designed to introduce the student to the field of child life, as well as a variety of experiences facing children and adolescents in the healthcare setting. A Certified Child Life Specialist will supervise students while providing and assisting with individual and group interventions with children, adolescents and families. Practicum students must have completed curriculum in child development and related course work. Students should have work and/or volunteer experience working with children. The students must also be affiliated with a university/educational institution.
A practicum placement is highly recommended and often required for those considering a Child Life Specialist career. Practicum students generally complete eight to ten hours per week for a minimum total of 120 hours. During the practicum, the student will complete three rotations; and observe interventions that support children, adolescents and their families within the healthcare system.
Practicum students will observe child life assessments, medical play, procedural preparation and coping, playroom programming, and work with volunteers. Students also develop documentation skills, participate in special events and hospital committees, and may observe trauma and bereavement support. The student will complete an orientation process and participate in ongoing guidance and evaluation by the child life staff and site supervisor.
Selection criteria include:
- Evaluation of application
- Interview
- Relevant coursework that meets the requirements for Child Life Certification (More information is available at www.childlife.org)
- Grades and GPA in relevant coursework
- A strong background of previous experience working with children
- Affiliation with an educational institution
Practicum Job Description  and Application
Internship Placement
The internship placement is for fifteen weeks (40 hours per week) for a minimum of 600 hours. It is a full-time training program designed for graduate and senior undergraduate students with majors in Child Life or a closely related degree program that are pursuing a career as a Certified Child Life Specialist. A Certified Child Life Specialist will supervise interns while providing and assisting with individual and group interventions with children, adolescents and families. Interns must have completed curriculum in child development and related course work. The student should have work and/or volunteer experience working with children. All students must be affiliated with a university/educational institution, this includes any postgraduate students.
During the internship, interns will complete three rotations; and provide supervised interventions that support children, adolescents and their families within the healthcare system. Interns will participate in and facilitate child life assessments, medical play, procedural preparation and coping, provide playroom programming, and learn to supervise volunteers. Interns also develop documentation skills, participate in special events and hospital committees, and will participate in trauma and bereavement support. The intern will complete an orientation process and participate in ongoing guidance and evaluation by the child life staff and site supervisor.
Selection criteria include:
- Evaluation of application
- Interview
- Relevant coursework that meets the requirements for Child Life Certification (More information is available at www.childlife.org)
- Grades and GPA in relevant coursework
- A strong background of previous experience working with children
- Affiliation with an educational institution
Internship Job Description
Common Child Life Internship Application , along with the WakeMed Additional Application Requirements Form
*Please note: Both the Common Child Life Internship Application and the WakeMed Additional Application Requirements Form must be completed in order for the application to be considered complete and eligible for consideration.
Child Life Resources
- Child Life Council - www.childlife.org
- Thompson, R. and Stanford, G. Child Life in Hospitals: Theory and Practice. Charles C. Thomas Publishers, 1981.
- Official Documents of the Child Life Council. Bethesda, MD: CLC, 1990.
- Gaynard, L. et., Psychosocial Care of Children in Hospitals: A Clinical Practice Manual From the ACCH Child Life Research Project. Bethesda, MD: ACCH, 1990.
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