Child Life Internship

 

We have selected our practicum students for summer 2026. Please check back at the beginning of 2027 for information regarding the Summer 2027 practicum. 

The child life practicum is a 3 to 4-week dedicated time of observation and interaction within the health care setting where qualified students gain practical knowledge about the child life profession.

The primary goal of Le Bonheur’s child life practicum program is to provide an opportunity for students to evaluate the strengths and limitations of their current knowledge and to broaden their understanding of the child life profession.

The practicum is designed to facilitate the student’s growth as a professional by allowing observation of the daily work of a Certified Child Life Specialist. Students will have the opportunity to become familiar with the various roles of a Certified Child Life Specialist, including, but not limited to, medical play, normalization, procedural preparation and support. In addition, students will plan and supervise developmentally appropriate activities while working with individuals and groups.

Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed. The submission of an application does not guarantee placement. Acceptance is based on program capacity and the qualifications of all applicants. Candidates moving forward in the interview process will be notified by email, which will detail the next steps. Initial practicum offers will be made via telephone call. Candidates who are not selected will receive notification by email.

For those seeking pre-internship experiences within a hospital setting, check out our volunteer programs.

 

To inquire about opportunities to job shadow a child life specialist, check out our job shadowing information. To connect with a job shadowing supervisor, please email child.life@lebonheur.org. 

Hospitals and academic programs in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee will be participating in the Southeastern Association of Child Life Professionals (SEACLP) match program for the Spring 2027 cycle. The match program is an effort to enhance the child life internship application process for all stakeholders. Our child life program has chosen to participate in the match program, and therefore, we will only be accepting applications from matriculating students affiliated with one of the participating academic programs. Outside of the match program, our child life program will not be taking interns for the Spring of 2027. For a list of hospitals and universities participating in the pilot, visit the SEACLP Instagram page @SEACLP.  

Our child life internship program is a 6-month, paid internship opportunity that will give students practical, intensive experiences in the child life profession. Under the guidance of Certified Child Life Specialists, interns participate in the development and implementation of therapeutic, educational and recreational activities for patients and their families. Interns will be given exposure in a variety of settings to promote optimal growth and development as they transition from student to professional. This is accomplished through exposure to inpatient, outpatient, and critical care units as the student makes the transition from building foundational skills to practicing these skills independently. Additionally, with rolling start dates, our goal is for there to be an added layer of peer-to-peer student support and opportunities for connection with other interns throughout the internship experience.