Child Life Department | Practicum Application |
Thank you for your interest in our Child Life Practicum Program at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. The Child Life Practicum program is designed as an introductory experience for individuals interested in becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist and who have academic training in the fields of child life, child development, psychology or a related discipline.
Our practicum program is part-time for 15 weeks, totally approximately 180 hours. Students will rotate through two primary units in our healthcare system and experience a variety of learning opportunities such as observational experiences, supervised participation, and intentional assignments. Students will gain experience introducing services, developing communication skills with children in group and individual settings, and planning and implementing normative and therapeutic activities.
Practicum Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for this program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Completed a core curriculum with a minimum of junior level college coursework (minimum 60 hours). Candidates must have completed at least 4 out of the 10 required courses for exam eligibility. Please refer to the ACLP’s Academic Eligibility Requirements for pre-approved courses.
- Completed a total of 100 hours of experience with children in a structured environment (e.g., child development center, daycare, preschool, camp, etc.). Volunteer experience with hospitalized children is encouraged.
- Applicants must be able to commit to two 6-hour shifts per week over the course of 15 weeks (a minimum of 180 hours). Students are expected to be available during regular business hours. Certain individual rotations may require a practicum student to work some evenings/weekends. Schedules vary depending on supervisor schedules.
How to Apply
To apply for the Child Life Practicum, submit this application by the due date listed below. All applications must be received by the deadline at 11:59pm to be considered. Please note, application is not a guarantee of interview or acceptance. A limited number of students will be accepted each semester. The number of students accepted varies each semester due to the number of applicants and supervisor availability.
The deadlines for the spring and summer practicum are as follows:
To apply for the Child Life Practicum, submit this application by the due date listed below. All applications must be received by the deadline at 11:59pm to be considered. Please note, application is not a guarantee of interview or acceptance. A limited number of students will be accepted each semester. The number of students accepted varies each semester due to the number of applicants and supervisor availability.
The deadlines for the spring and summer practicum are as follows:
| Practicum Session | Application Deadlines | Application Review and Interviews | Offer Date | Applicant Acceptance By |
| Spring | September 15th | September - October | 1st Wednesday of November | Next Business Day |
| Summer | January 15th | January - February | 1st Wednesday of March | Next Business Day |
To begin your application, please select "Next."