Child Life Internship Program

If you're interested in learning more about the Child Life field, we encourage you to visit the ACLP website to gain a deeper understanding before applying.

Our internship program is open to both bachelor’s and master’s-level students currently enrolled in a program focused on becoming a Child Life Specialist. The program follows a three-semester calendar cycle. To apply, students must submit their application according to the recommended application and offer dates set by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). Be sure to consult the Internship Deadlines for each semester.

For legal compliance, applicants must be actively enrolled in an academic program at the time of application and remain enrolled throughout the internship. A letter from your academic advisor confirming your enrollment is required. Applications from individuals not affiliated with an academic institution will not be considered.

The UPMC Children’s internship program is highly competitive with a limited number of positions available, so we cannot guarantee an interview or placement. Qualified candidates will be invited for interviews after a thorough review of their applications. If you have any questions or need additional information, please don't hesitate to reach out to the designated contacts.

Lindsay Bromberg, MS, CCLS, CIMI
Child Life Internship Coordinator
412-864-8140
Email: ChildLifeInternship@upmc.edu

Mike Shulock, MS, CCLS
Internship Coordination Team Member
412-692-6100
Email: ChildLifeInternship@upmc.edu

Lauryn Rozum, MS, CCLS
Internship Coordination Team Member
412-864-7271
Email: ChildLifeInternship@upmc.edu

Student placements in Child Life are closely supervised by Certified Child Life Specialists who follow ACLP guidelines and implement the ACLP Clinical Internship Curriculum. To provide a well-rounded learning experience, regular supervision meetings are held, and interns have access to a variety of professional in-service programs. Participation in lectures, seminars, rounds, conferences, and other relevant meetings is essential. Throughout the internship, students will complete multiple assignments and projects. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the certification exam, meeting the requirements set by the Child Life Certifying Committee.

Our internship program provides valuable experience, though it is an unpaid opportunity. Students will complete two rotations, each lasting eight weeks. They are expected to work 40 hours per week for a total of 16 weeks, with schedules based on their assigned clinical rotation supervisor. This may involve working 8, 10, or 12-hour shifts, including weekends.

Please note that submitting an application to our program does not guarantee you an interview.

Required components of your application:

1. ACLP Internship Readiness Application.
2. A current, unofficial transcript from your current college or university demonstrating a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Do not send transcripts from schools you are no longer attending.
3. ACLP Eligibility Assessment Report: In-progress coursework will be considered; however, we require confirmation of successful completion by the first day of internship.
4. Applicants must complete at least 100 hours in a healthcare setting. While we value both paid and unpaid experiences in and outside of healthcare as important for internship readiness, this requirement ensures direct exposure to healthcare environments.
5. A letter from your academic supervisor proving your affiliation to your college/university for the duration of the internship session.
   Please refer to this sample letter.
6. A current resume that highlights your education and any relevant experiences, especially those related to child life or working with children and families.

To ensure a smooth application process, please include all six required components in one email. Additional materials such as hour verifications, or recommendation letters should not be submitted. Applications missing any required components will not be reviewed, so double-check your submission before sending.

Please email your complete application as a PDF to: ChildLifeInternship@upmc.edu.

The following are prerequisites after acceptance into the program and are to be completed before the first day:

1. Required readings PRIOR to the start of the internship:
• Bolig, Rosemary., Mahan, Carmel., Rollins, Judy. (2017). Meeting Children's Psychosocial Needs Across the Health-Care Continuum (2nd ed.), Pro-ed, Austin, TX
• Thompson, Richard. (2018). The Handbook of Child Life, A Guide for Pediatric Psychosocial Care (2nd ed.), Charles C. Thomas, Publisher. Springfield, IL.
2. A signed master agreement for internship participation between UPMC and college/university.
3. An advisor's plan for communicating with the Child Life Internship Coordinators during the internship period, i.e. observations, conferences, correspondence.
4. Documentation of valid CPR certification by the American Heart Association.
5. Health Requirements:
• Students must be in good health before beginning the internship. 
• A health screening with documentation of:
• Two-Step PPD/TB reading or QuantiFERON/T-spot blood test.
• Tdap Vaccine.
• Annual Influenza Vaccine (Flu Shot).
• Covid Vaccines.
• Bloodwork titers for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella.
• 2 doses of Varicella Vaccine or Varicella Bloodwork Titer or Documentation by Physician for history of disease.
• Hepatitis B Vaccines series.
6. Security Clearances: Students MUST comply with the Pennsylvania Acts 33, 34, and 73 requirements (Child Abuse, Criminal Background, and FBI clearances). This paperwork can be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Proof of all clearances MUST be submitted to the Internship Coordinator before the start of the internship, including Act 73 fingerprinting, www.identogo.com.

To complete a child life internship at our hospital, students must be affiliated with a college or university. Due to the length of time required to establish new affiliation agreements, we are only accepting applications from institutions with which we currently have agreements in place. Applications from students attending schools not on this approved list will not be reviewed. This policy helps ensure a smooth and timely internship process for all involved.

List of schools:

1. American Public University
2. Auburn University
3. Azusa Pacific University
4. Bowling Green State University
5. Community College of Allegheny County
6. East Carolina University
7. Eastern Michigan University
8. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
9. Ithaca College
10. Juniata College
11. Messiah University
12. Miami University Ohio
13. Nova Southeastern University, Inc.
14. Ohio University
15. Penn State University
16. Pennsylvania Western University
17. Slippery Rock University
18. Texas Woman’s University
19. Towson University
20. University of La Verne
21. University of Pittsburgh
22. University of Southern California
23. Villanova University
24. Western Michigan University