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 be considered, applicants must submit all six required application components together in a single email. Applications may only be submitted once. Incomplete applications cannot be updated or resubmitted, so please review your materials carefully before sending.

Additional documents (including hour verifications or letters of recommendation) should not be included and will not be reviewed. Applications missing any of the required components will not be considered.

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. Erikson Institute
9. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
10. Ithaca College
11. Juniata College
12. Messiah University
13. Miami University Ohio
14. Nova Southeastern University, Inc.
15. Ohio University
16. Penn State University
17. Pennsylvania Western University
18. Slippery Rock University
19. Texas Woman’s University
20. Towson University
21. University of La Verne
22. University of Pittsburgh
23. University of Southern California
24. Villanova University
25. Western Michigan University