How to Become a Child Life Specialist

A child life specialist works in hospitals to help children understand medical procedures and diagnoses through play therapy, accompanies them through those procedures, and offers psychological and emotional support to them and their families.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• SAT Preparation Books
• Academic Counselings
• College Catalogs
• College Guides
• Career Counseling
• Postage Stamps
• Envelopes

1. Apply to a four-year college that offers solid foundations in psychology, education or child development. Some colleges offer a bachelor's degree in child life.

2. Find a part-time job that involves children. Look for work with your city parks and recreation department or as a summer camp counselor.

3. Volunteer in a hospital or clinic that employs a child life specialist. This is where you will obtain most of your experience, and it will be an important item on your résumé.

4. Apply for certification if it is mandatory in your state. Find out about child life certification in your state by contacting The Child Life Council, 11820 Parklawn Drive #3202, Rockville, MD. You must complete either an internship or a certain number of hours volunteering in a child life program to become certified.

5. Earn a master's degree in child life if you would eventually like to manage a program or be a director of child life, although some hospitals will accept a complementing degree in child development, therapeutic recreation or child psychology.

6. On your résumé and in your interviews, emphasize your previous hospital experience. Look for work in big cities, because most child life programs are located at large medical centers.

Tips & Warnings

• You must be emotionally stable to work with critically ill children and their families.
• Learn basic medical terminology.
• Fluency in a foreign language such as Spanish is very helpful.
• Be willing to relocate.
• There are not many child life specialist positions in existence. Be prepared to wait for an opening or to write a grant to start your own program at a hospital without a current child life program.

[capx197]

on 6/29/2009 5* but you can work at home-Here is some great affiliate sites if you want to make some extra online MONEY affiliatesforyou.yolasite.com

[Cyclone08]

on 2/18/2007 Can you explain the exam in more detail? What are the questions like? Does it cost any money? Does it vary from state to state?

[Gavin]

on 12/1/2006 one thing- to become a Certified Child Life Speciailist you have to complete a full internship and complete a comprehensive exam offered by the Child Life Council. Volunteer experience, no matter how extensive, is not sufficient for certification.