Child Life Pre-Internship Experiences

Pre-internship experiences offer students considering a career as a child life specialist the chance to hone their knowledge and skills working with children and families before applying for a child life internship.

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals offers two pre-internship experiences: a hands-on practicum offered through Child Life Services (details below) and volunteer opportunities available through Volunteer Services.

Students must meet several requirements to qualify for the practicum. The application process differs depending on whether you're applying for a practicum at our San Francisco or Oakland campus.

Jump to application information:

• San Francisco program
• Oakland program

Our child life programs

Practicum (San Francisco)

Our Child Life Practicum program is committed to providing meaningful education and training for prospective child life professionals. This 10-week course of study (totaling 100 to 120 hours) is organized to give students insight on and exposure to the profession and help them understand the unique needs of hospitalized children and their families.

The program includes two rotations and is modeled after the Association of Child Life Professionals' pre-internship modules.

Each module includes:

• Clinical learning goals and objectives
• Knowledge, skills and abilities
• Case study
• Foundational and supplemental resources
• Activities
• Next steps for further learning.

Module 1: Professional development

Clinical learning goals: Develop professional skills, including building therapeutic relationships, self-care, communication, ethics and reflective practices (such as daily journaling), to support growth and self-awareness.

Module 2: Observation

Clinical learning goals: Observe child life practices, documenting real-world responsibilities of child life specialists and interactions with children and families.

Module 3: Theory of practice

Clinical learning goals: Apply developmental theory to the work, understanding how children and families respond to stress and observing services that meet developmental needs and support needs.

Module 4: Diversity, equity and inclusion

Clinical learning goals: Reflect on personal beliefs and their impact on practice. Develop inclusive play activities that respect differences in race, identity and community.

Module 5: Power of play

Clinical learning goals: Explore the role of developmentally appropriate play in helping children cope with stress, and gain skills to facilitate play in various settings.

This structured practicum offers the hands-on experience needed to move toward becoming a certified child life specialist.

Requirements:

• Complete our online practicum application.
• Provide proof of completion of introductory child life theory course.
• Provide college transcripts.
• Provide name of academic reference.

Due dates for applications:

• Spring: Dec. 1
• Summer: April 1
• Fall: Aug. 1

Note: Our fall 2026 program is full.

If chosen, the participant must:

• Obtain health clearance, with proof of immunizations and an up-to-date tuberculosis (TB) test.
• Provide a photo ID.
• Provide an affiliation agreement with the university or private liability insurance. (Students do not have to be affiliated with UCSF.)
• Turn in weekly journals, complete assignments and present a case study.

Volunteer

There are many ways to volunteer through Child Life Services at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals. Please visit Become a Volunteer to learn more and to apply for these opportunities.

Child life practicum (Oakland)

Oakland's 10-week, 100-hour practicum gives students the opportunity to observe the role of a child life specialist in two clinical settings as well as to assist with creating and implementing developmentally-informed activities in a playroom setting. The practicum student is also responsible for completing weekly readings and written assignments that encourage the application of inclusive child development theories to their work with children and families.

Practicum requirements

To be considered, applicants must have:

• Completed their core curriculum, including a child development course with a passing grade (for undergraduates)
• A minimum of 50 hours experience with infants, children and families (volunteer or paid experience)
• Actively enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program. We are unable to accept unaffiliated students at this time.

Practicum application process

Please prepare the following documents and submit them in one email to the address below. Your references may email their documents separately if they prefer.

• Resume and cover letter
• Practicum application
• Two practicum reference forms, with one form completed by a person who has observed your work with children and families
• Transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)

Due dates for applications:

• Spring: Dec. 1
• Summer: April 1
• Fall: Aug. 1