Child Life Student Programs

Medical City Children's Hospital Child Life internship program is accredited and recognized by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) on their professional website. Our clinical internship program has met the minimum standards for a clinical internship program set forth by the ACLP. We promote diversity, equity and inclusion within our student program.

The child life internship at Medical City Children's Hospital is offered to currently enrolled or graduated Bachelor or Master level students whose academic focus is in child life, child/family development or other related fields.

Our child life internship is 600 hours in length and will give students the opportunity to observe and learn in both inpatient and outpatient areas. Students will participate in two long rotations and either one short (three week) rotation or one shadow week. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in special events and programming during the semester.

The design of our child life internship program is based on the competencies for child life specialists endorsed by the Association of Child Life Professionals. This internship seeks to provide students with an opportunity to enhance their education with on-site experiences in a pediatric hospital setting.

Applicant requirements

• Bachelor or Master program students or graduates of any field- recommended academic programs include:
  • Child Life
  • Child Development
  • Early Childhood Education
• Completed Eligibility Assessment by Association of Child Life Professionals
• A minimum of 100 hours of experience with infants, children, youth and/or families
• University affiliation is NOT required
• All students will be required to complete a background check, health history screening, drug screening, and obtain liability insurance. Students affiliated with a university will work with their academic advisor to complete these requirements

Application submission

1. Complete the Internship Readiness Common Application found at Application Portal. Detailed instructions on how to complete the application can be found in the Internship readiness common application guide.
2. Email the downloaded application to MCCH.ChildLifeInternship@medicalcityhealth.com
3. The email subject line should state your name, the internship session (winter/spring, fall, summer), and year.
4. The PDF downloaded as part of the ACLP Internship Readiness Common Application is the only component that will be reviewed. No additional documentation will be req

Application deadlines

Medical City Children's Hospital follows the Association of Child Life Professionals recommended application and offer deadlines

Interview process

At Medical City Children's Hospital, our interview process begins with an application screening by the Student Programming Committee. Those moving forward to phase 2 of the interview process will receive a request via email with instructions on how to schedule a phone screening. After all phone screens have been completed, those moving forward to phase 3 will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule a virtual interview. At Medical City Children's Hospital, we utilize the Multiple- Mini Interviews (MMI) format which consists of a series of one-on-one short, structured interviews.

For any questions, please email MCCH.ChildLifeInternship@medicalcityhealth.com.

The practicum at Medical City Children’s Hospital provides 150+ hours of exposure to the child life profession and is designed to prepare students for a child life internship. Our practicum consists of both clinical and non-clinical requirements. Practicum students will have the opportunity to observe child life specialists providing services, participate in various programming activities including group playroom sessions, individual play, and special events, develop assessment skills, become familiar with the medical environment, and introduce basic child life services. Non-clinical requirements include weekly journals, patient assessments, daily observation worksheets, reading assignments, a diagnosis paper, and case study presentations. Students will have ongoing supervision and feedback from the child life specialists. Our practicum follows the Six Recommended Standards outlined by the Association of Child Life Professionals. We promote diversity, equity and inclusion within our student program.

Applicant requirements

Applicants must have the following prerequisites to be considered for a practicum at Medical City Children’s Hospital:

• Applicants must be considered at sophomore level in college or beyond.
• Applicants must have passed and completed the following three (3) courses before the practicum begins:
  • Play Course
  • Child Development Course
  • Child Life Course taught by Certified Child Life Specialist

If courses are not completed at time of application, please submit proof of enrollment.

• Applicants must have completed a minimum of 100 hours of experience working or volunteering with children. Volunteer experience with hospitalized children is strongly recommended.
• University affiliation is NOT required
• All students will be required to complete a background check, health history screening, drug screening, and obtain liability insurance. Students affiliated with a university will work with their academic advisor to complete these requirements.

Application submission

We utilize the Common Child Life Practicum Application from the Southern Association of Child Life Professionals (formerly known as Texas Association of Child Life Professionals). View the application here

• Application Checklist
  • Typed SACLP or TACLP application
  • 1 page professional resume
  • Transcript(s) may be official or unofficial
  • 2 SACLP or TACLP Practicum Reference Forms signed and sealed, with signature on seal of envelope.
    • We will accept an electronic version of TACLP Practicum Reference Forms from references. These must be emailed by the person filling out the reference form. We will not accept emailed reference forms from applicants themselves.
    • At least one reference must be from someone who has observed your work with children. No personal (friends/family) references accepted.

Please scan all application components (except letters of recommendation) into one PDF. Applications will not be accepted if all components arrive as separate attachments. Please send appropriate items to: MCCH.ChildLifePracticum@MedicalCityHealth.com

Application deadlines

Medical City Children's Hospital follows the Southern Association of Child Life Professionals application and offer deadlines found here.

For more information or questions about the practicum program at Medical City Children’s Hospital, please contact the practicum coordinator at MCCH.ChildLifePracticum@medicalcityhealth.com or (972) 566-2879.

Interview process

At Medical City Children's Hospital, our interview process begins with an application screening by the Student Programming Committee. Those moving forward to phase 2 of the interview process will receive a request via email with instructions on how to schedule a phone screening. After all phone screens have been completed, those moving forward to phase 3 will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule a virtual interview. At Medical City Children’s Hospital, we utilize the Multiple- Mini Interviews (MMI) format which consists of a series of one-on-one short, structured interviews.

For any questions, please email MCCH.ChildLifePracticum@medicalcityhealth.com.

Texas Association of Child Life Professionals presents: Regional Child Life 101/201 Workshop

A virtual workshop for those interested in the field of child life and the path in becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist.