San Francisco's internship program is accredited by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). We offer winter/spring, summer and fall session internships.
To qualify, you must have:
- Successfully completed all academic and volunteer requirements set by the ACLP
- Completed the ACLP common application
Internship application process:
Please make sure you have met all of the above requirements before applying.
- Complete our online application by the due dates set by the ACLP. This includes:
- ACLP new common application materials (send in PDF format)
- One reference name with email address
- The application process has multiple rounds:
- Round 1: The internship committee reviews applications.
- Round 2: If you're chosen as a round 2 candidate, you'll be emailed a supplementary questionnaire via UCSF Qualtrics (a survey tool). You must complete this within 72 hours.
- Round 3: If you're chosen as a round 3 candidate, you'll be invited for an in-person or remote final interview.
Use our portal to submit your application.
Before beginning the internship, you must:
- Provide photo ID and proof of health clearance; this includes certain immunizations, such as for COVID-19, and an up-to-date tuberculosis (TB) test.
- Provide documentation of liability insurance coverage, either through a university affiliated with UCSF or private liability insurance. We accept nonaffiliated students.
During the program, you must be willing to:
- Work a minimum of 40 hours per week, including holidays, evenings, and weekends
- Meet weekly with your rotation supervisor and internship coordinator
- Keep a journal, which includes sample chart notes and developmental assessments
- Create personal and rotation-focused goals
- Prepare a case study to present to the Child Life Services team
- Observe requested in-service trainings
- Attend weekly classes taught by the Child Life Services team
- Complete assigned rotations
- Prepare a significant project directly benefiting Child Life Services and its goals, and approved by the internship coordinator and rotation supervisor
Internship program structure
Interns work at the bedside with a certified child life specialist. Together, they conduct therapeutic play, make assessments, and practice techniques for preparation, procedural support, sibling support, charting and more.
The 15-week program consists of:
- Week 1: orientation with the internship coordinator
- Rotation 1 (six weeks) and rotation 2 (six weeks) with a certified child life specialist
- Two elective weeks
- Weekly meetings with the internship coordinator
- Weekly classes with the Child Life Services team
Internship hours are mostly completed during the week, with some holiday, weekend and evening hours.
A rotation supervisor is assigned to each intern. Your supervisor will meet with you once a week to discuss goals, journal entries, a case study, and specific rotations and interventions.
