The Child Life Department at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital offers practicum and internship programs to students interested in the field of child life. Participants must meet several requirements to qualify for these programs.
The internship offers the opportunity to learn the skill sets of a child life specialist.
The practicum provides practical experience in applying child development theory and learning the effects of hospitalization.
Child life services help children and families adjust to and understand hospitalization, illness, injury and treatment. We also offer services to help make the hospital experience as positive as possible for patients and their families.
The Child Life Internship Program is open to students considering a career as a Certified Child Life Specialist.
To apply, download the Internship application from the righthand column on this page.
Clinical internship only accepts students who have:
Clinical internship only accepts students who:
Interns must be willing to:
A combined 600 hours of clinical experience:
The internship and practicum hours are mostly completed during the week with some holiday, weekend and evening involvement.
A rotation supervisor, assigned to each intern, will meet with you once a week to discuss goals, journal entries, a case study, and specific rotations and interventions. Interns work at bedside with a CCLS conducting therapeutic play, diagnosis teaching, preparation, procedural support, sibling support, charting and more.
We receive many applications for these positions. Please do not submit an application unless you meet all the requirements. Please make sure your application is complete before submitting it.
After the application due date, you will be contacted once your application is reviewed.
The Child Life Practicum Program is open to college students enrolled in child development courses. This is a 12-week program that gives child development students the opportunity to interact with children in our playroom. Students are offered several learning opportunities to better understand the impact of hospitalization on child development.
To apply, download the Practicum application from the righthand column on this page.
After the application due date, you will be contacted once your application is reviewed. Candidates who meet practicum criteria will interview with the playroom coordinator and the internship and practicum coordinators. A decision will be made following the interview.
If chosen, the practicum student must:
Applicants must be willing to:
For more information about the child life student program, please contact Kristen Beckler in the UCSF Child Life Department:
[email protected]
(415) 476-5029
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco
Child Life Department
Attn: Kristen Beckler
1975 Fourth St.
San Francisco, CA 94143
To apply for an internship or practicum, or for more information, please contact Kristen Beckler in Child Life at (415) 476-5029 or by email.
Child Life Department
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco
1975 Fourth St.
San Francisco, CA 94158