UVA Health·Albemarle County, Virginia
The Child Life Extern provides psychosocial care to pediatric patients and families through developmental assessments, therapeutic play, and procedural preparation. They collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to support patient coping and resilience within a clinical healthcare environment.
The Child Life Extern is a structured clinical training position that provides comprehensive preparation for professional practice as a Child Life Specialist. This paid educational experience is designed to meet the clinical training requirements for Child Life Certification eligibility and provides intensive, supervised practice in the delivery of psychosocial care to infants, children, adolescents, and families in healthcare settings.
Under the supervision of Certified Child Life Specialists, the Child Life Extern progressively develops competency in assessment, preparation and education, intervention, documentation, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration through direct patient and family interactions.
Upon successful completion of the externship, participants will have demonstrated the foundational knowledge and clinical skills necessary for entry-level child life practice.
Under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist, the Child Life Extern will: Conduct developmental and psychosocial assessments of pediatric patients and families.
Develop and implement individualized child life interventions based on assessed needs.
Provide preparation, education, and coping support for medical procedures and hospital experiences.
Facilitate therapeutic, developmental, and medical play opportunities.
Support children and families during procedures and other stressful healthcare experiences.
Promote positive coping, resilience, and adjustment to illness, injury, hospitalization, and treatment.
Provide sibling, family, and bereavement support as appropriate.
Document assessments, interventions, and outcomes in accordance with departmental and organizational standards.
Collaborate with physician, nurses, social workers, therapists, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
Active participation is expected in Child Life staff meetings, in-services, interdisciplinary opportunities, and relevant departmental educational experiences.
Complete assigned readings, presentations, and other educational requirements.
Learning Outcomes By the completion of the externship, participants will be able to: Apply child development and family systems theories within healthcare settings.
Utilize evidence-based child life interventions.
Assess psychosocial risk factors and coping needs.
Implement developmentally appropriate preparation and procedural support.
Demonstrate effective communication with patients, families, and healthcare team members.
Integrate patient-and family-centered care principles in clinical practice.
Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies necessary to function as a Child Life Specialist.
Required Qualifications Completed ACLP Internship Common Application and all required application materials, including the ACLP Eligibility Assessment, and unofficial transcripts.
Enrollment in or completion of a bachelor’s or master’s degree program that meets Child Life Certification requirements.
Applicants must be a college senior, graduate student, or college graduate.
Successful completion of ACLP internship eligibility requirements.
Applicants with coursework in progress are eligible to apply provided their transcripts verify enrollment.
A completed ACLP Eligibility Assessment is required before the internship start date.
Experience working with children through paid or volunteer roles in both healthcare and non-healthcare environments.
Physical Demands Ability to navigate patient care environments through the hospital.
Ability to interact with patients and families in a variety of clinical settings.
Ability to lift, carry, and transport activity materials and supplies as needed.
Compliance with all hospital safety, confidentiality, infection prevention, and patient care requirements.
Compensation and Benefits: This is a paid Child Life Externship with a compensation rate of $18.50 per hour.
The Child Life Externship is a temporary, educational experience designed to support the development of knowledge, skills, and professional competencies necessary to function as a Child Life Specialist.
This temporary role is not to exceed 600 hours.
Externs are considered temporary trainees participating in a structured learning experience and are not eligible for employee benefit programs, including but not limited to medical, vision, dental, retirement, paid time off (PTO), tuition assistance, or other employer-sponsored benefits, unless otherwise required by law or explicitly outlined in program materials.
Work schedules and total hours may vary based on program requirements, departmental needs, and the educational objectives of the externship experience.
UVA Health is a world-class Magnet Recognized academic medical center and health system with a level 1 trauma center.
2023-2024 U.S.
News & World Report “Best Hospitals” guide rates UVA Health University Medical Center as “High Performing” in 5 adult specialties and 14 conditions/procedures.
We are one of 70 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers.
UVA Health Children’s is named by 2023-2024 U.S.
News & World Report as the best children's hospital in Virginia with 9 specialties ranked among the best in the nation.
Our footprint also encompasses 3 community hospitals and an integrated network of primary and specialty care clinics throughout Charlottesville, Culpeper, Northern Virginia, and beyond.
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer.
All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.
Applicants must be enrolled in or have completed a bachelor's or master's degree program meeting Child Life Certification requirements. Candidates are required to have completed the ACLP Internship Common Application and possess experience working with children in paid or volunteer roles.
Market context
In Virginia, child life externship opportunities typically reflect steady demand in pediatric settings where candidates are building clinical experience before certification. These roles are competitive because applicants already need relevant coursework, the ACLP Internship Common Application, and prior work with children; the posted requirements and benefits on this platform are AI-summarized from the original job description, saving you research time. Before applying, confirm your degree path aligns with Child Life Certification requirements and tailor your child-focused experience to the application.
