Training | Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy | UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Note: We offer internship placements ONLY during the fall and winter/spring cycles.

The UC Davis Child Life Program offers a 16-week, 640-hour full-time clinical internship designed to prepare students for a professional career as a Certified Child Life Specialist. The program follows the guidelines of the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).

Our team includes 20 Certified Child Life Specialists working in these areas: Pediatric Emergency Department, Pediatric Infusion Room/Cancer Center, Radiology, NICU, PICU, Children’s Surgery Center, Pediatrics, and Children of Adult Patients. The Child Life and Creative Arts team also includes Art Therapists, Music Therapists, Playroom Assistants, Schoolteachers and four facility dogs through Canine Companions.     

Curriculum & Training: 

• Direct experience with medical play, surgical and procedural preparation, coping support, charting, and therapeutic interventions.
• Training in bereavement care and sibling support.
• Participation in multidisciplinary rounds, in-service sessions, and educational opportunities through the Center for Nursing Education (as available).

Programs and Resources: We partner with other organizations to enhance the services we offer to pediatric patients and their families.

• Bay Kids | Baykids Studio
• Comfort Commitment | Comfort Commitment | Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy | UC Davis Children's Hospital
• CMN Hospital/Grants | Children's Miracle Network at UC Davis Children's Hospital
• Donut Dash fundraiser | Donut Dash – Benefiting Child Life Programs in Sacramento area Children's Hospitals
• Facility Dog Program | Meet UCD facility dogs
• Panda Cares Room | UC Davis Children’s Hospital opens Panda Cares Center of Hope

Internship Structure:      

• 40 hours per week over 16 weeks (total of 640 hours)
• Rotations in three hospital units; these rotations vary and may include evening and weekend shifts.
• Opportunities to observe and visit other units and local hospitals. 
• Completion of internship assignments, including journal entries, a clinical project, and a case study.

Requirements:  

• This internship is designed for advanced bachelor’s or master’s level students pursuing a career as a Certified Child Life Specialist.
• Work and/or volunteer experience in a hospital setting (preferably includes experience in a child life program).
• Knowledge and experience working with children and families outside the hospital setting.

Application Process:

UC Davis accepts the ACLP Internship Readiness Common Application. Please refer to the ACLP website for the most up to date application and any further guidance: ACLP’s Internship Readiness Common Application

Email your completed Internship Readiness Common Application to the UC Davis Child Life Internship Committee at childlifestudents@health.ucdavis.edu. To ensure that we receive the most accurate information, please send only ONE complete application (including your unofficial transcripts and eligibility assessment). A courtesy email will be sent to confirm receipt.

Due Dates and Offer/Acceptance Dates:

UC Davis follows the application due dates published by ACLP. Please refer to the ACLP website for these important dates for each internship cycle (ACLP due dates).

Selection/Interviews:

• Each complete application will be reviewed by our selection committee. Applicants chosen to move forward will be contacted by email and sent supplemental questions. Written responses are due within 72 hours.
• After reviewing the responses to the supplemental questions, 12-15 applicants will be selected for final interviews. Virtual interviews will be scheduled in groups of 4-5 candidates. Each candidate will answer questions one-on-one with different staff members during this call, then meet as a group for general questions. 
• 1-2 interns will be chosen and will be notified by phone. 

Notes:

• University affiliated and non-university affiliated applications are accepted.
• The UC Davis Child Life Internship is an unpaid educational opportunity.
• Although interns are responsible for the costs related to transportation and housing, the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department will cover parking fees at no cost to the intern.

For more information, contact us at childlifestudents@health.ucdavis.edu.

The UC Davis Child Life program offers a 108-hour practicum program for undergraduate and graduate students who have not yet completed a child life internship. This experience is intended to serve as an introductory experience for individuals interested in pursuing a career in child life. Through experiential learning and observation of child life specialists, child life practicum students begin to increase their knowledge of evidence-based, developmentally appropriate interventions. Students will receive close supervision from experienced child life specialists throughout their rotations.

Requirements to apply:

• Have a minimum of 100 hours experience working with children in group or individual settings
• Ability to commit to a 108-hour practicum program
• Completed at least one class in typical child development with a passing grade

Recommended to apply:

• Have completed a minimum of 50 hours volunteering within a pediatric hospital setting (preferably under CCLS supervision)

Costs of program (if accepted)

• $25 volunteer processing fee
• $0 for the binder/readings
• $0 parking (covered by Child Life Department)

Application process:

To be considered for an interview for the summer of 2025, applicants who meet the necessary requirements must email their completed application in PDF format to the UC Davis Child Life practicum committee at childlifepracticumstudents@health.ucdavis.edu by January 27th.

A completed application includes:

• Completed Practicum Application 
• Unofficial transcripts from all universities or colleges attended

Interview information:

• Typically, there are 2 placements available for each cycle.
• Interviews are scheduled within 4 weeks from the application due date. Interviews are held via Zoom in a group setting with 1:1 breakout rooms during the interview.

The Art Therapy Internship is open to graduate students who are actively attending an approved or accredited program by the American Art Therapy Association. The Internship program will meet the supervision and direct client contact requirements identified by the Intern’s education program. The Art Therapy Intern will be supervised by a board-certified, registered art therapist and will work closely with the entire Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy team.

After orienting to the inpatient units, the Intern will be assigned a specific caseload and conduct art therapy groups on various units. Under supervision, the Intern will provide individual and group art therapy to patients, family members, and caregivers. When clinically indicated, the Intern will conduct formal art therapy assessments and document the outcomes in the electronic medical record, along with daily and weekly case notes. The Intern will have the opportunity to collaborate with different treatment modalities and gear the content of the internship towards his or her individual interests.

Eligibility requirements:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• All official university/college transcripts

Application materials deadline is March 31st, 2025. Internships generally run fall to late spring. 

Program Contact: Jennifer Miller, M.A., ATR-BC | jjbmiller@ucdavis.edu

This training program is on hold.

UC Davis Children’s Hospital is proud to be an American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) national roster internship site. The music therapy internship follows completion of a bachelor’s or equivalency degree in music therapy and fulfills the 1200-hour requirement of clinical hours before sitting for the national board certification exam. 

Eligibility requirements:

• Completion of music therapy program (bachelor’s, equivalency or master’s) from an AMTA accredited program
• Proficiency on piano, guitar and voice  
• Preferred but not required - interest in pursuing music therapy in medical settings after internship