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.     

We are seeking highly qualified candidates to participate in our Child Life Internship Program. We are looking for individuals who demonstrate:

• The ability to adapt quickly to new environments and changing situations.
• A strong motivation to learn, grow, and engage in meaningful professional development.
• Comfort with receiving constructive feedback and the ability to use it to improve performance and practice.
• A strong foundation in child development theory and family-centered care principles.
• Responsibility, professionalism, and accountability in all interactions and responsibilities.
• Curiosity and a genuine desire to understand the experiences and needs of children and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong critical-thinking skills, including the ability to assess situations, solve problems, and apply knowledge thoughtfully in clinical settings. 

Successful candidates will demonstrate a commitment to learning, self-reflection, and providing developmentally appropriate, compassionate care to children and families.

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.

• Baykids Studios | 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

In addition to your common application, you will also need to submit a current resume. 

Please submit one PDF document (labeled with your first and last name), with the information in this order:

1. Eligibility assessment
2. Unofficial transcripts
3. Resume
4. ACLP Common Application

Email your completed application to childlifestudents@health.ucdavis.edu. A courtesy email will be sent to confirm receipt of your application. Remember to review your materials carefully before emailing them to us. Only one submission will be accepted for each applicant. 

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.
• We actively seek local candidates to fill at least one position each cycle. 
• 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 completed a minimum of 50 hours volunteering within a pediatric hospital setting (preferably under CCLS supervision)
• Have an additional 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:

• An education background in child life, child development or human development, family systems or education

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 a summer practicum placement, 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.

For additional information, please feel free to review our responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Thank you for your interest in the child life practicum program. 

Art Therapy Internship

The Art Therapy Internship is available to graduate students currently enrolled in an art therapy program approved or accredited by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA). The internship is designed to fulfill the supervision and direct client contact requirements established by the intern's academic program.

Interns are supervised by a Board-Certified, Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) and work closely with the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy team as part of an interdisciplinary pediatric healthcare environment.

Following orientation to the hospital and inpatient units, interns will gradually assume responsibility for a clinical caseload and facilitate art therapy groups across various patient care areas. Under supervision, interns provide individual and group art therapy services to patients, families, and caregivers to support coping, self-expression, adjustment, and emotional well-being.

When clinically indicated, interns may conduct formal art therapy assessments, participate in treatment planning, and document interventions and outcomes in the electronic medical record. Interns also receive opportunities to collaborate with a variety of disciplines and tailor aspects of the internship experience to align with their professional interests and learning goals.

Music Therapy Internship

The Music Therapy Internship is intended for individuals who have completed a bachelor's degree, equivalency program, or master's degree in music therapy through an accredited music therapy program. The internship provides intensive, supervised clinical training and fulfills the 1,200-hour clinical training requirement needed to pursue board certification as a Music Therapist (MT-BC).

Interns gain experience using evidence-based music therapy interventions to support the developmental, emotional, psychosocial, and coping needs of pediatric patients and families within a healthcare setting. Through direct patient care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional mentorship, interns develop the clinical skills necessary for entry-level music therapy practice.

This internship is designed to help students transition from academic training to professional practice while developing competencies in assessment, treatment planning, therapeutic intervention, documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and family-centered care.

Application Information for Art Therapy and Music Therapy Internships

Please submit the following application materials in one email to Jennifer Miller at jjbmiller@health.ucdavis.edu no later than January 15:

• Completed application
• Resume
• Letter of eligibility from your academic program
• Unofficial transcripts from all relevant colleges and/or universities attended
• Up to three letters of recommendation (can be emailed directly from your reference)
• Mock intervention plan
• Any additional required materials, including video links (if applicable)

Internships typically begin in August or early fall.

Thank you for your interest in the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. If you have questions regarding the application process or internship programs, please contact Jennifer Miller at jjbmiller@health.ucdavis.edu.