Child Life Practicum

The Child Life Practicum is an introductory experience designed to familiarize the student with the hospital environment, the child life profession and to gain experience working with hospitalized children. Nationwide Children’s Hospital is not offering Summer 2024 Child Life Practicum Experiences.

  • The practicum experience is a minimum of 8 weeks in length and requires a time commitment of 16 hours per week that may include some evening and weekend shifts.
  • Students will complete two five-week rotations and one extended shadow experience.
  • Students will be assigned a main clinical rotation supervisor per rotation.
  • The clinical supervisors from both rotations will continue to support student throughout the entire experience.
  • A Clinical Internship Coordinator will be assigned to each student meeting weekly to provide additional support.
Applicant Requirements
Application Process
Application Deadlines
For Student Experiences

Applicant Requirements

  • All candidates must be enrolled at a university during student experience. Please do not submit an application if you are an independent student. Candidates must have completed two years majoring in child life, child development or a related field (bachelor’s or master’s level academic preparations are accepted).
  • Completed Child Life Practicum Application Form
    • Verification of at least 50 completed hours working with children in a health care setting (hospital preferred).
    • Experience working with healthy children and teens in a group setting.
  • Transcript from college/university demonstrating 3.0 or higher GPA (unofficial accepted)
    • Completion of at least four courses in their major including Child Development and Introduction to Child Life.
  • Two References with Contact Information (one from academic advisor/professor and one from another professional familiar with work with children/families). No recommendations from friends or family will be accepted.

Process for Child Life Practicum Application

All applications must be electronically submitted prior to the posted deadlines. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

Please submit completed application and unofficial transcript together in one email. Letters can be emailed directly from references.

Please refer to format below:

  • Send to: ChildLifeStudProg@nationwidechildrens.org
  • Subject Line: FirstName_LastName_ChildLifePracticum
  • Document Names:
    • FirstName_LastName_ChildLifePracticumApplicationForm
    • FirstName_LastName_Transcript
    • FirstName_LastName_Reference Letter
  • Submission of an application does not guarantee the candidate will receive an interview or clinical placement. Once applications are reviewed, Interviews will be offered to the most qualified applicants that demonstrate they are prepared for the high level experiences that are provided.
  • Applicants are contacted by email with an interview offer or denial.
  • Candidates are interviewed by two to three Child Life staff.
  • Clinical experience opportunities vary per term and are determined by preceptor availability and other departmental needs.
  • We typically have no more than four positions for students per term divided between both practicum and internship level.

Application Deadlines

We comply with the Association of Child Life Professionals’ recommendations.

All application components are to be submitted together and received by the date below.

  Winter/ Spring Term Summer Term Fall Term
Application Due Date September 7 January 5 March 15

For Those That Are Offered Student Experiences:

  • Students are processed through the Nationwide Children's Hospital student/employee route. Therefore, students are required to attend a full day of general orientation on the first day of their student experience.
  • No compensation or stipends are provided to students and they are responsible for making their own housing arrangements.
  • Must be enrolled at a university and an educational affiliation agreement between Nationwide Children’s and the university is required. Nationwide Children’s has educational affiliations with most major universities in Ohio. If an educational agreement is needed, you will be required to have the necessary paperwork completed between Nationwide Children’s and your university. You may not begin your student experience until this agreement is signed. Please note it can take several months for this to be completed if your university does not have an affiliation agreement. 
  • Students are required to provide proof that they are up-to-date on vaccinations including the COVID-19 vaccine and sign a vaccination agreement.
  • Students that complete a practicum level experience at Nationwide Children's Hospital will not be considered for an internship level experience.