Child Life Practicum Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado

At Children's Hospital Colorado, our Child Life Department introduces students to the rewarding and challenging work of a Certified Child Life Specialist through summertime practicum placements. We’re proudly training the next generation of child life specialists who will improve children’s lives for years to come.

About our Program

A child life practicum is an invaluable pre-internship experience. The goal of a child life practicum is to provide first-hand experience and education, primarily through observation. Throughout the practicum, students will be exposed to the role of child life in the pediatric healthcare setting, as well as medical terminology, childhood illnesses, injury and treatments. 

Practicum experiences are intended as an introduction to the field and to prepare students for a future child life internship. We seek practicum participants who are highly motivated and committed to the lifelong training and expertise that is required of a child life specialist. We give strong preference to applicants who have experience working with kids in a healthcare setting.

Practicum opportunities for child life students

Here at Children’s Colorado, child life specialists are a critical part of a patient’s care team. Our child life team is embedded in myriad patient areas and every inpatient unit throughout the hospital, including:

• Allergy and Immunology Center
• Breathing Institute
• Burn Center
• Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
• Center for Children’s Surgery
• Colorado Fetal Care Center
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Digestive Health Institute
• Emergency Department (Level I Trauma Center Designation)
• Heart Institute
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Level IV)
• Outpatient clinics
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
• Radiology
• Rehabilitation
• Seacrest Studios
• T(w)een Zone

Practicum students will have the opportunity to learn from a team of more than 50 Certified Child Life Specialists, gaming and technology specialists, child life activity coordinators, entertainment broadcasters and facility dog handlers.

Timeline and schedule

Practicum opportunities take place each summer at Children’s Colorado. Students spend three days per week in the hospital: two clinical and one educational day each week for six weeks.

Requirements for practicum students

We expect all students to be working towards child life certification and must be on the way to meeting the Child Life Certification Commission (CLCC) course requirements for eligibility. Additionally, applicants should:

1. Be actively enrolled in a college or university
2. Receive credit hours for the practicum through an academic institution (Note: This is due to Colorado regulation requiring that universities provide worker’s compensation and is non-negotiable.)
3. Have at least junior status (at least in the third year) of college or university.
4. Have experience working with healthy children or adolescents. (Hospital volunteer experience is beneficial.)
5. Demonstrate commitment to learning and advancing knowledge of child life in a hospital setting.
6. Accepted students must complete a health screening, obtain a signed hospital contract, and complete additional tasks with human resources in advance of the practicum.

Learn more and apply

For complete program and practicum application details, please download our student packet. All applications will be submitted electronically to childlife101@childrenscolorado.org. Application materials are due the second Friday in January, and candidates will be notified by the third Monday in February.

Child Life Student Programs (.pdf)

Frequently asked questions

How many child life practicum students do you accept?

We accept up to six practicum students per summer. Our program is competitive, and we receive many more practicum applications than we can possibly accept.

Where do practicum students work?

Child life practicum students can work at our locations at Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, North Campus in Broomfield, Health Pavilion in Aurora and South Campus in Highlands Ranch.

Do you provide housing?

No; we do not provide housing.

Do you offer paid practicums or internships?

Please note that child life learning opportunities are unpaid. 

Contact us

If you have further questions after reviewing all resources above, please contact us via email. Kindly note that we cannot provide information about other healthcare practicum or educational opportunities at the hospital.

ChildLife101@childrenscolorado.org