Child Life Internship

This full-time, paid Child Life internship at UVA Health Children's works to support the continued development of future Child Life Specialists while contributing to the growth and sustainability of the Child Life profession.

Interns must work 40 hours per week and complete 600 clinical hours in a 15-week period. Days and hours may vary depending on clinical rotation and unit placement, with potential for evening, weekend, and holiday shifts.

This position is compensated at $18.50 per hour. It does not include benefits. Compensation, schedule, and program structure are subject to change. Because Child Life interns are hired as paid employees, applicants are not required to be affiliated with an academic institution.

This internship meets the clinical training requirements for Child Life Certification eligibility. It provides intensive, supervised clinical practice in the delivery of psychosocial care to infants, children, adolescents, and families within a healthcare setting.

When Is It?

Our program currently offers one session per year in the Winter/Spring.

*Dates are subject to change based upon the deadlines set by the Association of Child Life Professionals.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• 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 and/or volunteer roles in both healthcare and non-healthcare environments. 

Application Process

The online application portal will open on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EST to apply for the Winter/Spring 2027 Internship.

Steps to apply:

1. Complete the ACLP Common Child Life Internship Application

2. Include all three required components:

• Common Application
• Eligibility Assessment
• Unofficial Transcripts

3. Download and save altogether as a single PDF.

• Save the file using the following naming convention: LastnameFirstname.Winter27.pdf  (Ex: SmithKatie.Winter27.pdf)

4. Apply electronically through Workday

• Upload your PDF (saved using the format above) as part of your application.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59PM on September 4, 2026 (the ACLP application deadline), or until 50 qualifying applications have been received, whichever occurs first. Once 50 qualifying applications are received, the application portal will close.

To be considered, all required materials must be combined into a single PDF and submitted through Workday by the application deadline. Incomplete applications, or those that do not meet all submission requirements will not be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure all application materials are submitted successfully before the deadline.

Applications submitted by mail or email will not be accepted.

Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee an interview or acceptance into the internship program.

Additional Information

Our interview process consists of one round of virtual interviews. Offers will be extended on the ACLP designated initial offer date between the hours of 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM EST.

Other information specific to our internship program is outlined in the Child Life Internship Packet.