Child Life Practicum

Program Information

The focus of the Child Life Practicum program is to provide students the opportunity to shadow child life specialists in their daily work, apply child development and family theories to clinical practice, and implement therapeutic activities with patients and families. The Child Life Practicum consists of 150 hours over the period of 11 weeks, and includes rotations in 2 separate units. We are dedicated to providing students with high quality education, training, and experiences that are necessary to be ready for a Child Life Internship. Consequently, our program is competitive and requires us to carefully consider the education and experience of candidates. Submission of an application does not guarantee placement at CHRISTUS Children’s as our program receives many applications for a limited number of spots. We strongly recommend candidates apply to practicums with a variety of organizations.

Once accepted into the program, students must provide verification of one TB test, MMR vaccinations (measles, mumps, and rubella) and a current flu shot before the practicum begins.


Child Life Practicum Sessions

Fall Session

Application Deadline: March 29 

Spring Session

Application Deadline: September 19 

Summer Session

Application Deadline: January 19

Please note that we are not following the same offer date as the SACLP

Application Forms

Requirements to Apply

  • Applicants must have achieved at least a college-level junior status or higher.
  • Must have a 3.0 grade point average in the applicant’s declared major.
  • Applicants must have completed at least three of the required college-level courses for ACLP eligibility prior to the start of practicum.  These courses include a course in play, a course in child development, and a course taught by a Certified Child Life Specialist.
  • Applicants must have at least 50 hours of work or volunteer experience with either a child life department or with children with special needs. These hours must be fully documented in your application, along with completing the ACLP verification of related experience hours.
  • Experience with well children must be fully documented in your application, along with completing the ACLP verification of related experience hours form
  • Two references are required. At least one reference must be from someone who has directly observed your work with children. No more than 2 references will be accepted.
  • Reference forms can be submitted with your application (signed and sealed) or emailed directly from your reference to ChildLifePracticum@christushealth.org.

Application Review & Interview Information

Once all applications are received, the student programming team will meet to review applications using a scoring matrix in each step of the application and interview process. We will then:

  • Identify our initial candidate pool from the applications and conduct a brief phone interview.
  • Extend offers and conduct final interview using the Multiple Mini Interview format (MMI format).
  • Specific details regarding the MMI format will be communicated to to candidates via email prior to the final interview.
  • Interviews are typically held one to two weeks prior to the initial offer date.
  • Interview dates will be pre-selected each semester and communicated to the candidates

Submit Your Application

Completed Applications Include 

  1. SACLP Practicum Application
  2. Two SACLP reference forms emailed directly to ChildLifePracticum@christushealth.org or signed and sealed in your mailed application.
  3. Completed Verification of Related Hours
  4. Resume
  5. Proof of 50 hours or more of volunteer experience with either a child life department or with children with special needs.
  6. Proof and documentation of volunteer or work experience with well children
  7. Unofficial college transcripts with a minimum of 3.0 GPA

*Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Submit Your Application 

Please submit your application materials via one of the three ways below.

Note that our email address has changed. Please use the email listed below to submit your application.

Email: ChildLifePracticum@christushealth.org

Mail:

Child Life Practicum Coordinator
c/o Child Life Department CHRISTUS Children's
333 N. Santa Rosa Street
San Antonio, Texas 78207-3108

Fax: 210-704-2454