Child Life Practicum

The child life practicum program at RUSH Children’s Hospital gives students interested in pursuing a career in child life an opportunity to gain more insight into the field. Rush Children’s Hospital offers a practicum three times a year beginning in January (spring semester), May/June (summer semester), or September (fall semester) each year. The practicum is one or two days per week (8 hours/day) for 14 weeks. During this time, you will have opportunities to do the following:

• Shadow child life specialists
• Participate in designing and implementing therapeutic activities
• Observe procedural preparation and support
• Interact with children and families (in the playroom and bedside)
• Engage in daily interactions with the multidisciplinary team

Requirements to Apply 

We are only able to interview applicants who meet the general prerequisites and criteria below:

Education Requirements

• PLEASE NOTE: we DO accept unaffiliated candidates
• Current enrollment in OR completion of a bachelor’s or master’s degree program in child life or related field

Experience Requirements 

• Completion of 50+ hours of experience with children in health care settings/stressful situations
• Completion of 50+ hours of experience with well children

Apply for a Child Life Practicum

Please note: We are now accepting applications for the Winter 2024 practicum.

To apply for the child life practicum at RUSH Children’s Hospital, we require the following:

• Completion of practicum application 
• Supplemental materials
  • Resume
  • Official or unofficial transcripts (both undergraduate and graduate, if applicable)
  • Two letters of recommendation (please be sure that the letters are signed by the recommender and uploaded as a PDF by applicant)

Submit an Application

When you click the "Submit an Application" button above, you will be directed to a form submission portal that will prompt you to complete a one page form and upload your completed application, resume, transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. These are the only necessary requirements to apply for the practicum.

Please DO NOT submit applications or other materials by mail or e-mail.

For inquiries or clarifications regarding student programs, please contact the internship and practicum coordinator:

Shira Miller, MS, CCLS 
(312) 942-9020
shira_p_miller@rush.edu