Dual Internship in Child Life and Therapeutic Recreation
The Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy department offers a dual internship experience in both Child Life and Therapeutic Recreation.
Interns in the dual program must complete a minimum of 18 weeks to ensure adequate training time in each discipline. Interns rotate through two different areas of the hospital during their experience. A variety of both inpatient and outpatient areas will be offered each semester for students to rotate through.
Dual internships are offered twice a year, in the spring (January – late April) and fall (September – late December) semesters.
Internship requirements
- Dual Internship students must be college seniors or graduates with a major or concentration in therapeutic recreation.
- Applicants must have student or work experience with children in group settings, and a minimum of 100 hours of experience in an established therapeutic recreation or child life program in a healthcare setting.
To apply for a dual Child Life/Therapeutic Recreation internship, please download the internship application and select "Dual Child Life/Therapeutic Recreation."
** Currently we are unable to support Therapeutic Recreation or dual CL/TR intern students for upcoming semesters. We apologize for any inconvenience and will update the site when we are able to provide this training opportunity.
Frequently asked questions
Are start/end dates flexible?
Start/end dates depend on several variables, including Hospital orientation dates and the length of the student experience. Check with the student program coordinator for the program you are interested in for more specific information on the flexibility of start/end dates, as they will vary from program to program. For students who are affiliated with a university, start/end dates may vary based on semester calendars and graduation deadlines.
How many students do you accept at a time?
The number of students accepted will vary from semester to semester due to the number of applicants and supervisor availability. Generally we accept one to two dual child life/therapeutic recreation interns.
Do I get to pick where I'm placed?
Interns have the ability to give feedback about which areas in the Hospital are most interesting to them. Final placement decisions are made at the discretion of the student program coordinators.
What are the prerequisites for applying for an internship?
Potential interns must have completed a minimum of 100 hours volunteer or paid work experience working with children and a minimum of 100 hours practicum experience in the pediatric healthcare setting under the supervision of a Child Life Specialist. The educational prerequisites include at least in your senior year of undergraduate work and achievement of course requirements set forth by both the Child Life Council and the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. Please refer to the dual internship packet checklist for a complete listing of prerequisites.
I have experiences working with children in other settings. Do they count towards my 100 hours?
While all these experiences with children are extremely valuable in the selection process and your career overall, the 100 hours in a pediatric healthcare setting are a requirement. Additional hours in other settings should be included on your application.
If I complete a child life/therapeutic recreation internship, will I have met the requirements to be certified in both child life and therapeutic recreation?
Upon completion of a dual internship, the intern will meet the eligibility requirements of an internship experience for both National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and Child Life Council (CLC).
Do I need to get my bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation to do a dual internship in child life and therapeutic recreation?
Yes, a degree in therapeutic recreation is required to be eligible for the dual program.
How do I know if I have the correct coursework to do an internship in child life and therapeutic recreation?
The Child Life Council is the governing organization for the child life profession. Information on coursework can be found on their Web site, www.childlife.org. CLC can also review your transcript for you. Applicants must complete the Child Life Council course review and have a minimum of 10 approved courses completed prior to applying to the internship program.
The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification is the governing organization for the therapeutic recreation profession. Information on coursework can be found on its website, www.nctrc.org.
Do you accept interns that are not currently enrolled in/affiliated with a college or university?
No. Dual intern applicants must currently be enrolled in a therapeutic recreation program with a college or university.
Is the internship full-time?
Yes. The dual child life/therapeutic recreation internship is 40 hours per week for 18 weeks.
Is an onsite interview required?
No, because the majority of our applicants are not from the local area, a phone interview is sufficient, although all applicants are welcome to come for an on-site tour and interview.
Contact us
For more information, please contact the Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy Department at 267-426-1340 or email childlifestudentprograms@email.chop.edu.
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