To become a child life specialist, you must complete a number of educational steps. In general, the more education you have, the better off you will be. Job availability, on the other hand, may be limited, but if you have other skills to offer, such as the ability to speak another language fluently or experience working with children, your chances of finding work will generally improve.
Before you start your education in this field, there are a few things to think about. Perhaps most importantly, child life specialists work in high-pressure environments and frequently experience emotional strain, particularly when a young patient passes away. It is unquestionably necessary to be able to deal effectively with difficult and sad situations.
Another factor to consider is your location; in order to find work, you will most likely need to live in a fairly large city. Many hospitals lack child life departments, and unless you can secure funding to establish one, the majority of available work is located in major hospitals in major cities.
Once you’ve decided to pursue a career as a child life specialist, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree. In general, if you pursue an undergraduate degree in child development or education, you’ll need to take a lot of additional psychology classes to fully cover the range of skills you’ll need to work in this field. Some universities now offer Child Life programs, which may provide you with the best training and the best chance of landing a job once you graduate.
You may want to spend some time studying medical terms in addition to family counseling, bereavement, child development, family dynamics, and cultural sociology. You should have a basic understanding of medical terms and, ideally, have taken a course aimed at understanding children’s major illnesses. This knowledge can be extremely useful as you prepare to become a child life specialist, as parents can become frustrated when they feel compelled to explain such matters to a hospital employee.
While you’re in school, you might want to consider working with children as a volunteer or paid position. Volunteering at a center or camp for children with serious illnesses can help you advance in your career. Most states have mandated programs for pre-school aged children who qualify for free pre-school and services due to significant learning disabilities or illness. These schools, known in California as SELPAs, are frequently willing to hire assistants, though the hours may conflict with your school schedule.
After you’ve completed the classroom requirements, you’ll need to work for a minimum of 480 hours in a child life program as an intern. This is a fantastic opportunity to make the connections you’ll need to land a job in this field. It’s worth noting, though, that these jobs are frequently unpaid or low-paying.
To work as a child life specialist in the United States, most states require certification. Fingerprinting and background checks will be required as part of this certification. A drug test or psychological evaluation may be required some programs. Before you can sit for an examination, you may need 4,000 hours of supervised experience in the field. Specific guidelines may vary depending on state laws. Obtaining certification in multiple states may improve your job prospects. Continuing education may be required to maintain certification as a certified child life specialist.