Child Life (Online)

This program begins in the fall term.

The fall application is currently open.

Application Deadlines

• Applications are reviewed in rounds to ensure you receive a timely decision.
• You will have five business days after the application deadlines to finish providing any missing required materials. Incomplete applications will be moved to the next round for consideration.
• In some cases, applications submitted after the final deadline will be reviewed on a space available basis.
• We strongly encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. This guarantees the most timely admissions decision and the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid.

Fall

Admissions Criteria

No prior certification is necessary for this program.

In addition to meeting other admissions requirements, to be eligible for admission to the Child Life  program you must:

• Demonstrate experience working with children. Bank Street students enrolled in the Child Life program must have completed at least 100 documented paid or volunteer hours with both well and sick children prior to applying for their practicums or internships. At least 50 of these hours in a healthcare setting is needed at the time of admissions application submission. There is no minimum number of hours required outside a healthcare setting. Examples include, but are not limited to, volunteering in a hospital, programs for children with medical diagnoses, child life pre-internship experiences, volunteering at hospice sites, and paid work experience in a hospital setting.
• Supply two letters of recommendation are required. One must be from a professional reference who has directly observed your work with children. It is preferred (but not required) that one (1) of the two recommendations be from a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) who has supervised your work with children.

Please review How to Apply for full details on the application process, admissions criteria, and application requirements.

Tuition

At Bank Street, tuition is charged per credit. The Child Life program requires 42 credits for completion. Read more on our Tuition page

Financial Aid

The majority of Bank Street students receive some type of financial aid. We strongly recommend applying early and submitting your FAFSA at the time you apply for the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid. Read more on our Financial Aid page

Technology Requirements

This program is fully online, and you must secure access to the following required technology for all online courses:

• A personal computer with:
  • Broadband Internet access
  • Speakers, microphone, and camera
  • Headphones, if participating from a public or shared space
  • An updated version of the Chrome or Firefox browser and a free Zoom account
• For Supervised Fieldwork: A recording device (such as a smartphone, laptop, iPad, or camcorder) suitable for use in classrooms

These are required components of your program. It is your responsibility to ensure you have access to each item on this list. Bank Street does not provide or lend access to these devices and platforms.

Certification

When you successfully complete the program, you will receive a master’s degree, have satisfied the course and internship requirements, and be prepared to take the certification examination administered by the Association of Child Life Professionals at selected locations.

For more information, contact the Association of Child Life Professionals at 301-881-7090 or visit their website.

Child Life curriculum meets the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in all states.

Careers

Graduates of the Child Life program who meet the requirements for licensure pursue a range of career opportunities. In healthcare settings positions include: Child Life Specialist, Pediatric Psychosocial Care Specialist, Family Support Specialist, Patient Experience Specialist, and Child Life Program Coordinator, Supervisor, or Manager. Graduates also pursue child advocacy and family support in child protective services or adoption agencies, work in community programs or in private practice.

Students at Bank Street have full access to our robust Career Services, including the CareerConnect job site, opportunities to attend job fairs and workshops, and connections to our alumni network nationwide.