Child Life Specialist Certificate

The Child Life Certificate includes the coursework required by the Association of Child Life Professionals for eligibility to complete official child life internships and take the Child Life Professional Certification Exam.

Completing the Child Life Certificate does not constitute certification by the Association of Child Life Professionals.

Certified Child Life Specialists often work in pediatric hospitals but may also work in other spaces (e.g., courtrooms, funeral homes or bereavement services) where children may experience trauma. The field of Child Life is evidence-based, providing interventions (e.g., therapeutic play, education, self-care, stress reduction, distraction, etc) with children and families that are developmentally appropriate. As members of a child’s care team, Child Life Specialists serve an important role in improving the illness-related experiences of both patients and their families. 

Students may not declare the Child Life Specialist Certificate and either the Child Studies and Youth Development or Family Relationships minor.

Students must complete an application in order to be admitted to the certificate. The application is available at: https://miamioh.edu/ehs/academics/departments/fsw/academics/majors/family-science/child-life/undergraduate/index.html

Program Requirements

(33-35 credit hours)