The goal of the internship is to support students in developing the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors needed for entry-level child life practice.

Through supervised clinical experiences, interns will work toward the following objectives:

• Integrate theory and research into practice
• Complete child life assessments and identify patient and family needs and incorporate those into your plan of care
• Plan and provide developmentally appropriate preparation, support, and interventions
• Understand the value of play in the healthcare setting, provide therapeutic play and medical play to support coping and understanding
• Communicate professionally with patients, families, supervisors, and healthcare team members
• Document child life care accurately and appropriately
• Demonstrate ethical decision-making, reflective practice, and professional accountability

Intermountain Health does not require applicants to attend a specific affiliated school.

• In the process of receiving a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an academic institution accredited by an organization that is recognized by either the US Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation or the international equivalent
• 100 hours of experience with well infants, children, youth and/or families
• 100 hours of experience with infants, children, youth and/or families in stressful situations, healthcare settings and/or programs designed for children with special needs
• Practicum or pre-internship experiences are preferred.
• In process or completed the academic coursework portion of the ACLP eligibility assessment or are actively enrolled in an ACLP endorsed academic program ACLP > Certification > Become Certified > Eligibility Assessment
• Be eligible to participate in a clinical internship experience through an accredited college or university
• Proof of current enrollment in an internship course during rotations
• Complete all Intermountain Health onboarding requirements 

The maximum number of applications that we will take each rotation is 40.

Applicants must submit a complete application packet by the posted deadline. Incomplete applications or applications that do not follow instructions will not be reviewed.

• Completed most current ACLP common application (PDF)
• ACLP eligibility assessment ACLP > Certification > Become Certified > Eligibility Assessment
• Official or unofficial college transcript
• Current resume

All documents must be combined into one PDF file and saved using the applicant’s last name and first name.

The maximum number of applications that we will take each semester is 40.

Applications are accepted twice each year for spring and fall internship cohorts. Intermountain Health follows ACLP application timelines and may close the application period early once the first 40 completed applications are received. Intermountain does not offer summer internships.

1. Submit Application
   • Complete a single application for all participating Intermountain Health hospitals.
   • Fall internship
     • Applications open: February 1
     • Application deadline: ACLP application deadline or when the first 40 completed applications are received, whichever comes first
     • Interviews: March–April
     • Offers extended according to ACLP timelines
   • Spring internship
     • Applications open: August 1
     • Application deadline: ACLP application deadline or when the first 40 completed applications are received, whichever comes first
     • Interviews: September–October
     • Offers extended according to ACLP timelines
   • Where to send Application: [email protected]
     • Please call Sheri Bothell at (801) 662-3983 or email [email protected] with any questions regarding our internship program or the application
2. Application Review - Applications are reviewed for internship readiness.
   • Connection of knowledge, skills, and abilities to written experiences
     KSAs Internship Readiness One Pager
   • Reflection on how previous experiences prepared the applicant for child life practice
   • Roles and responsibilities described in the application
   • Use of developmental theory and assessment
   • Awareness of working with children and families whose values may differ from the applicant’s own
   • Hours, quality, and relevance of child/family experiences
   • Practicum or pre-internship experience, if applicable
   • Overall academic performance
3. Interview Selection
   • Qualified applicants may be invited to interview
   • Virtual interviews are available for candidates outside the local area
   • Invitation for an interview does not guarantee acceptance of the Intermountain Child Life Internship
4. Offer & Placement
   • Internship decisions follow Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) offer timelines
   • Selected students are placed at participating Intermountain hospitals with supervisor availability.
5. Clinical Internship Experience
   • Complete a full-time (40 hours/week), semester-long internship with a total of 600 hours minimum.
   • Gain supervised clinical experience under Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS)
   • Apply classroom learning through direct patient and family support across diverse healthcare settings
   • Clinical supervision, evaluations, case study, readings, assignments, in-services

Important notice

We value authenticity and encourage applicants to share their unique voices and experiences. Please complete your application without the use of AI tools so we can best understand your individual strengths and readiness for this program. 

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Number of inpatient beds: 289 Level 1 Trauma Center
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Number of inpatient beds: 82 Level 2 Trauma Center
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McKay Dee Hospital
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Utah Valley Hospital
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Inpatient and Outpatient Child Life Services
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St. George Regional Medical Center
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Intermountain Medical Center
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Number of inpatient beds: 504
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