Path to Certification
Everyone's path to certification is a little bit different, but there are some basics that everyone must do to become a Certified Child Life Specialist
Coursework
You can get the needed coursework in a variety of ways. You can take them through your university, another university, or an extension program. They can be online or in-person courses, it doesn't matter! All that's important is that you get the needed courses and that it follows the ACLP's guidelines. I was able to do mine all through my university because I had a concentration in child life, but if your university does not have a child life program or if you're unable to move to a university that does, there are options out there for you! And if you're looking for programs, the ACLP has a list of academic programs for both undergraduate and graduate level.
Volunteering
While volunteering isn't necessarily a requirement to become certified, it actually is in many ways. Volunteering is the first way that you gain experience in child life. Most practicum and internships will not pursue a student that has absolutely no experience at all, and so volunteering is a way to gain that experience. There are three categories for this that most hospitals require.
Well-Child experience - experience with children who are physically well. Places like schools, daycares, summer camps, churches, etc.
Stressed children experience - experience with children in stressful circumstances. Places like children's advocacy centers, grief camps, disaster camps, family relief centers, etc.
Hospitalized child experience - experience with children in the hospital setting. This is preferably under a CCLS, but having any kind of hospital experience is a good start.
Practicum
Practicum is another stepping stone that isn't necessarily a requirement for certification, but many hospitals require you to have one before starting. I've mentioned before in my blog posts about my own practicum experiences and how beneficial they are to you as a student. I highly recommend at least one practicum under a CCLS.
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There are a lot of ways to find practicums. Some schools are associated with some hospitals, but many you can also google to find the requirements.
Internship
An internship is a hands-on learning experience where you gradually move into an independent child life specialist role. Your internship must be supervised by a CCLS and it will typically follow the ACLP's modules. There are certain internship sites that are accredited, but not all of them are accredited at this time. You also don't have to do an internship at an accredited hospital, since many aren't listed or haven't gone through accreditation yet. The ACLP has a list of accredited internship sites and if you're a member you can use the program database to search for hospitals that have internships. You can also find them through Googling and through other websites or regional Child Life Groups. Just be aware that not every list is a comprehensive list.