What skills do you need to be a child life specialist
Dylan Hughes
Published May 24, 2026
Knowledge of behavior and development.Leadership.Good communication.Knowledge and understanding of group dynamics and its principles.Ability to organize.Ability to play.
What are the roles and responsibilities of a child life specialist?
Child life specialists work closely with children and families in medical settings, serving as emotional support and helping develop family coping strategies. With a background in child development, psychology and counseling, child life specialists help explain medical jargon to kids and prepare them for procedures.
Is being a child life specialist Hard?
As a specialist, it is most fulfilling to see a once anxious or fearful patient get through a difficult experience with new found coping skills and confidence. There is high demand for clinical Child Life services as well as administrative and programming responsibilities.
What GPA do you need to be a child life specialist?
General Admission Requirements Bachelor’s degree in the social sciences or equivalent. Minimum grade point average 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) in bachelor’s coursework for at least the final 45 units prior to graduation. GRE is not required.Do child life specialists make good money?
The salary of a child life specialist depends on location, experience, and education. In general, child life specialists make between $43,000 and $67,000 per year, with the median falling at about $55,000, as of December 2021.
Do you need a masters for child life specialist?
Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with an educational background that includes human growth and development, education, psychology and counseling. They are required to complete an internship and examination.
Why should I be a child life specialist?
The goal of a certified child life specialist (CCLS) is to reduce the stress and anxiety childrenand families experience related to healthcare and hospitalization. CCLSs are experts in child development. They promote effective coping through education, preparation, and play.
Do child life specialists wear scrubs?
You may choose to wear scrubs that match the child life specialists in Caribbean Blue or wear business casual clothing. Comfortable shoes that are quiet on tile floors are strongly suggested.What is a child life practicum?
The child life practicum is organized to give students the opportunity to gain insight and exposure to the child life profession and help students understand the unique needs of hospitalized children and their families.
What jobs are similar to child life specialist?- Medical social worker.
- Nurse.
- Occupational therapist.
Is child life specialist competitive?
Child Life is a competitive field. With expansion of hospitals and children’s hospitals, there has been an increased demand for Child Life Specialists. It is important to focus on Child Life specific coursework and to volunteer with well and hospitalized children to be a part of the competitive field.
What state pays Child Life Specialist the most?
People on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $35,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $112,000. As most things go, location can be critical. California, Washington, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island provide the highest Child Life Specialist salaries.
How much does a Child Life Specialist make in NYC?
The average salary for a Child Life Specialist is $59,071 in New York City, NY.
How much does a Child Life Specialist make in Alabama?
How much does a Child Life Specialist make in Alabama? The average Child Life Specialist salary in Alabama is $51,064 as of October 29, 2021, but the range typically falls between $45,554 and $57,220.
What does a typical day look like as a child life specialist?
A Coping Plan Facilitating fun bedside, playroom and group play are common activities in a typical day of a child life specialist. … We regularly meet with families to educate them on how to advocate on behalf of their children, express their concerns and desires, and learn about and use different coping strategies.
What is the job outlook for a child life specialist?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of child, family and school social workers, which is the category child life specialists falls under, is projected to grow 7% from 2018 to 2028. This is due to the need to assist parents to maximize the well-being of their children.
How do I become a child therapist?
Child therapists are required to have at least a master’s degree in counseling or social work or a doctoral degree in psychology. A Bachelor’s degree is the first requirement for a child counselor, and most places of employment, as well as state boards, require a Master’s or Doctoral level education.
How do I become a life specialist?
- Earn At Least a Bachelor’s Degree Related to Child Life. …
- Obtain Work Experience with Children in Pediatric Care. …
- Apply to Receive Certification as a Child Life Specialist.
What is a child life specialist in Canada?
Child life specialists provide opportunities for therapeutic and diversional play, prepare children for and assist children during medical tests and procedures through education, rehearsal, and coping skill development, and support families during hospitalization or challenging events.
What is the difference between practicum and internship?
The difference between an internship and a practicum lies is that the first is a paid, hands-on work experience, while the second is an unpaid, hands-off work experience.
How do I become a child life specialist in Oklahoma?
Becoming a Child Life Specialist To become a Child Life Specialist, one must complete a bachelor’s degree in child development or a related field (including a class taught by a certified Child Life Specialist), a 480-hour internship and pass the certification exam.
What is a child life assistant?
Child life assistants are professionals trained to support the psychosocial and developmental needs of children and their families in coordination with a child life specialist. They also supervise volunteers and the activity centers within the main hospital.
How do I become a child life specialist in Tennessee?
Child Life Specialist A bachelor’s or master’s degree with an educational emphasis in human growth and development, human services, education, psychology or a related field is the minimum educational requirement.
How do I know if I want to be a child life specialist?
Child life specialists have at least a bachelor’s degree in child life, child psychology, or another closely related field to human development. Some people may choose to pursue their education further, getting a master’s of science degree in child life studies or a closely related field.
How much do child psychologists make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), clinical, counseling, and school psychologists earned a median salary of $78,200 as of May 2019. Some of the top earners in this field worked in child daycare services, earning an average salary of $120,130.
What is a good salary?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average salary in 2020 was $56,310. … Though wages above the average could be seen as a good salary, there are no hard and fast rules regarding how to determine a good salary since there are many external factors involved.
How much does a Child Life Specialist make in California?
How much does a Child Life Specialist make in California? The average Child Life Specialist salary in California is $61,374 as of November 29, 2021, but the range typically falls between $54,750 and $68,769.
How much does a Child Life Specialist make in NJ?
How much does a Child Life Specialist make in New Jersey? The average Child Life Specialist salary in New Jersey is $60,253 as of October 29, 2021, but the range typically falls between $53,751 and $67,516.
How much do child life specialists make in Boston?
PercentileSalaryLocation25th Percentile Child Life Specialist Salary$55,225Boston,MA50th Percentile Child Life Specialist Salary$61,907Boston,MA75th Percentile Child Life Specialist Salary$69,366Boston,MA90th Percentile Child Life Specialist Salary$76,158Boston,MA
How much does a Child Life Specialist make in Florida?
How much does a Child Life Specialist make in Florida? The average Child Life Specialist salary in Florida is $52,198 as of November 29, 2021, but the range typically falls between $46,564 and $58,488.
How much do child life specialists make in Georgia?
How much does a Child Life Specialist make in Georgia? The average Child Life Specialist salary in Georgia is $53,159 as of November 29, 2021, but the range typically falls between $47,422 and $59,565.
