Student Internship and Practicum

We offer field experience opportunities for students who are earnest in their pursuit of the child life profession.

Internships

The Child Life Internship offers candidates an environment rich in experience and support that will prepare them for the career ahead. Primary rotations can include the inpatient pediatric unit, the emergency department and the perioperative setting. These primary rotations are supplemented by inclusion in our work with patients admitted for mental health concerns, consults for bereavement and disability support, and work with our facility dog. The majority of the internship happens during weekdays, however some flexibility of schedule is requested in order to provide optimal learning in each rotation.

Our team believes that internships are a mutual learning experience – that our supervisors can learn from students just as our students learn from our supervisors. We look for candidates who are flexible, engaged, and willing to make – and learn from – mistakes, and we hope to present the same to you as supervisors.

Opportunities for Advancement

We are focused on recruiting the most talented and qualified staff that represent the communities we serve, and expanding access to opportunities for advancement. We are open to different formats of internship including nights/weekends and full-year/part-time pathways. We also encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to pursue the ACLP Diversity Scholarships offered each internship session. Please connect with Kristy Berksza by calling 617-243-5691 or by email.

Spring and Fall Sessions

We traditionally offer internships in the spring and fall semesters.

• The spring internship is reserved for applicants from Boston University only.
• For our fall internship, we accept all applicants – those affiliated with an academic institution and those applying independently.

Internship Application Information

FOR THE FALL OF 2026 the Newton-Wellesley Hospital child life team will be offering a PART-TIME INTERNSHIP beginning in mid-August and continuing through May 2027. This opportunity will replace, for this year, the full-time internship usually offered during the fall semester. This internship is planned to be two 8-hour days per week with 13 week rotations through our perioperative, emergency, and inpatient units. We have made this choice as a means to increase equity and access to the child life profession for those unable to financially manage a full-time internship. We are also willing to offer partial internship hours if applicants want to pursue a complementary internship at another institution. Further information about the application process can be found below and by contacting our internship coordinator, Kristy Berksza.

Timing:

The NWH Child Life internship program follows the ACLP’s recommended internship application deadlines. We will continue this practice for the part-time internship application process.

Academics and Experience:

Candidates should have completed or be in the final semester of finishing the coursework for the ACLP Eligibility Assessment. We do NOT require applicants to have completed a practicum.

Process:

Only the ACLP Internship Readiness Common Application, along with supplemental questions (see below) will be accepted. Applicants should read the ACLP documents about Internship Readiness Knowledge, Skills, and Application and Language Associated with the Internship Readiness Common Application prior to beginning their application. An Internship Readiness Common Application Guide is also available for review. Further resources are found here.

In addition to the ACLP Internship Readiness Common Application, applicants must submit a Word document answering the following two questions:

Why is a part-time internship (versus a full-time opportunity) important for you?

We understand that many candidates balance work, family care, educational commitments, or other responsibilities. Please be as specific as you're comfortable sharing—this helps us understand your situation and ensure we're supporting those who might otherwise not have access to the child life profession.

Would you be interested if a full-time position became available instead? (yes/no only)

Download application

Applicants may download the Internship Readiness common app (fillable PDF).

When the application is finalized, please submit the application in an email attachment to our internship coordinator Kristy Berksza. No other documentation (cover letters, resumes, etc.) will be reviewed. A confirmation email will be sent to confirm receipt of your application.

Applicants will be notified via email whether or not they are selected to continue to the interview stage. Interviews are conducted via Microsoft Teams only – no in-person interviews will be offered. Applicants selected for interviews should gather contact information for 3 references (NOT letters of recommendation) to be provided after the interview. References will only be contacted if absolutely necessary during the final decision consideration.

As stated above, offers will be made via the ACLP recommended internship application deadlines. If you have questions or would like more information about our internships, please contact Internship Coordinator Kristy Berksza at 617-243-5691 or by email.