TCU Child Development Students who wish to pursue a career in Child Life will benefit from a recent update.

Certified Child Life Specialists are educated and clinically trained in the developmental impact of illness and injury. Their role helps improve patient and family care, satisfaction, and overall experience.

The Association of Child Life Professionals has approved ten TCU classes for the coursework requirement for all students pursuing a career in child life.

In addition to the approved coursework requirement, students must meet the additional requirements set forth by the Association of Child Life Professionals  including:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Clinical experience
• Certification exam

Many TCU Child Development students are interested in becoming a Child Life Specialist. Prior to the approval of TCU’s coursework, students pursuing a career in Child Life had to submit individual classes for approval, uncertain if they would be able to meet the ten course requirement. Dr. Casey Call, Associate Professor of Professional Practice and Associate Director of Education, sees this development as a benefit for students and an asset to the TCU CHDV program.

“This is an exciting update because TCU Child Development students who want to become child life specialists will know for certain that they will be able to fulfill all ten courses of the Association of Child Life Professionals’ eligibility requirements,” says Call. “Although the Child Life field is quite competitive, having our courses approved makes the process much smoother for students and legitimizes the TCU Child Development Program as one that adequately prepares students for this career path.”

For more information about the requirements to become a Child Life Specialist, visit the Association of Child Life Professionals website.

For details about TCU’s Child Life coursework, download the TCU CHDV Child Life guide.