Child Life
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE - A stepping-stone to becoming a Child Life Specialist! Our FULLY ONLINE program is designed to prepare you for CCLS certification. The coursework concentrates on childhood growth and development as well as the psychological impact of illness, divorce, and grief.
This program is perfect for...
...any individual wishing to learn more about child life, including:
Child Life assistants, interns, pediatric medical providers, classroom teachers working with
children having chronic or life-threatening illnesses. It's a stepping-stone to becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist.
What you'll learn...
An overview of child life theory and practice, including
the therapeutic role of play, the nature of suffering, stages
of grief, medical terminology, community outreach, and
technology.
Valuable information and practical skills that can be applied
when working with children, adolescents and their families
in healthcare settings and other challenging environments.
You’ll be equipped with a strong background in child development and family organization. You will study effective coping skills for families facing medical issues and other concerns.
Our program course work is conveniently designed to meet the individual requirements of the CCLS exam.
This program's course work is designed to prepare you for CCLS certification.
NOTE* The Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential is the exclusive certification offered by the Association of Child Life Professionals. For more information, visit http://www.childlife.org/certification.
UCSB Extension/Division of Professional and Continuing Education offers courses that have been reviewed, earned pre-approval and are listed on the Association of Child Life Professionals Programs Offering Pre-Approved Courses or Academic Programs Offering Child Life Course
Our courses are a stepping stone to help you reach the next step towards becoming a CCLS.
The program requirements are defined in the Program Course Schedule. If planning to apply for an internship, please read: Does the Child Life program offer support for securing an internship/practicum?
Online Courses
Required 5 courses (20 units):
- ED X370.2- Child Life: Introduction to Theory and Practice (Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer) - 4 units (This course is taught by a CCLS and meets the six (6) required topics of study set forth by the Association of Child Life Professionals.)
- ED X370.3- Therapeutic Role of Play in Pediatric Care (Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer) - 4 units
- ED X370.4- Death, Dying, & Grief in Pediatric Care (Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer) - 4 units
- ED X370.5- Assessment, Preparation and Medical Terminology (Winter/Spring/Summer) - 4 units
- ED X370.10- Child Development: Birth to 18 (Winter/Summer) - 4 units
- ED X370.11- Pediatric Palliative Care & Hospice (Fall) - 4 units
- ED X370.12- Family Systems (Fall/Spring/Summer) - 4 units
- ED X370.13- Children with Special Needs (Winter/Summer) - 4 units
Courses are offered across 4 academic quarters: fall, winter, spring, and summer. For more information visit the Approved Academic Calendar.
- ED X370.14- Research Methodologies in Child Life (Spring) - 4 units
- ED X370.15- Child Life & Trauma (Fall/Winter/Spring) - 4 units
- ED X370.16- Child Life Globally (Winter) - 4 units
- ED X370.17- Challenges in Global Maternal and Child Health (Summer) - 4 units
- ED X370.18- Child Life in Non-Traditional Settings: Beyond the Hospital (Fall/Spring) - 4 units
- ED X370.19- Early Child Development: Birth to 8 (Winter/Summer) - 4 units
- ED X370.20- Medical Ethics (Spring) - 4 units
- ED X370.21-Adolescent Development (ages 10 - 19) (Fall/Spring) - 4 units
- ED X370.7- Child Life Internship (when requested) - 4 units
All courses are offered in an interactive online asynchronous format. Students are required to complete weekly assignments through GauchoSpace, UCSB's Moodle course management system. Students are not required to be in front of the computer or online at any particular time.
Requirements
20 total units to complete this professional certificate
Earn no less than a "C" in any particular course to be eligible for the certificate
Ready to start?
Community
International
Individual Courses*
$550
$550
Complete Certificate Cost
$2,500
$2,500