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Child Life Specialist
I am very interested in becoming a Child Life Specialist.
What i am wondering is: what exactly does one do, and what kind of school/ degrees would i need (phd, masters etc.) and what types of courses do i need to take.
Also, waht is the average salary for a child life specialist?
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Apply to a four-year college that offers solid foundations in psychology, education or child development. Some colleges offer a bachelor's degree in child life.
Find a part-time job that involves children. Look for work with your city parks and recreation department or as a summer camp counselor.
Volunteer in a hospital or clinic that employs a child life specialist. This is where you will obtain most of your experience, and it will be an important item on your résumé.
Apply for certification if it is mandatory in your state. Find out about child life certification in your state by contacting The Child Life Council, 11820 Parklawn Drive #3202, Rockville, MD. You must complete either an internship or a certain number of hours volunteering in a child life program to become certified.
Earn a master's degree in child life if you would eventually like to manage a program or be a director of child life, although some hospitals will accept a complementing degree in child development, therapeutic recreation or child psychology.
On your résumé and in your interviews, emphasize your previous hospital experience. Look for work in big cities, because most child life programs are located at large medical centers.
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