Child Life Extern positions focus on delivering results in their domain. This page aggregates open Child Life Extern roles and what employers typically expect.
**Cabell Huntington Hospital** is seeking a **Child Life Extern** to work alongside our **Children's Hospital.** The primary purpose of the Child Life Extern is to gain practical, hands-on experience in the hospital environment under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS). The Child Life Extern assists in providing developmentally appropriate play, procedural preparation and support, and therapeutic activities to pediatric patients and their families. The extern will observe and participate in clinical interventions while learning about the psychosocial aspects of hospitalization and the child life profession. **Responsibilities include but are not limited to:** - Support and assist Certified Child Life Specialists in daily clinical duties and interventions. - Facilitate play opportunities for children of all developmental levels in the playroom and at bedside. - Observe and participate in patient preparation, coping, and procedural support when appropriate. - Assist in maintaining safe, clean, and organized play and storage areas. - Help coordinate special events, programs, and donor relations with the Child Life team. - Document patient interactions under supervision to promote professional growth and understanding of healthcare documentation. - Participate in team meetings, rounds, and educational in-services as assigned. - Demonstrate respect, compassion, and professionalism in all patient and family interactions. - Enrollment in a bachelor’s or master’s program in Child Life, Human Development, Psychology, or related field required. - Completion of a minimum of 100 practicum or observation hours in a hospital or healthcare setting preferred. - CPR (BLS) Certification required. - Eligibility for or working toward certification through the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) required.
Salary estimate
$68,000 – $92,000/yr
Provided by the employer.
Resume tips for Child Life Extern applicants
Lead with measurable achievements relevant to Child Life Extern (numbers, scope, impact).
Mirror the exact keywords from the Child Life Extern posting so applicant tracking systems rank you higher.
List the specific tools and skills the role names.
Keep it to one page for early-career, two pages for senior Child Life Extern candidates.
Interview preparation
Prepare concrete STAR-format stories that show Child Life Extern outcomes you drove.
Research the employer's product and recent news before the interview.
Be ready to explain how you'd approach a typical Child Life Extern problem end to end.
Have thoughtful questions ready about the team, tools and success metrics.
About Cabell Huntington Hospital
Cabell Huntington Hospital is actively hiring on Jobedly. Explore their open roles and what it's like to work there.