To be certified, a bachelor's degree in any field will do. However, a bachelor's degree in child life or similar field is a better option. Similar fields include psychology, child development, child and family studies, and early childhood education. You can find schools that offer bachelor's degrees in child life at https://www.childlife.org/certification/students/child-life-academic-programs. Pick a school endorsed by the ACLP to fulfill the certification requirements. If you don't graduate from an ACLP-endorsed program in child life, you can still become certified. You just need to complete 10 specific undergraduate classes to fulfill the same requirement, though you still need a bachelor's degree in another field. Take 1 child life course taught by a child life specialist, 2 child development courses that cover birth to 18-years-old, 1 family systems course, 1 play course, 1 loss/bereavement or death/dying course, 1 research course, and 3 more courses in the child life field or a related field. The ACLP recommends that you focus on ethics, medical terminology, and anatomy/physiology, but these classes are not required. They can count as your 3 extra classes. Some programs may require you to have a practicum, which will help you gain valuable experience. Even if yours doesn't, consider volunteering in a related area to gain valuable experience. For instance, you could volunteer to help at a children's hospital or in the pediatric unit of a hospital. Any position in the medical field that gives you experience working with children will be beneficial. You might also volunteer at a camp for kids with particular medical needs. Ask your professors to recommend places to volunteer. You may even be able to find a paid entry-level position. A master's degree in child life is not required to be certified, at least prior to 2022. However, the certification will require a master's degree after 2022. While you can be grandfathered in before that year, a master's degree will make you more competitive in the field. While you don't need to be a member to be a child life specialist, this organization is the agency you will be certified with. Membership comes with benefits, such as access to a search portal for internships, job listings, and more. Plus, you get discounts on things like tests and certification maintenance fees if you're a member. A student membership is $72 USD per year as of 2018, while a professional membership is $125 USD per year as of 2018. The main difference is students do not have voting privileges.
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One-sentence summary -- Earn a bachelor's degree in child life. Complete the required coursework to be eligible for certification. Volunteer or complete a practicum. Get a master's degree to improve your chances of getting a job. Become a member of the ACLP to gain access to more jobs.

Just like with the letter, it's best to use professional letterhead if you have it. A pre-printed envelope looks more polished and authoritative than just a handwritten or even a typed envelope. If you don't have a letterhead envelope, place your address in the upper left-hand corner, starting with your name on the first line, followed by the rest of the address on the next lines: Ms. Rebecca JohnsonMuddy River High School 492 West Lane Big City, Arkansas 73234 The recipient's address should go over to the right on the envelope, centered from top to bottom. Start with the recipient's name. If you don't know the person's name, start with the office, such as the Office of Admissions, followed by the school's name and the rest of the address on the next lines. The address should look like the following example: Dr. Jordan Jones Office of Admissions College of the Pines 2948 Northlake Boulevard Big Buck City, Oregon 42343 Often, a school will require you to seal and sign the envelope to verify that you wrote it. That just means that you sign it over the sealed edge of the envelope before sending it or giving it to the student to send. Know the deadline for the letter, and make sure you send it in on time or give it to the student. Missing the deadline could mean the student will be rejected for that school. Some schools will allow you to fax or email the letter. Check with the student to see if that's appropriate.
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One-sentence summary -- Use a letterhead envelope. Add the recipient's address. Seal the envelope. Mail the letter on time.

Think about your various perspectives and how they shape you and your world. Considering these views will help you start to make proactive changes. List your perspectives on a piece of paper so that it's easier to see and think about them. You can also make notes or comments on each part as necessary. Be very honest with yourself about your perspectives so that it's easier to make changes. You also need to think about how these perspectives shape you as a person. Do they tend to make you a negative person or make you less likely to take risks? For example, if you believe that a woman can't be the head of state or a CEO, acknowledge this perspective and then consider how it influences and shapes you in every aspect of your life. You may discover that your perspective is clouding your judgment of all women. Your perspectives form throughout your life based on factors such as family, education, culture, and life experiences. Considering what influences your perspectives may help you to reformulate them. Your life experiences including illness, travel, jobs, religion, politics, and your television and reading habits inform your perspective. Broadening your horizons with other experiences may help start to change your perspective on them and the wider world around you. The people with whom you surround yourself, including family and friends, influence your perspective of yourself and life. Confining yourself to certain people or types of people may hinder your ability to change your perspectives. Education and learning have a significant impact on your perspectives. Not keeping yourself continually informed can keep your perspectives from developing. Once you've had a chance to think about your perspectives and what informs them, envision how your life might be if you changed your perspectives. This may help you to see not only the benefits of changing your perspectives, but also may begin to change them. Try the simple exercise of doing a handstand or laying in the grass and looking up at the sky. Both exercises can help you notice that life is not linear and there are many different perspectives from which to view the world. Ask yourself creative and deep questions about the world and consider "what ifs" to help you see how changing your perspectives may change you and the world around you. For example, think about what might happen if you believed that women can be heads of state or CEOs? Would you get along with your coworkers and other people better? Would it help you in your own career or life?
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One-sentence summary --
Think about your perspectives and how they shape you. Consider the sources of your perspectives. Envision how your life would be if you changed your perspectives.