California children deserve to be supported by qualified, licensed Child Life Specialists—not untrained individuals—so we’re calling on legislators to create a licensure law that protects families and ensures safe, professional psychosocial care. The public is at risk, and the child life profession in California is in crisis. Right now, hospitals and healthcare facilities across California can legally hire unqualified or uncredentialed individuals to act as child life specialists. Without proper state regulations, anyone can fill this role — even without the specialized education, clinical training, or certification required to truly support children through medical experiences. This doesn’t just threaten the integrity of a respected healthcare profession; it puts children and families at risk during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Why Child Life Specialists Matter


Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLSs) are trained professionals who help children and families cope with the fear, stress, and uncertainty that come with illness, injury, and hospitalization. They use evidence-based techniques to:

• Reduce pain, anxiety, and medical trauma during procedures
• Prepare children for surgeries and tests in language they understand
• Support families through trauma, grief, and medical decision-making
• Improve health literacy and communication between parents, children, and care teams

When hospitals employ individuals without this child life specific education and clinical training, children can experience unnecessary distress, trauma, and long-term fear of medical care and medical care providers.

The Problem


Callifornia does not require licensure for child life specialists. This means:

• There’s no legal standard to determine who is qualified to provide psychosocial care to children in healthcare settings.
• Families may unknowingly receive support from individuals without proper education or certification.


The CCLS credential — earned through rigorous education, a 600-hour clinical internship, and a national certification exam — is not legally protected. To put it in perspective: i

• In California, professions like eyelash extension technicians, auctioneers, and tow truck drivers require licensure. But Certified Child Life Specialists, who support children facing cancer, trauma, and loss, do not.

What Licensure Would Do


Licensure would:

• Protect the public by ensuring that only qualified, credentialed professionals provide psychosocial care to children and families.
• Uphold the integrity of the child life profession.
• Give families the confidence and peace of mind, that the person supporting their child has the training and ethical standards to do so safely and effectively.

What We’re Asking


We call on California Legislators to pass a law mandating licensure for Certified Child Life Specialists. This law would ensure that every child in California receives high-quality, ethical, and evidence-based psychosocial care — provided by professionals who meet national standards and are held accountable through state regulation.

How You Can Help


By signing this petition, you are:

• Standing up for the safety and well-being of California children.
•  Supporting the professionals who dedicate their lives to helping families through life’s most difficult moments.
• Urging lawmakers to recognize Certified Child Life Specialists as essential, licensed healthcare professionals.

Together, we can make California a leader in protecting families and creating a national standard for safe, compassionate psychosocial care.

https://californiacclsforlicensure.com 

Sign the petition to support licensure for Certified Child Life Specialists in California.