Recreational Therapy and Child Life-Clinical Education Services

   Fellowship Application|Supplemental Application|
Intern Application|Deadline Dates for Applications|Internship Brochure|Fellowship Brochure

(Deadline for Fellowship Applications has changed. It is now April 1, 2010)


Internship opportunities for fall 2010 are in the following areas: Pediatrics, Burn Center, Oncology, and Adult Psychiatry.  The deadline date for applications, recommendation letters, and transcripts is April 2, 2010.

Thank you for your interest in our Clinical Education Programs.

Recreational Therapy Internships are 14 weeks in duration and are offered in all of our service areas which are Geriatric Acute Care, Bone Marrow Transplants, Burn Center, Psychiatry, Rehabilitation, and Pediatrics. Clinical supervision is provided by an LRT/CTRS who meets the requirements for certification by NCTRC and for licensure by NCBRTL. To be considered for an internship, applicants for these internships must meet the coursework requirements for certification and licensure.

Our most frequently asked question:
       Q-Do you offer child life internships (independent of Recreational Therapy requirements)?
       A-We offer Recreational Therapy internships in pediatrics. This internship experience may meet the requirement for child life certification if the Recreational Therapy internship supervisor meets the specific qualifications of the Child Life Certifying Committee.

Recreational Therapy Clinical Fellowships are available in Rehabilitation, Psychiatry, and Pediatrics. Everyone applying for a fellowship position will need to be licensed by the North Carolina Board of Recreational Therapy. Both the Fellowship and Supplemental Applications are required if you are applying for one of these positions. Deadline date for submitting applications is April 1 each year.

Since its inception, the department has been active in the clinical education and training of students in recreational therapy. Between 1975 and 1994, the Department of Recreational Therapy and Child Life provided over 150 Graduate Assistantships for students pursuing graduate degrees specializing in therapeutic recreation with the Curriculum in Leisure Studies and Recreation Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In what was a pioneering effort for the profession of recreational therapy, the department initiated a Recreational Therapy Clinical Fellowship Program in 1993. Currently, this program provides three full-time, year-long paid clinical education experiences for new graduates. Clinical Fellowships are available in Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Rehabilitation. Graduate and undergraduate internships are also offered in cooperation with affiliated colleges and universities across the country. Since 1956, over 350 students have benefited from clinical internships in the Department of Recreational Therapy. Additionally, either short-term or long-term volunteer opportunities are available.