Professional Development Units

Recertification by Professional Development Units (PDU) allows Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) an opportunity to choose education and training options specific to their individual professional needs. CCLSs choosing the PDU option must earn a minimum number of Professional Development Units within their five-year recertification cycle.

Individuals may obtain PDUs for activities such as:

  • Traditional professional development
  • Independent learning
  • Presenting
  • Internship supervision
  • Publishing

For a complete listing of PDU-eligible activities, please refer to the Recertification Manual.

Learn More

Cycle for Obtaining PDUs

Professional Development Units (PDUs) must have been completed during the five-year cycle for which they are reported.

  • Newly certified individuals: A CCLS may start accruing PDUs on the day the certification exam is passed and may continue to do so until October 31 of the year in which certification will expire.
  • Recertified individuals: A recently recertified CCLS may begin accruing PDUs for the next recertification cycle on November 1 and may continue to do so until October 31 of the year in which the new certification cycle will expire.

Learn More

Reporting & Submitting PDUs

The following outlines the steps necessary to report PDUs and submit a PDU application for recertification.

1. Log into your account at childlife.org

2. Click on the menu icon

3. Click on Add PDUs under Certification/Certification Portal

4. Select Credit Type from the drop down menu

5. Click Save

6. Repeat for all PDUs

7. Review your PDUs

8. Submit your PDU application

Random Audit of PDU Applications

To uphold and enforce the high standards that have been set for child life professional development, the Child Life Certification Commission conducts an annual, random audit of Professional Development Unit (PDU) recertification applications. The percentage of certificants to be audited is set by the CLCC.

Certified Child Life Specialists must keep supporting documentation for each professional development activity in case the application is selected for random audit.