Volunteer Application Process

Most volunteer areas require a regularly scheduled weekly 4 hour shift. Some areas, like our Canine Greeters and Therapy volunteers, require a weekly 1.5 hour shift.

Our Junior Ambassador program provides volunteer opportunities for students 15-17 years of age. Our traditional volunteer program provides opportunities for those 18 and up.

1. Application: Complete the online application form or call 216.445.6986 to request an application packet be mailed to you.
2. Interview: A volunteer coordinator will call to interview you and go over your application once it has been received. The purpose of this phone interview is to help us become acquainted and, if accepted, determine your volunteer placement/schedule.
3. Security Clearance: Each applicant will receive a background check through our Protective Services Department at no cost to you. A social security number or Visa/Passport number is required. Children’s Hospital applicants will receive a fingerprinted background check at our Main Campus before or after the scheduled orientation.
4. Orientation: Orientation attendance is required and provided by Volunteer Services. You will be scheduled for an orientation day/time at the completion of your interview. Our orientation covers the policies and procedures of Cleveland Clinic and the Volunteer Services Department. The orientation lasts approximately 3.5 hours.
5. TB Test: Volunteers are required to complete a yearly TB test. Cleveland Clinic provides TB tests at no cost to our applicants and volunteers at our Main Campus and many Family Health Centers. A TB test is administered in one visit and then the patient returns 48-72 hours after to have the results read. If you fail to return for your reading, you will be required to REPEAT the TB test. We encourage our Main Campus applicants to go in for a TB test before or after the scheduled orientation.
6. Training: Applicants with direct patient contact (Nursing, Emergency Department, and Children’s Hospital) will receive an additional 1 hour of training that will be scheduled with your Volunteer Coordinator after the confirmation of a completed TB test.
7. ID Badge/Parking: Each volunteer is provided a badge to be worn each time they volunteer and a parking sticker that will allow them to park in designated lots during their volunteer service. After orientation and training has been complete and confirmation of the completed security clearance and TB test has been received, applicants will be notified that they can report to the ID Badge and Parking Departments on our Main Campus to pick up their ID badge and parking sticker.
8. Shadowing: Volunteers are required to shadow a veteran volunteer before beginning their regular shift. A volunteer coordinator will contact you to schedule a time for you to pick up your uniform at Volunteer Services and escort you to your volunteer location to meet the veteran volunteer you will be shadowing.
9. Volunteer!

Depending on your desired assignment, when orientations are available and how quickly background checks and TB tests can be administered, the process can take between 2-3 weeks.

Volunteers must adhere to Cleveland Clinic's business casual dress code along with their provided blazer or vest. The dress code is explained in detail at orientation.

There are opportunities available for high school and college students who wish to volunteer their time for the summer. Volunteers are asked to commit to 100 hours of service which takes about 6 months to complete with a weekly four hour shift. Our high school and college summer programs require a greater weekly time commitment.

Volunteer Services does not provide opportunities to shadow clinical staff. If you wish to observe or shadow a Cleveland Clinic physician, you must contact one directly to request the opportunity.

Once applications have been received, they are kept on file for one year. If you have applied to volunteer over a year ago, you will need to reapply.

The majority of volunteers volunteer 4 hour shifts Monday - Fridays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. There are limited volunteer opportunities available between the hours of 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. weekends.

Orientations are scheduled once a week either mornings beginning at 9:30 a.m. or afternoons beginning at 12:30 p.m. Orientations are by appointment only. A volunteer coordinator will contact you after your application has been received to schedule you for an orientation. Orientations are 3.5 hours in length which includes a personal interview with one of our volunteer coordinators to discuss volunteer placement. Two forms of ID are required for verification and a photo will be taken for your ID badge. Orientation topics include:

• Volunteering in a healthcare environment
• The volunteer role in HIPAA regulations and confidentiality
• Infection control
• The volunteer response to Joint Commission surveyors
• Fire safety and emergency responsiveness
• Wheelchair training
• Volunteer Services policies, including dress code, meal vouchers and parking info

For orientation, parking is available to no cost to you in Lot #4 on East 89th and Carnegie. At the end of orientation a parking voucher will be given to you. Once you have been accepted as a volunteer and begin your shift, parking is available to no cost to you in Lot #1 on East 93th Street or Lot #2 on East 100th Street and Carnegie. Free parking is available only during your volunteer shift. Family Health Center volunteers will be shown where to park at their start date.

One meal voucher is issued to those who volunteer a shift of 4 or more consecutive hours. Meal vouchers are made available to volunteers at the beginning of each month for hours completed for the previous month. Vouchers are good at certain Cleveland Clinic Main Campus and Family Health Center cafes. Meal vouchers are explained in detail at orientation.

Due to the 100 hour requirement of volunteers, it is not recommended that community service or court-ordered service hours be fulfilled by volunteering at Cleveland Clinic.

Volunteer Services does not process Cleveland Clinic internships. For information on Cleveland Clinic internships, visit the Office of Civic Education.

We do not recommend volunteering in an attempt to secure employment at Cleveland Clinic. Volunteering does not guarantee or open doors to part time or full time employment. For information on Cleveland Clinic employment, visit Careers at Cleveland Clinic.

We ask our volunteers to commit to a regularly scheduled weekly shift for a total of 100 hours or approximately 6 months. This long-term opportunity provides consistency which benefits both the volunteers and the patients/staff that they serve.

Volunteering in a healthcare environment requires some necessary steps before you can begin. Please refer to the volunteer application process for details. This process can take between 2-3 weeks before you are ready to begin volunteering.

Yes, but we ask you commit to your assigned area for 3 months and then contact your volunteer coordinator to talk about the possibility of adding an additional shift in another area.

Yes, if your availability allows it and there are opportunities available for multiple shifts.