What Does
Certified Mean?
Certification provides independent verification of a certain
level of expertise in a particular area. Basically, it means you have completed
the steps required to receive a particular designation. But this basic
definition comes with a weakness--in some cases, individuals can become
"certified" simply by paying a particular membership fee or by
attending the required seminar. Such certifications are meaningless and a waste
of time and money.
Certifications that
mean something are about achieving designations that demonstrate to your
employer and/or clients that you are, indeed, an expert in a particular area or
areas, and that a reputable, recognizable organization is willing to attest to
that.
Such certifications typically arise from a scenario like this: a child care related organization, vendor, or consortium identifies a particular function that requires specific skills, knowledge, and expertise--for example, newborn care. They detail just what those skills are and which knowledge is critical. This information makes up the common body of knowledge (CBOK) related to the specialty.
The sponsoring organization also identifies a series of
steps that will enable you to obtain the targeted level of acquired knowledge,
and they implement methods of assessing your progress. Certification is
conferred when a candidate can demonstrate they have obtained the specified
abilities and knowledge.
With many certifications, the participant will also be granted a privileged relationship with the program's sponsor. The relationship can include priority support, early product updates, access to special forums, or other perks that will enable them to perform at a higher level.
Certifications and educational training
programs that we recognize
and
consider of value to care providers and families…
International Nanny Association (INA)
INA Nanny
Basic Skills Exam + INA Nanny Credential
Exam
The INA
Nanny Credential Exam is a 90 question multiple choice timed exam that is
available to be taken online.
The exam is designed to test a nanny's practical knowledge
of child care. A proctor must be secured by the exam candidate to administer
the exam prior to testing.
Because the exam is challenging, it is strongly recommended
that anyone sitting for the exam has a minimum of 2000 hours of (the equivalent
of 1 year, full-time) professional in-home child care experience. Those sitting
for the exam must have a current certification in Infant/Child CPR and First
Aid and photo identification. There is a charge for taking the exam, with a
discount offered to INA members.
Newborn Care Specialist Association (NCSA)
NCSA-CNCS
– NCSA Certified Newborn Care Specialist
Vocational schools and training facilities submit their
curriculum and meet the standards of the NCSA. After the completion of any of
one of the schools courses, successfully passing the NCSA's membership test and
completing their internship hours; candidates can be eligible for certification
through the NCSA. A candidate need not take a course to take the NCSA
membership test; they may 'test out'. NCSA does not offer courses – it reviews
and approves the curriculum offerings of vocational training schools. Visit the
NCSA website for a listing of participating approved schools.
Doulas of North America (DONA)
CD (DONA)
- Certified Birth Doula
PCD (DONA)
- Cetfied Postpartum Doula
DONA International has the highest certification standards
for doulas worldwide. When a doula proudly adds the letters CD(DONA) or
PCD(DONA) after her name, it shows the world she has met all the requirements
of our rigorous certification program.
Birth Arts International (BAI)
www.birtharts.com online and distance learning course offerings
BAICD -
Certified Birth Arts International Doula
BAIPPD -
Certified Birth Arts International Postpartum Doula
Birth Arts International offers extensive doula, postpartum
doula, childbirth educator, midwifery assistant and advanced doula trainings.
Alexandria School
www.alexandria-school.com online and distance learning course offerings
(on-site classes pending)
New
Born Care Specialist curriculum
The instructors at Alexandria School, along with founder Carolyn
Stulberg, (BSN, CCE) and the school’s dedicated staff, are committed to
educating and training nannies and newborn care specialists with a demanding,
practical curriculum that will position graduates to be the best in the
profession.
English Nanny & Governess School
www.nanny-governess.com
on-site training and education
ENGS provides the following certifications:
American Red
Cross: First Aid, CPR, AED, and EpiPen, and Poison Prevention,
AAA Defensive
Driving, NCSA Newborn Care Specialists, Infant Massage
Infant Care Training Academy (ICT)
ICTNCS -
Certified ICT Newborn Care Specialist
Norhtwest Nannies Inc.
www.nwnanny.com on-site 30 week nanny training program
NCSA approved course of study for New Born Care Specialist candidates
What do all of
these different titles mean?
–
Definitions used in the US for In-Home Child Care (courtesy INA)
What is a nanny?
A nanny is a child care specialist whose workplace is a
family’s private home. A nanny is employed by a family to provide the highest
level of customized child care and to give personalized attention to the
family’s children. A nanny may be employed full time or part time, and the
nanny may or may not live with the family. The nanny’s role is to provide
support to the family by serving as a loving, nurturing and trustworthy
companion to the children.
Ideally, a nanny will have specialized child care skills, a
deep understanding of children and a genuine love of caring for children. A
nanny offers the family convenient and consistent high quality child care by
meeting each child’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs. In
addition to traditional nannies who provide general child care, “specialty”
nannies exist to meet the needs of families who desire a caregiver with
expertise in a specific area.
Types of Nannies
Newborn Care Specialists
A newborn care specialist is a nanny who typically has
specialized training and always has extensive experience in newborn care or
nursing. Newborn care specialists often provide 24-hour child care for families
with newborns during the first weeks of a child’s life.
Sleep Trainers
A sleep trainer is a nanny who specializes in developing
individual routines and systems for helping babies and children develop solid,
healthy sleep habits.
Multiples Specialists
A multiples specialist is a nanny who has extensive
experience caring for multiples and who works with families who have twins,
triplets or higher order multiples.
Governesses
A governess is an educationally qualified nanny employed by a family for the full- or part-time private home education or tutoring of the family’s children. A governess functions as an educator and is not usually employed to perform domestic tasks or to meet the physical needs of the family’s children.
Babysitters
A babysitter provides supervisory, custodial care of
children on a full-time or part-time basis. Many babysitters have no special
training and have limited child care experience.
Au Pairs
An au pair is a foreign national between the ages of 18-26 who enters the United States through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Au Pair Exchange Program, who Live-IN with their host family to experience American life for up to 24 months (au pairs in good standing can apply to extend their initial 12-month visit an additional 6, 9 or 12 months). Au pairs participate in the life of the host family by providing limited child care services (maximum 10 hours per day, 45 hours per week) and are compensated for their work according to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Au pairs may not be placed in homes with infants three months of age or younger, unless a parent or responsible adult will be in the home supervising the au pair. An au pair may not be placed in the home with a child two years of age or younger unless they have 200 or more hours of documented child care experience.
