Newborn care specialist certification (NICP)
To become a certified newborn care specialist, you document your training, 4,000 hours of paid newborn and infant experience, current CPR and first aid, and a background check. You can then register for the certification to take the exam which is based on the published national standards.
Newborn and infant care professionals (NICP) help families learn best practices and establish schedules. Many newborn care and infant professionals work overnight and/or as consultants to assist new parents.
What you get
- nanny industry certification that’s valid for 3 years
- digital version of the certification you can download as soon as you pass
- printed version of the certification within 2-3 weeks (US residents)
- permission to use the NICP logo on your resume, LinkedIn and job boards
- your name added to the verification website (optional)
- social media badge with your photo (optional)
Certified Newborn and Infant Care requirements
Here are the requirements to earn the NICP certification:
- Must be at least 21 years old
- Must have a government issued photo identification
General education
Must have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent (from any country). If not, you must provide 3 professional references. If providing references, you’ll earn the Newborn and Infant Specialist (NIS) instead of Newborn and Infant Professional (NICP).
CPR and first aid
Must have current (not expired) CPR and first aid training and documented certification from a reputable training organization.
Newborn care and infant training
Must have at least 20 clock hours or 3 credit hours of newborn and infant training from a reputable training organization. Documents must show the course name, instructor, duration, date and student name.
Newborn care and infant work experience
Must have at least 4,000 hours (2 years) of documented, paid childcare experience caring for newborns and infants aged 0 to 18 months. Documentation includes a pay stub or submitting a form completed by an employer.
Background check
Submit a background check processed by a reputable company within the past 12 months. Additional fees will apply if you need to run a background check.
Newborn care proficiency test
Must pass the NICP proficiency exam with an 80%. The NICP proficiency exam has 100 multiple choice questions based on the National Nanny Standards. You get two (2) attempts to pass the exam.
Why this certification?
The nanny industry isn’t regulated so anyone can say they are a nanny, newborn care, sleep specialist or professional nanny. The same is true for nanny educators and agencies. Agencies screen to find the best fit for a family. We screen for skill.
This certification is proof. It’s the evidence that you invested in qualified training, have experience with newborns and infants, completed a background check and passed an independent industry exam.
Not a claim. An earned credential. Verified.
I love that the US Nanny Association offers the newborn and infant care certification. I appreciate that the US Nanny Association allows me to choose the training program that best fits my schedule and budget.
Test your newborn and infant knowledge
To become a Certified Newborn and Infant Care Professional, you have to pass a proficiency exam based on the National Nanny Standards. These videos are trivia games with quiz questions based on the Newborn and Infant standards and certification exam. Example exam questions are in the certification instructions. The trivia game is available in English and Spanish.
The Certified Newborn and Infant Care trivia videos are available at the links below, in English and Spanish.
$299 certification fee
The certification fee is non-refundable. The entire certification process must be completed within 90 days of purchase. The fee covers the online portal, document review, exam management and issuing your certification.
This fee does not include any childcare training, CPR and first aid training or your background check. These fees are paid directly to the organizations that provide these services.
Before you pay, read the grounds on which an application can be denied and how to request a review: Certification Review and Reconsideration Policy.
Frequently asked questions
What does Newborn Care Specialist mean?
The title is not regulated or protected. Anyone can use it regardless of training or experience, and there is no definition across the industry. Some people using it have completed extensive newborn training. Others have none. The NICP certification exists to make the title verifiable: a certified NICP has documented newborn care and infant training, 4,000 hours of paid experience with infants and newborns aged 0 to 18 months, a current background check and a passing exam score, each one submitted to the US Nanny Association to review.
What is the difference between NICP and NIS?
The Newborn and Infant Care Professional (NICP) requires a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. The Newborn and Infant Specialist accepts three professional references instead. Everything else is identical; minimum age is 21, 20 clock hours or 3 credit hours of newborn and infant training, 4,000 hours of paid experience with newborns and infants aged 0 to 18 months, current CPR and first aid, a background check within 12 months and the same exam. The fee is the same and both are valid for three years.
Who is the NICP certification for?
NICP is for those who care for preemies, newborns and infants, including overnight newborn care specialists and people who work as consultants to new parents.
Does my experience have to be with newborns?
Yes, the 4,000 hours must be paid experience caring for newborns and infants aged 0 to 18 months. General childcare experience with older children does not count toward this certification. If your experience is with children of all ages, the Certified Nanny (NCP) may be a better fit.
Can I hold the NICP and PNCP?
Yes. Many nannies who care for infants also care for older children. You’ll have to pay the fee and meet all the requirements for each certification.
What if I don't have a high school diploma?
Instead of NICP, you’ll earn NIS. The diploma requirement is replaced with three professional references. References from relatives and friends are not accepted.
I already have a certificate from my newborn training. Why do I need NICP?
They do different jobs. A training program issues a certification of completion, which proves you finished the course. For accredited and faculty taught programs, the certification has value. But not all training programs are equal. The NICP certification reviews your knowledge with additional requirements including paid work experience, CPR and first aid, and a background check.
What is the difference between a newborn care specialist and a postpartum doula?
A newborn care specialist focuses on the baby: feeding, sleep, soothing, schedules and logs, and teaching parents to run them. A postpartum doula supports the whole family, including the birthing parent, with emotional, physical and educational support. The two roles overlap in the home but are not the same job. The NICP certifies newborn and infant care.
Is a "baby nurse" the same as a newborn care specialist?
No. “Baby nurse” and “night nurse” are commonly used but misleading. Many states restrict the title “nurse” to people licensed as nurses. A newborn care specialist is not a nurse and does not provide medical care. If you see the term used, ask what training and credentials the person actually holds.
Do I need to be a nurse to earn the NICP?
No. The NICP requires documented newborn and infant training, 4,000 hours of paid experience with infants aged 0 to 18 months, current CPR and first aid, a background check and a passing exam score. A nursing license is not required and does not replace these requirements.
Which newborn care specialist training programs do you accept?
Any reputable provider whose documentation we can review. Providers should have the qualifications to teach the course, be accredited and provide a certificate that shows the provider’s information, instructor name, contact details, course title, dates and the hours completed. The US Nanny Association does not sell training and does not require a specific school or program. Example programs that are accepted include the University of Colorado School of Public Health and Nanny Institute. These are shared as examples, not recommendations.
I work overnight shifts. Is this the right certification for me?
Yes, if your paid experience is with newborns and infants aged 0 to 18 months. Overnight newborn care is one of the most common settings for NICP holders. If you work overnight with older children, the Certified Nanny certification is the better fit.
What is the difference between newborn care and infant care?
Newborn care covers roughly the first three months: feeding every two to three hours, day and night confusion, swaddling, reflux and colic, and establishing the first routines. Infant care covers the months that follow: sleep consolidation, introducing solids, the safety questions that come with rolling, crawling and walking, and developmental milestones.
The two overlap and the boundary is not fixed. The NICP certification covers both, which is why the experience requirement is 4,000 hours with newborns and infants aged 0 to 18 months.
How do I become a newborn care specialist?
There is no licence or legal requirement, because the title is unregulated. To become a certified newborn care specialist, complete newborn and infant training from a reputable provider, build 4,000 hours of paid experience with infants aged 0 to 18 months, hold current CPR and first aid, pass a background check, and pass the NICP exam. The US Nanny Association reviews each of these before issuing the certification.
Newborn care specialist at a glance
The US Nanny Association issues the Newborn and Infant Care Professional (NICP) to people who care for preemies, newborns and infants. It’s a certification, not a course. The US Nanny Association writes the National Nanny Standards, assesses candidates against them, and does not sell training.
Candidates can choose any training provider that meets our published criteria and the exam is drawn from the National Nanny Standards and not any provider’s curriculum.
Candidates must be at least 21 and hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. Those without a diploma may apply for the Newborn and Infant Specialist (NIS) certification which has identical requirements except that three professional references replace the diploma. Candidates document 20 clock hours or 3 credit hours of newborn and infant training from any reputable provider, 4,000 hours of paid experience caring for newborns and infants aged 0 to 18 months, current CPR and first aid certification, and a background check dated within the past 12 months. Certification is based on documentation submitted by the applicant and reviewed against the published certification requirements.
The proficiency exam has 100 multiple choice questions based on the National Nanny Standards, with a passing score of 80% and two attempts. We publish the National Nanny Standards and exams are available in English and Spanish. The certification fee is $299 and is non-refundable. All steps must be completed within 90 days of the purchase date. The certification is valid for three years and renews with current CPR and first aid, 20 clock hours or 3 credit hours of continuing education, and a new background check.
Important information for nannies, parents and agencies
Certification reflects the Association’s determination that an applicant met its published requirements based on the application, supporting information, and examination results reviewed during the certification process. Applicants are responsible for providing accurate and complete information. The Association relies on information supplied by applicants and third parties and may seek clarification or confirmation. Its review does not independently establish the authenticity of every document or accuracy or completeness of every statement. Certification does not guarantee future conduct, judgment, or suitability for a particular position. Families, agencies, and employers must conduct their own screening and hiring diligence.
The Association may contact employers, training providers, references or issuing organizations to clarify or confirm submitted information. Such inquiries are limited to the certification review and do not constitute comprehensive authentication of every document or independent verification of every statement.
Families, agencies, and employers must complete their own screening and hiring diligence. Certification does not guarantee a caregiver’s future conduct, judgment, or employment suitability.