Renew your certification please go to this page You need to recertify If your certification is over 2 years for those with full certification or over 1 year for those with English Nanny/Governess School or Northwest Nanny.

 

NEW!!! THE NCSA IS NOW OFFERING A PRE- CERTIFICATION CERTIFICATE FOR NCS'S WHO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF QUALIFING AND ARE WORKING ON THEIR HOURS. PLEASE CONTACT OUR MEMBERSHIP IF YOU NEED THIS CERTIFICATE

 

THE NCSA OFFERS 2 TYPES OF CERTIFICATION:

 

1. NEWBORN CARE SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION: $25

a. BASIC Certification - This is a certification for people who have completed the course, passed the NCSA test and have 1800 hours and 1 year of experience. (see below)

b. ADVANCE Certification - This is a certificate for people who have taken the course and passed the test or tested out and have more than 1800 hours and more than 2 years of experience. (see below)

2. SLEEP TRAINING CERTIFICATION: The applications will be available March 1, 2011.

BASIC: Infant Sleep Consultant CISC $50

1. Minimum of  2000  hours of sleep training experience can be used on newborn - 6 months.
2. Must have used other methods than cry it out.  Must name 2 other methods they have used successfully.
3. Must have a NCSA Certificate.
4. Must have read at least 3 sleep training books.  One on line course or in person training will count as one book.
5. Must have done 5 client consultations successfully without actually going in to train the baby to sleep.  Can be over the phone or email or Skype type consultations,
6. Must provide at least 10 Testimonials/ References  from families that the candidate have  provided the services.

ADVANCED "Infant Sleep Consultant, CAISC -$75

1. 4999+  hours of sleep training experience can be used on newborn – 18 months
2. Must have used other methods than cry it out.  Must name 2 other methods they have used successfully.
3. Must have an  Advance NCSA Certificate
4. Must have read at least 5 sleep training books.  Taken at least one on line course or in person training.
5. Must have done 10 client consultations successfully without actually going in to train the baby to sleep.  Can be over the phone or email or Skype type consultations
6. Must provide at least 15 Testimonials/ References  from families that the candidate have  provided the services ( they could include the first 10 they used previously for the basic certificate and add 5 more)

Certificates

Basic Sleep Training $50.00 Advanced Sleep Training $75.00

 

As of Febuary 1, 2012 we are certifying NCSs with 1800 hours of in-home (client's home) experience with newborns 0-3 mo old and one years experience. You may use 8 hours per day on the job to count toward your 1800. If you work a 24/7 job you will be allowed only 8 hours per day of that 24 hours to count toward your 1800 hours. However, hours spent working in a NICU and/or a day care center (if you are working with 0 - 12 weeks only) may count with a maximum of 1300 NCS hours. You will need the additional 500 hours in a private setting to reach your 1800 hour goal.. Hours can be completed any time of day or night. You are welcome to start the membership process before you complete your hours, and we will be happy to help guide you along! We will be happy to offer you a pre-certification certificate if you have passed your NCSA test, filled out your application and are working on your hours. This is effective for anyone applying Feb 1, 2012 and beyond.

 

To become a Certified by the NCSA, you must fulfill the following requirements:

 

1. Complete a course approved by the NCSA. (You can choose to skip #1 if you have a minimum of 1800 hours or 45 weeks over the last 2 years of newborn experience and wish to “test out” of the course.) If you fail the test, you would be required to take an approved course to become certified.

1. Certification Requirements Details:
   1)  Complete a “Newborn Care Specialists  Course” approved by the NCSA: Our "Training” tab will guide you to where and how to take a course.
   You can choose to skip #1 if you have a minimum of three (3) years experience working with newborns and wish to “test out” of the course: Candidates that have a minimum of over 45 weeks or 1800 hours of experience working with newborns and feel that they are very knowledgeable in this field have the option of “testing out” of the course. The candidate will have one (1) attempt to pass the test. It is a multiple-choice test with 200 questions. To pass this test, a candidate must correctly answer 179 questions. In the event that the candidate does not correctly answer 179 questions they will be required to attend the course in order to be eligible for certification. They will be required to pass the test after the completion of the course following the same standards of those who have taken the course (see #2). The $25.00 test fee will be credited to the candidate’s membership dues upon completion of their certification process.
   2)  Pass the NCSA Certification Test: This is a multiple-choice test with 200 questions. The testing fee is $25.00. Upon completion of the certification process the testing fee will be credited to the candidate’s membership dues. To pass this test, a candidate must correctly answer 159 questions. In the event that the candidate does not correctly answer 159 questions they can re-test a second time without any additional fees. If the candidate fails to pass the test on their second attempt they will be required to take an essay test, interview with a NCSA Board Member and pay a $75.00 re-testing fee.  See below for payment
   3)  Submit current Infant CPR Certifications: This needs to be through a nationally recognized program. Certification must also take place in an in-person setting. The NCSA will not accept online CPR Certifications. Upon completion of the CPR Certification course the candidate needs to submit proof of completion to the NCSA.
   4)  Submit a Background/Criminal Check: Background checks must be current from within the past 12 months. Candidates who need a background check can choose a company of their own to complete it or contact Fernando Flores at Accursearch: (800) 462-7019 or (602) 249-3466 ext 202 fflores@accusearch.biz . Background checks through Accusearch will range in price between $35.00-$65.00, depending on how many counties the candidate has lived in over the past 7 years. Please ask for a NCSA background check when contacting them. Accurasearch will have the candidate complete a 2-page application. Both the NCSA and the candidate will receive a copy of the final background check’s results. The candidate is responsible for the cost of the background check.
   6)  Fulfill the Reading Requirements: The Candidate is required to read a minimum of one book under the ‘Newborn’ category and one book under the ‘Sleep & Routine’ category.
   A) Newborn (Choose 1): Your Amazing Newborn by Klaus & Klaus, The Mind of Your Newborn Baby by Chamberlain, Caring for your Baby and Young Child - The American Academy of pediatrics (the first 3 months only) or Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality by Jang & Shu.
   B) Sleep & Routine (Choose 1): Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Weissbluth, No Cry Sleep Solution, Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Pantley & Sears, On Becoming Baby Wise by Ezzo & Bucknam, The Content Little Baby: The Simple Secrets of Calm, Confident Parenting by Ford, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect, and Communicate with Your Baby by Hogg & Blau, The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems by Hogg & Blau or The New Contented Little Baby Book: The Secret to Calm and Confident Parenting by Ford.
   7)  Submit three (3) Professional References: Professional references must include the client’s name, candidate’s name, relationship to the candidate and client’s phone number. These references should be from the candidate’s past clients and can be in the form of a reference letter.
   8)  Submit your current resume: Resume should include the candidate’s contact information, education and past job experiences.
   9)  Complete and submit the NCSA’s Certification Application: Applications must be completed and submitted by all candidates. Click on the following link to access forms. Form
   10)  Complete and submit the NCSA’s Self-Evaluation form: Self-Evaluation form must be completed and submitted by all candidates. Click on the following link to access forms. Form
   11)  Complete and Submit the NCSA’s Ethics form: Ethics form must be completed and submitted by all candidates. Click on the following link to access forms. Form
   12)  As of October 1st 2010 we are only certifying NCSs with 1800 hours of in home experience within the last 2 years with newborns 0-3 mo old.  Hours spent working in a NICU and/or with parents of newborns are  great experience but do NOT count towards your 1800 NCS hours.  Hours can be completed any time of day or night.  You can reach your hours fastest by taking 24-7 jobs.  You are welcome to start the membership process before you complete your hours, and we will be happy to help guide you along!
   Candidate can contact Christopher Boone or Rose Gerard, NCSA Membership directors if they need help at anytime during their certification process.
   READ THIS BEFORE PAYING FOR THE CERTIFICATION/TEST.  Once you pay for the certification using the Pay Pal Button you will be taken directly to the test.  This is a timed test.  Please have 90 minutes available for testing as 90 minutes is the allotted time. You time starts as soon as the test opens.  You may not start and stop the test.  Once started you must finish.  There are no refunds or do overs if you pay for the test and cannot take it immediately.  There are 200 questions and you will be allowed to miss 20% of the questions and pass the test.  You will receive notification directly after you finish the test as to your 'pass/fail' results.  Should you fail the test and have taken the approved course you will receive another chance without charge to take the test.  Should you fail the test 'testing out' of the course.  You will be required to take the approved course before taking the test again.  If you have any questions regarding this procedure, please notify Chris Boone our Membership Director before continuing.

Test Options

NCSA Test only $25.00 Test and 2 year Membership $50.00

Use the following button for Certification only...You have already taken the test and passed, but have not paid for certification: $25 certification fee is used to review the application not a guarantee of certification. There are no refunds should you not qualify for certification.

$25 certification fee is used to review the application not a guarantee of certification. There are no refunds should you not qualify for certification.

The Board of Directors has the right to revoke or deny membership and certification of any applicant, or member of the NCSA, who has exhibited criminal, immoral, unethical behavior if references cannot be verified or any reason the NCSA Board does not feel the information is valid. If a NCSA member has one or more complaints against them, the Board of Directors may choose to investigate said complaint(s)

Click Here for Required Reading List