Start Date: Enrolling Now
Time: 10 to 50 hours
Cost: $350 to $1,600
Start in 45 minutes
Internationally accredited by NCFE CACHE • Taught by 30+ college faculty not just working nannies • 100% online • Up to 7 certifications
Most nannies start in 1 of 3 places. If you work with newborns, infants or overnights, start with Newborn and Infant Care, 20 hours, $700. If you are new to nannying or want the smallest first step, start with Basic, 10 hours, $350. If you want the full credential in one enrollment, take Professional, 50 hours, $1600 which earns 7 certifications.
If you’ve already completed a program with us and are ready for the next level, go to returning student enrollment.
Which program should you start with?
The Nanny Institute offers 6 programs. Everyone starts with 1 of these 3. The other 3 levels you can add later, in order, once you have completed Basic or Newborn.
You’re new to nannying or want the smallest first step.
Basic Nanny, 10 hours, $350
This is the 1st step in a 5 level ladder. You learn positive discipline from a child psychologist, safety and emergency planning from experts, and the legal side of in-home childcare from a lawyer. Add the next level whenever you are ready.
You work with newborn, infants or overnights.
Newborn and Infant, 20 hours, $700
No prerequisites so you can take it first. This is where newborn care specialists and night nannies begin. Its 20 hours come from within the Basic to Professional curriculum, so they count if you continue later.
You want the full credential now.
Professional Nanny, 50 hours, $1,600
Earns 7 certifications: Basic, Intermediate, Newborn and Infant, Advanced, Specialist, Professional, and the NCFE CACHE Level 4. This is what career nannies hold.
Read more about Professional ->
These classes are so worth it. I didn’t realize how much has changed in parenting and childcare. I learned so much and used it at work the next day.
 | Want our program and course catalog? All six certification programs, every course, tuition, and what each certification covers. We'll email it to you. |
What will you learn?
The Nanny Institute delivers accredited, faculty-led childcare education designed specifically for nannies and in-home childcare providers. Our programs are taught by 30+ faculty, are 100% online and self-paced and are built as a progressive training plan.
Development based care
You learn child development milestones and what behavior to expect at each stage, so you can choose activities that fit the child in front of you.
Grow with the family
Newborns, toddlers, school-aged children and changing household management responsibilities. You learn to adapt as the child grows.
Handle the hard days
Safety, health, behavior, nutrition and routines. The training is built so you have a plan before the situation arrives, not after.
Manage your career
Work agreements, negotiating compensation, resumes and interviews. Every program includes 5 career support courses covering exactly this.
Who teaches the nanny classes?
30+ faculty, every one with an advanced degree and at least 5 years of experience. Registered nurses, child psychologists, lawyers, nutritionists and early childhood educators, many of whom were nannies themselves.
The Nanny Institute doesn’t hire generalist nannies as faculty. It’s the difference between training built by educators who are subject specialists and training by someone who’s just done the job.
Every course comes with a downloadable study guide you keep as your textbook, included in the tuition. There are no books to buy.
Choose your program
Not sure which to choose? Compare programs.
You have 3 months to complete the program from the day of purchase. Classes unlock with 45 minutes of uploading a signed enrollment agreement and copy of a government issued photo identification.
Basic Nanny, 10 hours, $350
For the 1st level, graduates learn positive discipline techniques from a child psychologist and get safety tips including water awareness and emergency planning from experts. Sitters and nannies also gain legal insights from a child care lawyer to confidently supervise and manage children.
Newborn and Infant, 20 hours, $700
The Newborn and Infant Care certification is a stand-alone certification with no prerequisites. Its 20 hours come from within the Basic to Professional curriculum, so they count if you continue. Newborn care specialists and night nannies primarily work during the child’s first 18 months.
Professional Nanny, 50 hours, $1,600
This 5th level includes Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Specialist, so graduates earn 7 certifications in total, including the Newborn and Infant Care certification and the NCFE CACHE Level 4. The Professional program covers topics and skills valued by high net worth families and premium agencies including newborn care and household management.
What happens after I buy?
1. Check your email. When you purchase, you’ll receive a receipt and an email with the link to your private student account. If you don’t see it, check Spam.
2. Complete your enrollment agreement. Download it, fill it out, sign it and upload it to your student account.
3. Upload your identification. A government-issued photo ID from any recognized country.
4. Start within 45 minutes. Once your paperwork and identity are confirmed, your classes load into your student account and you can begin.
You have 3 months to complete the program. For Newborn, that’s about 2 hours a week and for Professional, it’s 4-5 hours per week.
When you have competed the Basic program and are ready, you can enroll in Intermediate (10 hours). If you completed Newborn and Infant, you can enroll in the Professional program (30 hours). Returning students adding a level: administrators must confirm your prerequisites before releasing the new classes so allow a little longer. You’ll be notified when your program is ready.
Frequently asked questions
What nanny certification do I start with?
You can pick from 3 starting points. Basic is 10 hours and Newborn and Infant care is 20 hours. If you want all 7 certifications, you can enroll in Professional which is 50 hours.
Do I need experience to enroll in nanny training?
No. You don’t need experience or a high school diploma. You must be at least 16 years old and have a government issued photo identification from a recognized country. You must be able to take a course in English.
How long does it take?
You have 3 months from enrollment to complete all the classes and exams. A 20-hour program works out at roughly 2 hours a week. The Admissions Office grants a single six-week extension for documented hardship.
How soon can I start?
Classes unlock within 45 minutes of signing and uploading the enrollment agreement and uploading your government issued photo identification.
Can I start with Newborn and Infant Care and continue to Professional later?
Yes. Newborn and Infant Care is a stand-alone program with no prerequisite, and its coursework is part of the Professional curriculum. When you continue to Professional, you don’t need to repeat the completed courses.
Do I have to take the levels in order?
Yes. For the 5 level career ladder, it’s Basic (10 hours), Intermediate (10 hours), Advanced (10 hours), Specialist (10 hours) and Professional (10 hours).
The 20 hour Newborn and Infant care is an exception and can be completed on its own and has no prerequisites.
I have 10 years experience, can I skip Basic?
No. The program is built and approved as one curriculum and every course, including Basic covers fundamentals and advanced concepts. Administrators confirm prerequisite levels are complete before releasing classes.
What's the difference between enrolling in the Professional with all 50 hours and enrolling in Basic and adding one level at a time?
The content and certifications are identical either way. The tradeoffs are cost and timing. Enrolling in all 50 hours at once is one enrollment fee but all classes and exams must be completed within 3 months. Enrolling in 1 level at a time give you 3 months to complete 10 hours and space out the fee but each enrollment has an enrollment fee.
Who teaches the classes?
The Nanny Institute has 30+ faculty members who are experts as all our faculty have advanced degrees, at least 5 years of experience and a passion for child care.
We invested in the right people to build and teach our curriculum so you learn from pediatricians, early childhood educators and child psychologists, many of whom were former nannies.
Is the Nanny Institute accredited?
Yes. The Nanny Institute is internationally accredited by NCFE CACHE, the Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education. The Professional program is benchmarked at NCFE CACHE Level 4. Programs also meet the National Standards published by the US Nanny Association.
Can I try a class before enrolling?
Yes, the work agreement seminar on our nanny contracts page is a full class from the curriculum, free to watch with no sign up. It shows the format of our courses and has a study guide.
What if I change my mind?
The refund policy sets out the cancellation terms. Read it before you enroll.
Testimonials
“You can’t grow unless you are learning. We should always be looking to increase our skills. We owe it to ourselves and to our families. We need to grow personally and professionally. It makes our lives so much better!”
“These classes are so worth it. I didn’t realize how much has changed in parenting and childcare. I learned so much and used it at work the next day.”
“I love teaching children about music and jumped at the chance to share my best tips and songs in a music course. Music is fun and nannies have an opportunity to delight and educate the children in their care.”