All nannies, whether part or full time, should have current CPR and First Aid certifications that must be renewed regularly, generally every 2 years. Nannies should also invest in child care training that teaches age-appropriate growth, development, and activities from newborn through primary years. Nutrition, fitness, health, art, music, and communication courses provide practical skills to help nannies excel as in-home child care providers.
Nanny Training
When reviewing nanny training and certification, take time to quickly investigate the training program’s website and learn about the instructors and curriculum. Unfortunately, some ‘professional nanny certifications’ have little value as they can be earned or downloaded with minimal effort. The US Nanny Association lists training organizations on its website that are organization members of the Association and thus agree to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
Many colleges and universities offer degrees in child development, early childhood education and other child-related fields. Associate and bachelor’s degrees are preferred by some high-net-worth families searching for nannies, and nannies with these qualifications should earn a salary that covers a 2 to 4-year investment in education. Below an associate degree is the child development associate (CDA). This program requires 120 hours of formal child care training and 480 hours of professional work experience in a group (daycare) setting. Most nannies opt for a Child Care Certification.
The Nanny Institute is a professional trade school with affordable college-level training for nannies and sitters. With over 30 faculty, the Nanny Institute developed a nanny-centric curriculum over 50 hours of online training (access 24/7). The curriculum aligns with the CDA and early child care development programs and is tailored to nannies working independently in the home versus in a daycare. Faculty members include child psychologists, physician assistants, nutritionists, teachers, lawyers, and professional nannies so the resulting curriculum is both comprehensive and practical.
The Nanny Institute offers 7 levels of training specifically designed for a Nanny career that matches the needs of parents and families. The Basic to Professional levels build on the previous level while the eLearning Facilitator and Newborn Care Specialist programs are stand-alone.
- Basic Child Care Certification – Families and employers expect nannies and sitters to provide a safe environment when caring for their children. The Basic Child Care curriculum includes courses on understanding children and emergency planning, as well as home, water and food safety. Courses also educate nannies and sitters on their legal requirements when working with children, provide skills to help nannies and children manage stress, and teach positive discipline skills to be used by nannies when children need help expressing themselves or the nanny needs to correct undesired behavior.
- Intermediate Child Care Certification – Children grow and learn quickly, especially during the first 5 years of life, which is the focus of the Intermediate Child Care program. Building on the Basic Child Care curriculum, the Intermediate courses offer advanced instruction on early childhood development, child growth, and health. The curriculum focuses on nutrition, motor skill development, and enrichment activities including reading and
- Advanced Child Care Certification – Many parents understand the importance of music, art, fitness, and helping with homework so their children gain learn and thrive. As children reach these milestones and gain a bit of independence, they need more support academically and emotionally. Specialized courses in the Advanced Child Care program teach nannies how to engage with children in a way that makes learning more fun. Nannies also gain better communicating skills with children and families.
- Specialist Child Care Certification – Family assistants and household managers are increasingly popular with families and employers. Not just a nanny, family assistants can support special needs including medically required diets. Building on the Advanced program, the Specialist curriculum includes how to work with children at risk and special education environments. Family assistant jobs have elements of household management so additional training in etiquette, scheduling, and pet care is provided.
- Professional Child Care Certification – The Professional Child Care Certification shows that a nanny has successfully passed a rigorous training program that builds on the Specialist program and includes child development theories, multi-cultural activities, current trends in child care, and human brain development.
- Newborn and Infant Care Certification – If a nanny plans to work exclusively with newborns, consider a Newborn Care training and certification program. Many parents seek Newborn and Infant Care professionals (NICP) to help navigate the first year. Newborn and Infant Care Professionals primarily work during the first 12 months of a child’s life and help families learn best practices and help establish schedules. Many Newborn and Infant Care Professionals work overnight and/or as consultants to assist new parents.
- eLearning Facilitator – The eLearning Facilitator program is a stand-alone program that provides practical skills needed to manage multiple children throughout an academic week with activities that support learning and the child’s overall growth and development. eLearning Facilitators primarily work Monday through Friday as they are the central core to implementing the schedule and logistics during the workweek.
“We all want the best for our children and because there are no requirements for nannies to be trained or certified. There is an easy way to find top talent,” shares Becca from Texas. “Nannies who are serious about their careers or learning how to excel as a child care provider invest in child care training and earn a US Nanny Association certification.”
Specialized Training Programs and Certificate
Continuing education provides enhanced skills that may be popular in your local area and increase the value of offered child care services.
Foreign language skills
Many families seek bilingual nannies who can support or teach children a second language. Exposing children to different language patterns as a young age can improve retention and fluency. Language skills can be used by infants in the form of sign language while 2- and 3-year-old can absorb new words as their language skills rapidly develop.
Car seat installation
A car seat is one of the best ways to protect a child, but proper installation is not always intuitive. Many state agencies and some local healthcare systems and hospitals offer car seat installation classes and certifications. Nannies can earn a technician certification from the National Child Passenger Safety Certification.
Fitness, nutrition, potty training and positive discipline.
Most comprehensive training programs include these topics. Nannies can earn a Kid’s Nutrition Specialist certificate from the National Exercise & Sport’s Trainers. They can also become a Certified Children’s Fitness Specialist through a course run by the American Fitness Professional and Associations. Many specialists offer parenting and nanny classes on specific subjects including potty training and positive discipline.
Certified Nanny, Certified Newborn and Infant Care and Certified Professional Nanny
The US Nanny Association is committed to elevating the nanny profession to mirror other professional trades and align with other child care and child education opportunities. Like teachers, nurses, and social workers, earning credentials demonstrates a commitment to quality with a focus on the skills needed to succeed in child care. The US Nanny Association offers three (3) credential programs:
- Nanny and Childcare Provider (NCP) Certification
- Newborn and Infant Care Professional (NICP) Certification
- Professional Nanny and Childcare Provider Credential (PNCP) Certification
US Nanny Association certifications have 6 requirements for the Nanny and Childcare Provider (NCP), Newborn and Infant Care Professional (NICP) and Professional Nanny and
Child Care Provider Credentials:
- Must be at least 18 years old (NCP) or 21 years old (NICP and PNCP)
- Must show proof of a high school diploma, general education diploma (GED) or equivalent education
- Must show proof of current CPR and First Aid certification (adult and child)
- Must show proof of training from a reputable organization, a professional trade school or college
- Must show proof of child care work experience (1 year for NCP, 2 years for NICP and 3 years for PNCP)
- Must pass a competency exam based on the published National Nanny Standards (see Chapter 4).
