At the end of 2018 we published our Nanny Basic Skills Assessment in Spanish and today we are announcing another step forward. You can now take our newly developed INA Newborn Care Specialist Credential Exam. (NCS)
Caregivers who want to demonstrate their extensive knowledge in newborn care can choose to take the NCS Credential Exam. It was developed to evaluate the NCS’s practical knowledge of newborn care so that parents who employ them can have the peace of mind that their caregiver knows safe and healthy ways to care for their babies.
The Exam will be 100 randomized multiple choice questions. It will address an NCS’s knowledge in newborn physical and emotional development, feeding, safety, nutrition, general care, illnesses, and professionalism. Test takers that pass the NCS Credential Exam with at least 70% correct will be considered an INA Credentialed Newborn Care Specialist and will have the right to use the NCS Credential Logo. This small graphic can make a huge impact on a resume, business card or website. Those who pass will also be listed on the INA website.
Those of you attending the 2019 INA Conference, go to your “Events” page in your member portal to add this to your registration. Click Withdraw/Modify and then Select Ticket Options. You will need to continue the registration process to pay for it. It will be offered along with the Nanny Credential Exam on Thursday, March 21 at 2:00 PM and Sunday, March 24 at 8:00 AM.
Everyone not attending the 2019 INA Conference in person can purchase the NCS Credential Exam in the Estore and schedule to take it after April 1, 2019. The introductory price for the NCS Credential Exam is $40 for INA members and $50 for non-members.
Either way, you purchase the exam, you will also need to fill out the INA NCS Credential Application letting us know when and where you plan to take it. Unless you are taking it at the INA Conference, you will need to secure a proctor. You will also need to send the INA office (memberservices@nanny.org) a copy of a photo ID as well as your current First Aid and Child/Infant CPR Certification.
Then you are going to want to do some studying so we have put together a helpful INA NCS Credential Exam Prep slideshow to help you out.
NOTE: Passing the INA Newborn Care Specialist Credential Exam does NOT make you a Certified NCS. There is a difference between Credential, Certification, Certificate, and Accreditation. Check out our blog post from a few years back that explains.
ONE MORE IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Both the NCS and Nanny Credential Exams will be undergoing a platform transition in the spring of 2019. We know that many potential exam takers have found it challenging to secure the proctor that is required. So the INA will be introducing an online proctor platform. This means that you will no longer need to secure your own proctor to take the Nanny or NCS Credential Exam but will instead use a company that is designed and equipped to do this virtually.
Please note that this new system will be in place starting May 1, 2019. The fee for both Exams will be raised in order to provide this added service and that new price will be announced in April of 2019.
Anyone wishing to take the NCS or Nanny Credential Exam at the current price, will need to do so before May 1, 2019. After that point, only those able to take the exams with a group of 10 or more (securing their own proctor) will be able to get the old rate ($40 for members and $50 for non-members). Both Exams will also be made available at the Annual Conference every year at the old rate.
If you have purchased a Nanny Credential Exam in the past and have not taken it or if you purchase the NCS Credential Exam at its introductory rate, you must secure everything needed and complete the exam by April 30, 2019.
We know that with any transition there will be many questions. We are here to answer them for you. Reach out to us at memberservices@nanny.org and we will answer them for you.
