Hey! I’m so glad you are here- that means you’re likely thinking about becoming a Newborn Care Specialist. As the demand for newborn care grows, as does the Newborn Care Specialist (or NCS) field. Services have never been more in demand than they are now- so it’s a great time to jump in. You may find yourself asking questions like “do I need a Newborn Care Specialist certification?” or “how do I choose a Newborn Care Specialist training?” I’ve been there, too. I fact- that was part of the reason Haleigh and I created the Newborn Care Training Academy. When we entered into the field, there was not an evidence-based NCS training course available to us- or anyone else who wanted to become an NCS. We hope you’ll find the info you need to get started with your NCS career here!
NCS Requirements
There are no requirements in the United States to become an NCS or to call yourself one. It’s a good and bad place to be. On one hand, no requirements mean no regulations- there are no limitations or requirements to someone who wants to call themselves an NCS. This means someone who has never even touched a baby or taken any sort of education can call themselves an NCS. On the other hand- it has made having a career as an NCS so much more accessible by the barriers of formal college education and licensure, easy to access training and low-cost programs. At NCTA we believe that anyone calling themselves an NCS or working as one should have, at a minimum:
- formal Newborn Care Specialist training
- CPR & First Aid Training
- about two years of paid newborn work experience
- continuing education in several relevant fields
Accredited NCS Training is a must
NCTA was the first NCS training to gain accreditation in the world- a fact we are so incredibly proud of. This set the bar high for other NCS training programs and created an important industry standard. You should verify accreditation through the accrediting body. You can check our accreditation status here. It is also important to ensure that the accrediting body is a legitimate organization.
NCS certification vs. certificate
Most, if not all of the programs will give you either an NCS Certificate of Completion or an option to continue on and become a Certified NCS. There is no legitimate option for an NCS certification that only requires one, entry-level class. If you would like to become certified, taking an NCS training is going to be the first step in that process. If the end goal is to be a Certified NCS, you’ll need to make sure that your training is either
a.) approved by Newborn Care Training International or Newborn Care Specialist Association or
b.) a program that is accredited by a body that allows certification. Only one of these programs exist.
Becoming certified as an NCS is not a requirement to work, but it is a great way to elevate your resume and parents love to see it. If you want to see a full breakdown of requirements and options, be sure to check out our NCS Certification Guide.
If you’re ready to get your NCS career started, our Newborn Care Specialist training is a great option and you can start right now! You can learn more about us here.
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