Membership & Certification
Membership
The Newborn Care Specialist Association (NCSA) was founded in 2006 and is the longest standing organization for Newborn Care Specialists in the United States.
The NCSA is proud to be the industry association for newborn care specialists, a point where we can all come together to raise and maintain the standards and profile of our industry, and to be a resource for hiring families, agencies and other caregivers to promote what we do and why we love doing it.
For families looking to hire an NCS, certification is a ‘one-stop’ verification that an NCS has all the requirements and is up to date with everything a family is looking for when hiring a newborn care specialist, which are:
Qualifications – a quality foundational NCS course and current Newborn CPR credential
Verification – a background check as an individual and agreement to comply with the code of conduct of the NCSA
Knowledge – to be able to pass the exam set by the NCSA and be up to date on all aspects of newborn care
Experience – 1,400-2,500 verified hours of NCS experience
For all Certifications please join the NCSA and select which certification applications you require. All certifications are paid for when you submit your application.
Membership Fees
Yearly Membership – $75
2 Years Membership – $100
With your Membership you will receive the following:
Details of NCSA Certification and support in attaining certification.
NCSA Member Logo for use on your website and resume.
Quarterly E-Newsletter
Access to our private Facebook group for NCSA Members Only
Access to NCSA Conference
NCSA Certifications
You must be a current paid member with NCSA International to Apply for Certification.
You must maintain active status with membership for recertification every two years.
Certification Fees
NCSA Core Certification – $200
Advanced Certification Add on – $100
Summer’s Sleep Secrets NCSA Infant Sleep Consultant Add on – $100
Summer’s Sleep Secrets NCSA Infant Sleep Consultant Only – $200
CACHE Dual Advanced Certification – $100
ALL NCSA Certifications last 2 full calendar years
The certification process could take up to one month to verify all the information.
Once you are certified you will receive from NCSA International
NCSA Certified Certificate to add to your resume
NCSA Certified Badge Logo to use on your website, resume and in correspondence during your certification
Requirements for NCSA Certification CNCS(NCSA)
For all Certifications please join the NCSA via Registration and select which certification applications you require. All certifications are paid for when you submit your application.
- Establish Membership with NCSA
- Complete Training with a Training Academy approved for NCSA certification
- Submit verifiable details of 1,400 hours worked with newborns up to 4 months of age (including age adjusted premature newborns)
- Submit proof of Newborn CPR Certification and sign document agreeing to keep current.
- Submit Background Check
- Read Required Books on Newborn, First Year of Life, Sleep and Routine, Breastfeeding/Feeding, Postpartum,
- Submit Resume and Provide 3 reference letters from families served during the last year
- Submit an essay on newborn care or a case study which is written by you, this essay may be used by the NCSA with you credited as the author (You would be contacted beforehand) There is no need to submit this essay if you are applying for the Advanced certification add on.
- Read and Sign via Docusign
NCSA Scope Of Practice
NCSA Code of Conduct
NCSA Grievance Policy and Procedure
NCSA Newborn CPR Declaration
- Complete NCSA Certification Exam
- Complete Interview with Reviewer
Advanced Certification Add On AdvCNCS(NCSA)
For all Certifications please join the NCSA via Registration and select which certification applications you require. All certifications are paid for when you submit your application.
All the requirements for regular certification plus
- At least 3 full years experience
- Details of Additional Qualifications such as Lactation Educator, Caring for Multiples, Advanced NCS, Preemie Care etc.
- Additional 2 references from valued NCS colleagues
- Submit verifiable details of 1,100 additional hours worked with newborns up to 4 months of age. (including age adjusted premature newborns)
- Submit an advanced essay or article on a speciality field or case study of your choice, which is written by you, this essay/article may be used by the NCSA with you credited as the author (You would be contacted beforehand)
Summer’s Sleep Secrets NCSA Infant Sleep Consultant Certification Add On CISC(NCSA)
For all Certifications please join the NCSA via Registration and select which certification applications you require. All certifications are paid for when you submit your application.
All the requirements for regular certification plus
- Details of Completion of Training with Summer’s Sleep Secrets.com
- Verifiable details of 500 hours worked as a sleep consultant or sleep trainer using Summer’s Sleep Secrets Method. These can be hours you also use for your NCSA Core Certification
- Read 5 books on the required reading list
- 3 references from families worked with as a sleep consultant or trainer using Summer’s Sleep Secrets Method
- Submit a 1000 word essay on what you learned during your Summer’s Sleep Secrets training.
- Create three sleep plans for a 12 week baby, a 6 month old and a 15 month old.
- Complete Summer’s Sleep Secrets Sleep Method Exam.
CACHE Dual Advanced Certification: AdvCNCS(NCSA)
For all Certifications please join the NCSA via Registration and select which certification applications you require. All certifications are paid for when you submit your application.
- Establish Membership with the NCSA
- Submit copy of CACHE Certification
- Submit details of Additional Qualifications such as Lactation Educator, Caring for Multiples
- Submit Resume and Provide 3 reference letters from families served during the last year
- Submit proof of Newborn CPR Certification and sign document agreeing to keep current
- Submit Background Check
- Submit an advanced essay or article on a speciality field or case study of your choice, which is written by you, this essay/article may be used by the NCSA with you credited as the author (You would be contacted beforehand)
- Read and Sign via Docusign
NCSA Scope Of Practice,
NCSA Code of Conduct,
NCSA Grievance Policy and Procedure and
NCSA Newborn CPR Declaration
- Complete Interview with Reviewer.