Frequently Asked Questions
Not only does certification showcase your commitment, experience, and education to potential clients, but it is also becoming the industry standard for families seeking care reimbursements through their employers. In 2023, we saw a large increase in reimbursements, which is an incredible advancement in maternal and family well-being! Stay ahead of the curve with an active certification that is thorough as well as affordable.
The NSN Postpartum Doula and Newborn Care Initiative seeks to raise the standard in Certifications without passing the buck to the care providers.
Families today are at a loss for where to find Doula and care providers who are reliable, safe, and certified. Presently, no other PPD & NCS Certification entities call references, perform background checks, and fully vet their candidates. When you showcase our certification, you are showing to your clients that you are trustworthy, top-tier, and a leader in your field. Clients will recognize a safe, secure, highly qualified individual with whom they can trust their precious family with.
Total cost for your first year:
- Single Certification $435.00 or
- Combined Certification $450.00
Payment Schedule: Advance payment for each stage is required before applicants can move on to the next. Invoices will be sent out once the previous step is completed, enabling you to continue to the next phase of the certification process.
Cost Breakdown:
Review of Resume and Education, Included.
- Exam Fee, $105.00 individual, $120.00 combined PPD & NCS.
- Interviews (Initial and Final), $80.00
- Background and Reference Checks, $125.00
- One-time (hard-copy and digital) certificate fee, $100.00
- Yearly Membership, $25.00. Our annual fee, which is automatically renewed, keeps your account active. This allows you to receive the updated NSN Initiative Certification logo each year for professional use, along with ongoing access to your membership portal.
Unlike many of our peers in the certification industry, we do not expect you to pay for the years you do not use your inactive certification. We may only need to complete an updated background check.
From the American Pregnancy Association: (link - https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/planning/postpartum-doula/)
A postpartum doula provides evidence-based information on things such as infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, mother-baby bonding, infant soothing, and basic newborn care. Research shows that moms, dads, and babies have an easier time with this transition if a good support team is in place.
The postpartum doula offers many services to her clients, but her main goals are to help "mother the mother" and nurture the entire family as they transition into life with a newborn. This would include doing things to help mom and dad feel more confident in their roles, sharing education on family adjustment, and tending to the unique needs of a new mother.
Some of the duties include:
Most postpartum Doula provide service for a family, anywhere from a few days up to a few weeks after bringing home a new baby.
A Postpartum Doula often offers nighttime service to help the family transition more smoothly into the challenges of nighttime parenting. Each doula offers different services, so it's important that each family decide what their needs are and find a professional who can meet those needs.
The term "Newborn Care Specialist" (NCS) was coined in 2007 when industry leaders, who were gathered at an International Nanny Association conference, saw the need to have an appropriate and cohesive term to describe someone who focused on the care of newborns. The previous term used by most of the industry was "night nurse" or "baby nurse," and as most of the women who fall into the category of Newborn Care Specialist were not Registered Nurses, that term was not only inappropriate, but also illegal. The term NCS gave the industry a truly definitive title that describes the extensive knowledge and training that these professionals have in caring for newborns.
An NCS is generally hired to care for newborns either overnight or around the clock, and works independently with minimal guidance from parents. They are familiar with all of the "normal" appearances and behaviors of a newborn and can help families determine when something is outside of that normal range in order for parents to have peace of mind that their newborn is developing appropriately. An NCS often has extensive knowledge in caring for multiple or premature infants, and is well-versed in establishing good eating and sleeping habits to set the optimal stage for sleep conditioning, with the goal of getting the newborn to sleep through the night and take age-appropriate naps as soon as is healthy and possible for that individual newborn. An NCS is also well-versed in supporting family values and understands the importance of a child having healthy, educated, and empowered parents. An NCS will understand the value of and will support a breastfeeding parent, and will also understand and support without judgment a parent who chooses to formula feed, no matter the reason. They will also have a basic understanding of Postpartum Mood Disorders, and can help keep the entire family healthy by knowing when to suggest outside help. The most recent information on optimal newborn care is something that the NCS keeps up with, and those resources are shared with families in order for parents to make educated decisions based on current research and what works best for their family dynamic and values. The NCS is willing to mentor others and be mentored whenever it is appropriate, and fully understands the scope of practice they should work within at all times.