How does the International Nanny Association support nannies and NCS professionals?

The International Nanny Association (INA) supports nannies and Newborn Care Specialists (NCS) by acting as an umbrella association for the in-home child care industry — providing information, education, and guidance to both the public and industry professionals. If you are a nanny or NCS looking for professional standards, credentials, employment rights information, or a professional network, INA organizes these resources by role so you can start in the right place.

What INA offers nannies and NCS

INA's stated mission is to elevate and nurture the quality of childcare, and it does this partly by leveraging the expertise of industry professionals from around the globe to develop the professional skills of nannies. For nannies and NCS specifically, the site points to several core resource categories.

Recommended Practices

INA publishes role-specific recommended practices:

• Recommended Practices for Nannies — guidance for nannies on professional conduct and standards.
• Recommended Practices for NCS — parallel guidance for newborn care specialists.
• Recommended Practices for Support Groups — for those running or participating in nanny support groups.

These are listed as some of INA's "most helpful pages" and serve as a starting point for understanding what quality practice looks like in each role.

Credentials

INA offers Credentials for Nannies and NCS. This is the pathway for professionals who want formal recognition of their knowledge and skills rather than relying only on work experience. If you are building a career as a nanny or NCS, credentials are the category to review when you want to demonstrate a professional standard to families or agencies.

Employment rights

Employment Rights of Nannies is a dedicated INA resource. It addresses the employment side of the role — relevant when you are negotiating or evaluating a position and want to understand what you are entitled to as an employee rather than treating the job as informal help.

Who INA serves

INA describes itself as the umbrella association for the in-home child care industry and organizes support by audience:

For nannies and NCS, the practical value is that the same organization also serves families, agencies, and educators — so the standards and vocabulary you learn through INA are the ones the rest of the industry is using.

Membership and network

INA invites professionals to become a member, describing members as people who want "quality connections and excellent resources." Membership is the route to the professional network and educational resources referenced throughout the site. The site also states INA is committed to serving a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community, with a Diversity Committee and related initiatives.

How to use this if you are a nanny or NCS

1. Start with your role's recommended practices — read the Nannies or NCS version first to see the standards INA promotes.
2. Review credentials if you want a formal qualification to present to families or agencies.
3. Read the employment rights resource before or during a job search so you understand your position as an employee.
4. Join as a member if you want the network and ongoing educational resources rather than one-off reading.

One caveat: the site content describes what INA offers and how it categorizes resources, but it does not publish pricing or membership cost details in the material available here. Check the membership page directly for current terms before deciding.