- The Certified Newborn and Infant Care Professional certification fee is $299 USD and is generally nonrefundable.
- The fee covers two exam attempts plus a separate 25-question practice test.
- Training, CPR/first aid, and background-check costs are not included in the $299.
- Ordinary renewal every 3 years costs $199 plus continuing education, CPR/first aid, and a new background check.
The $299 Fee at a Glance
Anyone budgeting for the Certified Newborn and Infant Care Professional credential (NICP) will quickly find that the headline number is simple and the total bill is not. The US Nanny Association charges a certification fee of $299 USD. That figure is the price of admission to the exam itself, and it is generally nonrefundable once purchased. Almost everything else a candidate needs to qualify is paid for separately, to other providers, on other timelines.
This guide breaks the real cost into pieces: what the fee includes, what it leaves out, how the program's deadlines can turn a small mistake into a second payment, and what it costs to keep the credential alive after the first three years. If you are still deciding whether the credential suits your career, see our ROI analysis of the NICP certification alongside this pricing breakdown.
| Cost Item | Amount | Paid To |
|---|---|---|
| Certification fee (two attempts + 25-question practice test) | $299 USD | US Nanny Association |
| Newborn/infant training (20 clock hours or 3 credit hours) | Varies by provider | Training provider |
| Adult-and-child CPR/first aid | Varies by provider | CPR/first aid provider |
| Background check (dated within 12 months of application) | Varies by provider | Screening provider |
| Ordinary renewal (every 3 years) | $199 USD plus renewal prerequisites | US Nanny Association and others |
What the $299 Actually Buys
The fee is a bundle, and it pays to understand each part so you do not waste any of it.
Two exam attempts
Your purchase includes two attempts at the online, applicant-account examination: 100 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, offered in English and Spanish, with a passing score of at least 80%. Two attempts is a cushion, not a plan. The second attempt is locked for 7 days after a failed first attempt, so the cushion comes with a forced pause. For what 80% really means in practice, read our guide to the NICP passing score.
A separate 25-question practice test
The fee also includes a 25-question practice test, separate from the two scored attempts. Treat it as a diagnostic, not a study system. Twenty-five questions cannot sample all seven official National Nanny Standards in depth, so use it to learn the platform's question style and to spot which areas feel shaky.
No membership requirement
Membership is not required to take the exam, so you do not need to budget for an association membership just to qualify. Whether membership is worthwhile for other reasons is a separate decision from the certification cost.
Costs That Sit Outside the Fee
Most of the money in a NICP application never touches the $299. The eligibility requirements each carry their own price tag, and some are recurring. The full list is in our NICP requirements guide; here is how each one affects your budget.
Newborn and infant training: 20 clock hours or 3 credit hours
This is usually the largest variable cost. The certification requires 20 clock hours or 3 credit hours of newborn/infant training, and the fee for that training is separate from the $299.
- Costs vary widely by provider, format, and whether credit is offered
- Training you have already completed may count, so check dates and documentation before buying more
- Our overview of NICP training explains what to look for in a course
Current adult-and-child CPR/first aid
You need a current adult-and-child CPR/first aid certification at application, and you need it current again at renewal.
- Pricing differs by provider and format
- Time your course so it does not lapse before you submit your application
- Remember this is a recurring expense, not a one-time purchase
Background check dated within 12 months
The background check must be dated within 12 months of application, and a new one is needed at renewal. An old check that predates your application window means paying again.
- Costs depend on the screening provider
- Do not run the check too early if your application is months away
Government photo ID and education documents
You need government photo identification and a high-school diploma, GED, or equivalent. For most candidates these cost nothing new, but a missing document can mean replacement fees and delay.
The 4,000-hour requirement is a cost of a different kind
Candidates must document 4,000 paid care hours with children aged 0-18 months. That is not a fee, but it is the single biggest investment of time and the reason this credential is aimed at working professionals rather than newcomers. If you are still accumulating those hours, your real cost is the time before you can apply, and your best spending now is on being able to document the hours you work.
Realistic Budget Scenarios
Because training, CPR/first aid, and background-check prices vary by provider, we will not invent totals. Instead, here is how the same $299 fee produces very different overall budgets depending on where you start.
| Candidate Situation | Likely Extra Spending | Budget Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Already has qualifying newborn/infant training, current CPR/first aid, and a fresh background check | Mostly just the $299 fee | Low, unless a document lapses before applying |
| Has training but CPR/first aid has expired | Fee plus a CPR/first aid course | Moderate |
| Needs the 20 clock hours or 3 credit hours of training | Fee plus a training course, CPR/first aid, and background check | Highest upfront outlay |
| Still short of 4,000 documented care hours | Nothing yet; applying is premature | Paying early wastes time-limited access |
Key Takeaway
Sequence your spending. Complete and date your prerequisites first, then buy the $299 certification, then sit the exam inside the program's windows. Paying in that order protects you from expiring paperwork and wasted attempts.
How the Deadlines Create Hidden Costs
Two time limits turn scheduling into a money issue. You must complete certification within 90 days of purchase, and you must take the exam within 3 weeks of access. Buying the certification and then letting life get in the way is the most avoidable way to lose money on this credential, because the fee is generally nonrefundable.
Because the window is short, preparation should happen largely before you buy, or at least be tightly scheduled once you do. Our NICP exam dates and scheduling guide covers the testing windows and deadlines in more detail.
Exam-day conditions that can cost you an attempt
The exam is closed book, with no notes, outside help, or AI, and the secure platform may request camera or browser access. A technical problem or a rules violation is not a minor inconvenience here, because each attempt is limited and the fee is nonrefundable. Test your device, browser, and camera permissions in advance, and choose a quiet, private space so you are not forced into a rushed or interrupted attempt.
The Retake Math
The fee includes exactly two attempts. That is generous compared with credentials that charge per sitting, but it also means the cost of failing twice is a fresh outlay. The program materials you can rely on describe the two included attempts; they do not give a single clear retake price, so confirm current options with the US Nanny Association before assuming what a third attempt would cost.
The practical takeaway is that preparation is cheaper than retaking. Candidates who want realistic expectations about difficulty should read how hard the NICP exam is and what the available data says in our NICP pass rate analysis, then decide how much preparation they want in place before they pay.
What an 80% threshold means for budgeting prep time
With 100 questions and a passing score of at least 80%, you can miss no more than 20 questions. The exam draws on the seven official National Nanny Standards, and preparation includes cumulative Nanny (N) and Newborn and Infant (I) content. That breadth is why a single weak domain can quietly drain your margin.
The Cost of Staying Certified
Certification lasts 3 years, so the sticker price is not a one-time number. Ordinary renewal requires:
- 20 clock hours or 3 credit hours of continuing education
- Current adult-and-child CPR/first aid
- A new background check
- A $199 renewal fee
In other words, renewal repeats several of the same cost categories you paid the first time: CPR/first aid, a background check, and education hours, plus the $199 fee. Spread across three years, many professionals find it easier to chip away at the continuing education hours gradually rather than pay for them all at once near the deadline.
Don't Pay for the Wrong Credential
One pricing trap deserves its own warning. The US Nanny Association offers a three-professional-reference education alternative, but that path leads to the NIS credential, not the NICP. If your goal is the Certified Newborn and Infant Care Professional credential, the experience, training, CPR/first aid, and background-check route described above is the one that applies. Paying for the wrong pathway is a pure waste of money, so confirm which credential your application is for before purchasing.
If you are still orienting yourself to the credential itself, our explainers on what NICP certification is and what NICP stands for clarify exactly which certification this pricing applies to.
Where Prep Money Pays Off
Since the exam fee is fixed and nonrefundable, the only spending you truly control is preparation. Spend where it protects your two attempts, and tie that spending to what the exam actually tests.
Map your spending to the seven standards
The exam's seven domains are the official National Nanny Standards, and none carries a published percentage weight, so assume every one is fair game:
- Domain 1: Commitment to ethical behaviors and professionalism
- Domain 2: Establish and maintain a safe environment
- Domain 3: Promote child development and growth
- Domain 4: Promote physical, emotional and social development
- Domain 5: Support cognitive development and academic advancement
- Domain 6: Promote nutrition, health and wellness
- Domain 7: Establish positive relationships with children, family members and employers
Our guide to all seven NICP exam domains explains what each one covers in practice. Since newborn and infant content (I) is cumulative with nanny content (N), your training course may overlap heavily with some domains and barely touch others, so identify the gaps rather than buying a second course blindly.
A short, budget-conscious plan tied to the content
Confirm eligibility and map gaps
- Verify training hours, 4,000 care hours, CPR/first aid, and background-check dates
- Review all seven standards and mark the ones your experience covers least
Safety, health, and development first
- Domain 2 (safe environment), Domain 6 (nutrition, health and wellness), and Domain 3 (development and growth) are heavy on newborn and infant specifics
- Take the included 25-question practice test to check your baseline
Professional and relational standards
- Domains 1 and 7 reward careful reading of ethics and family/employer scenarios
- Domains 4 and 5 round out developmental support
- Sit the exam inside the 3-week window from access
For a fuller approach, see our NICP study guide and keep our one-page NICP cheat sheet handy for last-minute review. Because the real exam is closed book, practicing under realistic conditions matters; our NICP practice test lets you rehearse the multiple-choice format before you commit your two paid attempts, and you can find more question-style practice on the NICP Exam Prep home page.
Key Takeaway
The cheapest path is not the one with the lowest fees; it is the one where you pass within your two included attempts. Spend on targeted practice that exposes weak domains before you pay, and you reduce the chance of ever needing a third attempt.
Weighing cost against career payoff
Whether the total spend is worthwhile depends on the roles you want. Families and agencies that hire experienced newborn and infant caregivers may value an independent professional certification, though the credential is not a medical license or a training-course certificate. To see how certification can connect to employment, explore NICP jobs and our NICP salary guide before you settle on a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
The certification fee is $299 USD, paid to the US Nanny Association. It generally cannot be refunded and covers two exam attempts and a separate 25-question practice test. Training, CPR/first aid, and background-check costs are additional.
No. Membership is not required, so you do not need to add a membership fee to your budget just to qualify for the Certified Newborn and Infant Care Professional exam.
Ordinary renewal after the 3-year certification period costs $199. You also need 20 clock hours or 3 credit hours of continuing education, current adult-and-child CPR/first aid, and a new background check, each of which carries its own cost.
Your $299 includes two attempts, so a failed first attempt does not require an immediate new payment. The second attempt is locked for 7 days after a failed first one. If you fail both, contact the US Nanny Association for current options rather than assuming a retake price.
The fee is generally nonrefundable. You must complete certification within 90 days of purchase and take the exam within 3 weeks of access, so confirm your eligibility paperwork and schedule before paying.