Where Can I Take a Child Care Exam Online?

A childcare exam may be taken online through a specific nonprofit organization, International Nanny Association. This article details that exam, requirements, stipulations and the organization that offers it.

Childcare Online Exam: Overview

The International Nanny Association (INA) offers an online exam in childcare for in-home childcare workers. INA is a nonprofit organization that has been around since 1985, serving the needs of childcare workers and others within the industry as well as providing resources and information. Members of INA include nannies, nanny agencies, nanny employers, industry service providers and educators.
INA offers a credentialed examination, which can be taken online. It requires that the nanny has worked at least 2,000 hours as an in-home nanny. This is the equivalent of a year of full-time work. In addition to this, the test-taker must be certified in infant or child CPR and first aid. The applicant must find a proctor who administers the exam. A score of 70% is required to pass. Once the nanny passes, he or she receives a certificate in the mail, and the person's name is placed on the INA members list. The exam is composed of 90 multiple-choice questions and accessible through the INA website.

Exam Questions

Many issues are tested on the exam. They may include child development, guidance, safety, nutrition, management skills, health, multicultural awareness and a nanny's personal qualities. The basic understanding of these concepts demonstrates the test-taker's knowledge of healthy environments for children, the characteristics of a health care provider and the ability to communicate with children in order to help them develop and keep them safe.
An exam booklet is provided through the INA website. This booklet provides sample questions, concerning the child's physical development, the nutrients which should be included on a child's daily menu and when attention deficit disorder is most commonly diagnosed.

Retaking the Exam

If the nanny doesn't pass this exam, he or she may retake it after six months. INA recommends that the nanny enrolls in a nanny education program and attends childcare conferences and workshops, which detail childcare education.