The Kensington Nanny Certification
You Were Selected for a Reason.
The Kensington Nanny Certification is an option for Nannies within our network who have demonstrated the commitment and character that define The Kensington Standard.
What This Certification Means
This is not an online course you find through a search engine. The Kensington Nanny Certification is a rigorous, professionally developed program built by Angela Marinelli, a childcare placement specialist with more than 25 years of experience working alongside the families and Nannies who define this industry at its highest level.
Completing this program signals something specific to every family you will ever work with: that you have been held to a standard most Nannies will never encounter. It is the credential behind The Kensington Standard, and it belongs to you for life.
No renewal. No expiration. No shortcuts.
Three Modules. Applied From Day One.
This program is not theoretical. Every lesson is built around what actually happens in a private home. You will leave each module with frameworks you can put to work immediately.
Module I: Child Development Foundations
You cannot respond well to a child you do not understand. This module gives you the applied tools to read where a child is developmentally and meet them there with intention.
What you will practice:
- Identifying and supporting the five developmental domains in daily caregiving: cognitive, language, social-emotional, physical, and adaptive
- Selecting age-appropriate activities that build confidence and capability at every stage
- Observing children with a trained eye, documenting what you notice, and communicating those observations meaningfully to families
- Applying risk-benefit thinking to play, knowing when to step back and when to step in
- Managing daily transitions with intention through predictable, child-centered routines
- Preventing challenging behavior before it starts by understanding what children are communicating through their actions
Module II: Advanced Caregiving Skills
This module addresses the moments that separate a good Nanny from an exceptional one. Language development, emotional attunement, sensory awareness, and nutrition are not soft skills. They are the work.
What you will practice:
- Creating language-rich environments throughout the day in ways that accelerate vocabulary and communication development
- Recognizing and supporting emotional regulation at different developmental stages, including co-regulation techniques that calm without dismissing
- Understanding sensory sensitivities and environmental reactions as developmentally normal, and adjusting your caregiving approach accordingly
- Supporting healthy feeding relationships across age groups, from infant feeding cues to building positive mealtime habits in older children
- Maintaining structured daily routines that give children the predictability they need to feel safe and thrive
Module III: Professionalism and Family Partnership
A Nanny’s relationship with the family she serves is one of the most complex professional relationships that exists. This module gives you the language, the boundaries, and the framework to navigate it with confidence.
What you will practice:
- Upholding private home conduct standards at all times, understanding what it means to be trusted in someone’s home
- Protecting family confidentiality with the seriousness it deserves
- Having honest, professional conversations about expectations, scope of duties, and compensation without damaging the relationship
- Communicating with families in writing and in person with professionalism, precision, and warmth
- Responding to emergencies with composure, knowing your role before a crisis requires you to use it
THE EXAM AND YOUR CREDENTIAL
Earn It. Keep It. Carry It.
Upon completing all three modules, you will sit for a 50-question examination. A passing score of 80 percent or higher is required for certification. You have three attempts.
Nannies who pass receive a Kensington Nanny Certification PDF certificate and a verified badge in the Kensington portal, visible to families who inquire about your qualifications.
Your certification is lifetime. There is no renewal requirement and no expiration date. Once you have earned it, it is yours.
The Scholarship Program
Full tuition for the Kensington Nanny Certification is $2,500. Because we believe that cost should not be the barrier between an exceptional Nanny and the credential she has earned, scholarship funding is available to qualified applicants within our network.
For nannies who qualify, tuition is $600. Scholarships are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Many families choose to cover the remaining balance on behalf of their Nanny as an investment in the care their household receives. If that is something you would like to explore, we encourage you to share this page with the family you work with.
Ready to Apply?
If you are a Kensington network Nanny and you are ready to take this step, we want to hear from you.
Scholarship availability is limited. Submitting an application does not guarantee an award. All applicants will be notified of their status by the Kensington placement team.
Recommendation Quote
Dr. Gena Alon
Physician and mother of two
“So much of a child’s wellness starts with a calm, supported home. I love that Kensington takes the time to match each family with the right Nanny, not just an available one. I recommend them with full confidence.”