Summer Hartman, founder of NewbornIQ, has announced a formal alignment with the Global Board of Newborn Care Standards (GBNCS.org) to implement a fully independent, third-party proctored examination system for newborn care professionals.
This collaboration establishes a clear structural separation between education and credentialing — a significant step toward strengthening professional integrity and long-term credibility across the newborn care industry.
The Global Board of Newborn Care Standards (GBNCS), owned and operated by Jose Velez and Nicole Morales, functions as an independent credentialing authority separate from training institutions. Its examination and certification processes are administered independently, ensuring neutrality, standardized competency evaluation, and transparent oversight.
Why This Shift Matters
The newborn care profession has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, yet it has lacked unified global oversight.
Industry dialogue — including commentary and white papers authored by IBCNCS — has raised concerns about certification models in which educational providers both train and credential students internally. Critics have argued that this dual role may create the perception of conflict of interest.
Rather than resist those conversations, Hartman chose to respond constructively.
“As an education company, our responsibility is to lead with transparency,” Hartman stated. “If there are concerns about internal certification, the solution is to remove the conflict entirely.”
Through this alignment, graduates of NewbornIQ will complete a third-party proctored examination administered independently by GBNCS in order to earn professional credentials.
What Makes GBNCS Structurally Different
GBNCS is not simply another certification provider.
It operates under a consensus-based governance model built on transparency and documented professional participation.
The profession defines itself.
GBNCS makes it visible.
Most credentials are defined solely by the organization that issues them. GBNCS does not define the Newborn Care Specialist profession — it governs how the profession defines itself.
Practitioners, educators, families, and other stakeholders debate requirements, resolve objections, and approve standards together through documented processes. Nothing becomes a standard because the board declares it so. It becomes a standard because the community agreed it represents competent practice.
GBNCS does not create the expectations.
It records them, publishes them, and holds them accountable.
A GBNCS certification is not the board’s opinion of someone’s ability. It is documented recognition that the profession itself accepted that individual’s demonstrated level of competence.
This consensus-driven structure distinguishes GBNCS from traditional certification models that unilaterally determine professional requirements.
What This Means for NewbornIQ Students
Graduates of NewbornIQ will now have access to:
• A neutral third-party proctored certification examination
• Identity-verified testing environments
• Standardized competency scoring
• Independent credential issuance
• Defined scope-of-practice standards
• A published global code of ethics
• Continuing education maintenance requirements
By separating the roles of educator and certifying body, this model eliminates perceived bias and enhances the credibility and defensibility of earned credentials.
Addressing Industry Gaps
The newborn care profession continues to face structural challenges, including:
• No universal governing authority
• Title confusion and inconsistent scope-of-practice standards
• Fragmented curriculum expectations
• Lack of centralized ethical review systems
• Inconsistent testing protocols across organizations
GBNCS introduces:
• A proctored 50+ question competency-based examination
• Defined and publicly documented scope-of-practice standards
• A global code of ethics
• Continuing education expectations
• Open board meetings and industry think tank participation
• Transparent credential verification systems
This governance framework allows professionals to shape standards collaboratively rather than operate in isolated silos.
Leadership Through Accountability
Historically, many newborn care education programs both trained and certified students internally. While educational rigor may have been strong, critics argued that the dual role created the perception of conflict of interest.
By aligning with an independently owned and operated credentialing board governed through public consensus, Hartman removes that concern.
“Students deserve credentials that are defensible, respected, and recognized beyond a single organization,” Hartman said. “This is about protecting the profession long-term.”
A Collaborative Future
The Global Board of Newborn Care Standards was established to provide the newborn care industry with a transparent, structured, and community-driven oversight system.
The board encourages:
• Open attendance at meetings
• Industry think tank participation
• Professional feedback and formal standards proposals
• Public documentation of adopted standards
• Transparent credentialing processes
