315 Exposé Reveals Fake Maternity Care Certificates for Sale; What Are the Legitimate Credentials in China's Maternity and Childcare Industry?

CCTV Exposes Chaos in Maternity Caregiver Certification | Image Source: CCTV Finance

This year’s 3.15 Gala exposed the chaotic practice of confinement nannies obtaining certificates without undergoing any training, with most credentials issued indiscriminately by private institutions, lacking both authority and professionalism.

For a fee of just 1,380 yuan, you can obtain both the Senior Maternal and Child Care Specialist Certificate and the Senior Childcare Provider Certificate, with no training required. Additionally, for only 450 yuan, you can acquire a stylish Chinese-English certificate issued by the seemingly prestigious “International Association for Maternal and Child Health Care.” This “Yuesao” (confinement nanny) certificate is claimed to be valid both domestically and internationally. In reality, the issuing organization’s full legal name is “International Association for Maternal and Child Health Care Co., Ltd.” To facilitate business operations, it has even omitted the “Co., Ltd.” designation from the credentials section on its website.

Since the introduction of the two-child policy, the maternal and infant care industry, also known as the confinement nanny (yuesao) sector, has experienced a significant surge in popularity. While salaries for confinement nannies have risen substantially, the entry barriers to the profession have also become increasingly stringent. Currently, confinement nannies are classified as personnel providing technical services in maternal and infant health care, under the jurisdiction of the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Maternity matrons must hold a vocational qualification certificate, officially titled the “Certificate of Competency in Maternal and Infant Care,” which is a national-level vocational training credential issued by the Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center of the National Health and Family Planning Commission and is currently the most authoritative certification.

Since the second half of 2014, the Chinese government has clearly prioritized the vigorous development of employment skills training, on-the-job skills training, and entrepreneurship training. This signals that the national-level “Maternal and Infant Care Technical Competency Certificate” will continue to increase in value and recognition in the future.

Currently, this is the only certificate issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission that is explicitly recognized for professional qualification assessment. Consumers must remain vigilant and carefully distinguish such credentials from those issued by unaccredited or fraudulent organizations.

According to VCBeat, the “Certificate of Specialized Competency in Maternal and Infant Care” is often confused with other credentials. This certificate falls under the category of specialized competency certificates and is issued free of charge by local labor bureaus upon completion of reemployment training for unemployed individuals. It bears the local seal or embossed stamp of entities such as the “XXX City Vocational Skills Appraisal Center,” and is entirely distinct in level from the national-level “Certificate of Job Competency in Maternal and Infant Care Technology.” The former is more suitable for those pursuing caregiving roles. Training for confinement nannies (yuesao) and childcare nannies is provided free of charge, with minimal eligibility requirements: individuals under 50 years of age who hold either a rural household registration (hukou) or an urban hukou accompanied by an unemployment certificate are eligible to participate in the training.

In the maternal and infant care industry, there are three types of certifications: Junior Infant Care Specialist Certificate (Level 5), Intermediate Infant Care Specialist Certificate (Level 4), and Senior Infant Care Specialist Certificate (Level 3). For the postpartum doula (yuesao) sector, local authorities issue only one type of qualification certificate: the Specialized Skills Qualification Certificate in Maternal and Infant Care (Postpartum Doula). The maternal and infant services industry will include the following practitioners:

1. Maternal and Child Care Specialist.Job responsibilities are divided into two areas: postpartum care and newborn care. Postpartum care includes daily living assistance, preparation of confinement meals, and newborn feeding support. Newborn care encompasses daily living assistance, medical nursing, early childhood development and stimulation, and management of abnormal conditions. Maternal and infant care specialists are classified into three levels: junior, intermediate, and senior. Confinement centers may establish salary scales based on experience and certification level.

2. Infant Care Specialist.Primarily engaged in the care, nursing, and education of infants aged 0–3 years. The profession of Infant Care Specialist is classified into three levels: Junior Infant Care Specialist (National Vocational Qualification Level 5), Intermediate Infant Care Specialist (National Vocational Qualification Level 4), and Senior Infant Care Specialist (National Vocational Qualification Level 3).

3. Lactation Consultant.Professional caregivers who utilize lactation promotion techniques, specifically Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tuina massage, to address postpartum symptoms such as agalactia and hypogalactia in new mothers. Lactation consultants are classified into four levels: Junior Lactation Consultant, Intermediate Lactation Consultant, Senior Lactation Consultant, and Certified Lactation Consultant.

In addition, other highly valuable certifications widely recognized by consumers and society include:

Nurse Practitioner License.Jointly issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and promulgated by local personnel bureaus. Professional title certificates for nurses: Junior level includes Registered Nurse and Licensed Nurse certificates; Intermediate level is the Certificate of Charge Nurse; Senior level includes Associate Chief Nurse and Chief Nurse certificates.

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).They are healthcare professionals specializing in clinical guidance for breastfeeding. International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. IBCLCs serve a range of healthcare settings, including hospitals, pediatric offices, public health centers, and private practices.