On April 12, 2024, the Neonatal Therapy Certification Board (NTCB)™ welcomed its 1000 th CNT™, Laura Franke. This comes 10 years after the birth of Neonatal Therapy Certification™ and just 8 years since the first CNT™ was announced in 2017.  “Back when Neonatal Therapy Certification™ began, we did not even know if 1000 neonatal therapists existed. Now, 10 years later it is thrilling to see the expanding field, the number of therapists who have demonstrated they have the experience and knowledge to work in the high-risk NICU setting, and the focus on skilled and ..read more

  “When the going gets tough, put one foot in front of the other and just keep going. Don’t give up.” – Roy T. Bennett.  Our 900th CNT™, Brittany Lewis, has been practicing at the 55-bed Level 3 NICU at Covenant Healthcare in Saginaw, MI for over 3 years. She is now one of the 3 full-time occupational therapists, who are all Certified Neonatal Therapists™ (shout out to Janelle Myers, CNT™ and Mary Reed, CNT™!), and 1 part-time occupational therapist (shout out to Nicole Danz!) who staff the unit.  As many of us can relate, life is always full of surprises. Brittany’s OT journey ..read more

When physical therapist Graham Miller became a Certified Neonatal Therapist (CNT) in 2021, she had 2 unexpected surprises: 1) improved confidence as a NICU therapist and 2) receiving a promotion that came with a 7.5% pay raise. Read on to learn about her journey.  “Becoming a Certified Neonatal Therapist was a personal goal, but I had two wonderfully pleasant surprises following.” Graham Miller is a physical therapist at Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO), a 90 bed Level IV NICU in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. After 32 years as a physical therapist and 10 years in the NICU, she app ..read more

The Neonatal Therapy Certification Board (NTCB) welcomes Jordan Nicole Starr and Katie Reginato Cascamo as public members. Jordan and Katie are former parents of NICU infants and consumers of neonatal therapy services and will ensure the public voice is heard. This will help the NTCB achieve the highest standards of excellence. From the unexpected beginnings that both NTCB public members experienced emerges an incredible opportunity for the NTCB to partner in care to benefit high risk infants and their families. This will also create a better-informed neonatal therapy community. Hear some ins ..read more

We are happy to introduce a team of 5 incredible neonatal therapists in Indianapolis, Indiana, who demonstrated unwavering dedication while simultaneously juggling the opening of their newest facility and achieving neonatal therapy certification. Their certification shines as a symbol of their commitment and passion for what they do. Attie Vogler, PT, MPT, Brittany McFarland, OTR/L, Erica Aloia, DPT, Erin Hock, OTR/L, and Kelly Adkins, OTR/L are the “Fabulous Five” and newest CNTs at the Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health. The team shared that the path toward pursuing ce ..read more

“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead Almost five years ago the Neonatal Therapy Certification Board (NTCB) opened applications for certification, and a group of approximately 70 neonatal therapists set out to pave a new pathway! They were trendsetters and set a new bar for excellence in care for the smallest and most vulnerable of patients. There are now more than 700 Certified Neonatal Therapists (CNTs) across the globe. CNTs are making a name for themselves and setting high expectations for evidence-based prac ..read more

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” – Henry Ford. The COVID-19 pandemic left many of us feeling alone, isolated, and disconnected. This happened during a time that forced us to adjust to the unexpected turn of events and changes in our daily lives. However, some teams were able to seize opportunities that may not have existed under different circumstances. During this difficult time, a group of therapists came together and set out to turn challenges into opportunities. Ashleigh Connell (MA, CCC-SLP, CNT), Kayla Fleming (MS, CCC-SLP), Torri Reichman (OT ..read more

Curious how neonatal therapy services are delivered in other settings?  What about in other countries? Join the NTCB as we celebrate our international Certified Neonatal Therapists, and take a closer look at neonatal therapy in the United Arab Emirates. Wedad is a neonatal therapist practicing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Located along the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, the United Arab Emirates is known for its seven emirates—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, and Fujairah. Each emirate is unique in its culture and traditions. While the UAE ca ..read more

Curious how neonatal therapy services are delivered in other settings?  What about in other countries? Join the NTCB as we celebrate our international Certified Neonatal Therapists, and take a closer look at neonatal therapy in Singapore. “Neonatal therapy certification has made me more confident of the work that I do. In some ways, it has validated my role, our roles as physiotherapists in the NICU and special care nursery. In the future, neonatal therapy certification will hopefully become standard practice and a prerequisite for all therapists entering the NICU and special care nursery ..read more

Curious how neonatal therapy services are delivered in other settings? What about in other countries? Join the NTCB as we celebrate our international Certified Neonatal Therapists, and take a closer look at neonatal therapy in Doha, Qatar. Jisha Elizabeth Mathew is a Certified Neonatal Therapist (CNT) from Doha, Qatar. Qatar is located between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has a population of approximately 3 million, and has a rate of prematurity of 9.23 per 1,000 births. Jisha has practiced for ten years as a neonatal occupational therapist at Hamad Medical Corporation, where ..read more