How to be an Au Pair?

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To become an au pair, one must be at least 18 years old, have experience working with children, possess a high school diploma, a driver’s license, and a clean criminal record. Au pairs care for children in exchange for the opportunity to live abroad and learn about a new culture. They are not expected to be childcare professionals and can find work through agencies or independently. Background checks and medical tests are often required.

The requirements for a person wanting to become an au pair can vary, depending on whether you choose to find work through an agency or pursue opportunities independently. Generally speaking, an aspiring au pair must be at least 18 years old and have experience working with children. A person looking to secure an au pair opportunity may also need a high school diploma, a driver’s license, and a history of criminal activity.

An au pair is a person who travels to a foreign country to care for children at home. Au pairs look after children in exchange for the chance to live abroad temporarily. Au pairs are often given the chance to learn about the language and culture of a foreign country. Some even have the opportunity to attend college while living abroad.

Au pairs are usually at least 18 and no older than 26. Typically, they are required to possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Some au pairs have already started college when they sign up with a host family, but a college education is not required. An au pair is normally expected to have a driver’s license, as they may need to apply for an international license to drive while abroad.

Typically, an individual needs some experience with children to become an au pair; this could include babysitting, working at a daycare center, or helping with Sunday school recreational activities. Although au pairs will need some experience with children, they are not expected to be childcare professionals. This means they don’t need many years of experience to secure a position. Some agencies require au pairs to have many hours of experience, however. For example, an agency may require 200 hours of babysitting experience.

Most au pair families and agencies require au pairs to submit to background and criminal background checks. Some agencies may also require psychological testing. Often, au pairs must have medical tests and complete health forms before traveling to start a work assignment.

If a person meets the requirements and wants to become an au pair, they can contact an agency and apply. These agencies screen au pairs and potential families, matching au pairs with families abroad. Au pairs sometimes choose to hire their own families. In this case, an individual who wants to become an au pair can respond to advertisements on au pair websites and in related publications. There are even some online databases that allow au pairs to post profiles for families to see.




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