What kind of training and experience is required to be an au pair?
Au pairs must be proficient in spoken English and have a high-school diploma or the equivalent. Before becoming part of a host family they receive 8-hours of child safety and 24-hours of child development instruction. At least 4-hours of the child safety training will be infant-related and at least 4-hours of the child development instruction will be devoted to the care of children under 2-years of age. The child safety training, provided by qualified organizations, includes topics such as stress management and shaken baby syndrome. Additionally, au pairs responsible for children under 2 years of age must have at least 200 hours of documented infant child care experience. Au pairs will NOT have specialized training in nursing. They are NOT to dispense prescription medication or undertake therapy regimes.
