Study options for au pairs

Another great benefit of Au Pair in America is the fact that you can study. It is a visa requirement that you study at an approved educational institution, but you can pick the type of course you want to enrol in. Courses range from cookery to computer Programming! For many au pairs, it’s a great way to improve on those English skills whilst other au pairs find the opportunity to study very useful in helping them decide what career they would like to follow or what course they would like to study when back at home.

There also are a number of English as a Second Language (ESL) courses offered by American colleges. Their admission requirements are generally similar to the colleges in your home country, although some may require you to have completed a TOEFL test (Test of English as a Foreign Language) before registering. It’s a good idea therefore to make sure that you have things like this organised before you leave for the USA.

Study is an important part of Au Pair in America - if you fail to study the sufficient number of hours you’ll forfeit your completion bonus at the end of your year. Also don't forget that completing a course in America does look fantastic on your CV!

We try to make every aspect of study as easy as possible for you. You’ll receive an allowance of up to US$500 to help cover your course fees and your Host Family and Community Counsellor will be there to help you register at your local college. We’ve found that, for a lot of au pairs, college really is the perfect way to get to know the American way of life. You’ll meet plenty of American friends in your own age group and will have the chance to visit social events, such as college football games and college parties.

Also, Trek America - the outdoor specialists in outdoor adventure and tours for North America - also have a great Study and Travel program, through which you can join and gain educational credits.

Depending on the program you qualify for and select, there are two ways you can study as an au pair:

Au Pair in America and Au Pair Extraordinaire
The perfect combination of work, study and travel. Through these you’ll complete 45 hours a week childcare (Au Pair Extraordinaire applicants will need at least two years work experience as a nanny or kindergarten teacher) and receive US$500 study allowance towards your course fees and materials. You will also complete an average of 80 hours’ classroom study.

Educare in America
This program is for those who would prefer to spend more of their time studying and less time taking care of the children. Through Educare you’ll complete 30 hours a week childcare instead of 45. You will receive a study allowance of US$1000 and will be able to spend at least six hours a week taking courses, which is double the amount of hours compared to Au Pair in America and Au Pair Extraordinaire. You will be enrolled in a college or university near the community where you will live. The college or university will offer a wide range of courses to choose from as well as excellent library, computer and sports facilities plus a variety of student activities.

What it's really like...
LA-based au pair Katja Everaerts writes...

'I wanted to do something that worked alongside my year as an au pair, so I chose to study Development in Early Childhood at UCLA extension. This also meant that I could try to get my certificate as a kindergarten teacher. The class was very interesting and I learned a lot more about how to teach young children, including the different approaches you can use to teach them things. The classes took place over four Saturdays, which was great, as it didn't take up much from my free time.

I did have some homework to do, like writing summaries on articles, making observations of young children, and taking part in activities with young children. I also had one or two tests, where we had to pretend we were teaching a kindergarten, and had to write lesson plans.

This summer, I will take two more classes: The Young Child in the Family and Community and The Role of Play in Early Childhood Education. After these classes, I will take four more classes in Childhood Education so I can finally get that certificate which I hope will help me to get a job when I'm back home. It is a great opportunity that we can study while we are in the USA!'





Name: Au Pair in America
Address: 37 Queen's Gate, London SW7 5HR



Tel: 0845 344 7566