Participants
Au Pairs must be:
- Proficient in spoken English;
- A secondary school graduate or equivalent; and
- Between 18-and-26-years-old.
Benefits
Host Family Stay: Live with a family for 12 months, with the option to extend 6, 9, or 12 more months.
Professional Training: Receive a minimum of 32 hours of childcare training before you start.
Childcare Experience: Provide up to 10 hours a day/45 hours a week of childcare.
School Credit: Complete at least six hours of academic credit or equivalent at an accredited U.S. post-secondary educational institution.
Financial Value: Receive up to $500 toward the cost of required academic course work. Room and board plus compensation for childcare work.
More information
Limitations/Exceptions for Au Pair work
Au Pairs cannot be placed:
- With a family that has an infant less than three months old unless a parent or other responsible adult is at home;
- In homes with children under two years of age unless the Au Pair has at least 200 hours of documented infant childcare experience;
- In families with a special needs child(ren), as identified by the family, unless the au pair has identified his/her prior experience, skills or training in the care of special needs children and the host family has reviewed and acknowledged the au pair’s prior experience, skills, or training in writing; and
- In the homes of relatives.
EduCare - Childcare for before and after school
EduCare applies to families that require childcare before and after school. EduCare Au Pairs may not be placed with families that have preschool children except if other, full-time childcare plans have been made.
The EduCare Au Pair may work no more than 10 hours per day, and a maximum of 30 hours per week. Au Pairs participating in the EduCare component receive 75 percent of the weekly rate paid to non-EduCare participants. EduCare Au Pairs must complete a minimum of 12 hours of academic credit or its equivalent during the program year. The host family is required to provide (up to) the first $1,000 toward the cost of the Au Pair's required academic course work.
Program Sponsors
Notice to all Au Pair Sponsors
Federal Minimum Wage IncreaseSponsors are required to:
- Screen and select both host families and au pairs as program participants according to selection criteria stated in the regulations;
- Provide au pairs with training in child development and child safety prior to their placement with a host family; and
- Provide au pairs with specific orientation and program information prior to departure from their home countries for the United States.
Sponsors must ensure the following:
Eligibility: Must be 18-to-26-years-old, proficient in spoken English and must complete at least six hours of academic credit or its equivalent at an accredited U.S. post-secondary educational institution.
Work hours: Childcare is limited to no more than 10 hours per day, and to a maximum of 45 hours per week.
Childcare Experience: Provide up to 10 hours a day/45 hours a week of childcare.
Financial Compensation: Au pairs are compensated for their work according to the Fair Labor Standards Act as interpreted and implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor.
More information
Limitations/Exceptions for Au Pair work environment
Au Pairs cannot be placed:
- With a family that has an infant less than three months old unless a parent or other responsible adult is at home;
- In homes with children under two years of age unless the Au Pair has at least 200 hours of documented infant childcare experience;
- In families with a special needs child as identified by the family. The Au Pair can work with a special needs child if s/he has identified prior experience, skill or training in caring for special needs children. In this case, the host family must review and acknowledged the prior experience, skills or training in writing; and
- In the homes of relatives.
EduCare - Childcare for school-aged children
EduCare applies to families that require childcare before and after school. EduCare Au Pairs may not be placed with families that have preschool children except if other, full-time childcare arrangements have been made.
The EduCare Au Pair may work no more than 10 hours per day, and a maximum of 30 hours per week. Au Pairs participating in the EduCare component receive 75 percent of the weekly rate paid to non-EduCare participants. EduCare Au Pairs must complete a minimum of 12 hours of academic credit or its equivalent during the program year. The host family is required to provide (up to) the first $1,000 toward the cost of the Au Pair's required academic course work.
Hosts/Employers
Host families are required to:
- Pay up to $500 toward the cost of the au pair's required academic course work;
- Provide an appropriate private room and three meals a day for the au pair;
- Be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents fluent in spoken English;
- Pay a weekly minimum stipend based on the program option selected;
- Give the au pair one complete weekend off each month (Friday evening to Monday morning);
- Facilitate the care provider's requirement to enroll in and attend an accredited post-secondary institution to fulfill her Educational Component requirement;
- Provide a minimum of two weeks paid vacation for each 12 month exchange term (prorated for extension periods of six or nine months), in addition to regular weekly/monthly time off;
- Include the au pair whenever possible in family meals, outings, holidays and other events; and
- Host families and Au Pairs must sign an Agreement detailing the au pair’s obligation to provide child care prior to the Au Pair's placement in the host family's home. In the event of questions regarding refunds or other adjustments, host families and au pairs should refer to their agreements. The Department of State does not have jurisdiction over contractual obligations.
