Navigating Au Pair Classes: A Comprehensive Overview of Requirements

If you enjoy spending time with children and experiencing other cultures, then becoming an au pair could be your ticket to seeing the world and enhancing your resume. You will need au pair classes and other requirements to get started, but completing these requirements will allow you to travel and immerse yourself in a new culture with the support of a host family.

Au pairs assist families with young children in exchange for room, board, and pocket money. Their duties typically include performing childcare tasks and providing language tutoring to the children. For young people who may never have traveled abroad before, working as an au pair offers an exciting way to experience a foreign country. In addition to the long-lasting bonds often formed with the host family, being an au pair can also serve as a stepping stone to a career in teaching. So, how do you become an au pair? What are the requirements, and where can you find au pair classes? Let’s dive in!

Want to learn more about becoming an au pair in the U.S.? Check this guide to help you get started.

What are the requirements to become an au pair?

Requirements for au pairs may vary depending on the program. However, some basic requirements you can expect include:

Must be between 18 and 26 years of age.
Must have a B1 level or higher of English proficiency.
Must have some experience with children.
Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Must be in good health.
Cannot have a criminal record.
Must be willing to live abroad for one year.
Must be willing to participate in a cultural exchange program.
Must be willing to complete the required six credit hours of academic training (more on that below).

Before you apply, you need to understand what au pair programs expect from candidates and how those requirements shape the experience. Age, language level, childcare experience, and academic training all play a role in determining your eligibility. Once you know you meet the basic requirements, the next step is understanding how to complete the educational component that many programs require.

Interested in learning more about the requirements for teaching English? Explore this breakdown of what you really need to start a teaching career.

How do you meet au pair educational requirements?

In the U.S., au pair programs are considered a type of cultural exchange program. Therefore, applicants enter with a J-1 visa. To receive this au pair visa, applicants must complete au pair classes totaling 6 credits (72 hours) at an accredited U.S. postsecondary educational institution, such as Bridge. It is worth noting that, as part of your au pair benefits, you will receive up to $500 toward the cost of your course.

While all of Bridge’s courses are accredited, the 120-hour Master TEFL Certification meets these au pair credit requirements and is a popular choice among au pair courses. As an accredited training provider, Bridge provides TEFL certification courses that meet the requirements to teach English online and worldwide. The 120-Hour Master TEFL Certificate is an online, tutor-led course that you can complete at your own pace in three months or less.

If you are looking for au pair weekend classes, this course is a good choice because the online format is self-paced, so you can complete it in your free time. Master Certificate students gain core teacher training, earn an English grammar certification, complete a specialized teaching module that introduces strategies to teach young learners, and complete a job advising module.

You will not only meet au pair learning credit requirements, but also become a certified English teacher. Given the prominence of English in today’s world, TEFL teachers are in high demand, and becoming a certified ELT educator can open many career doors for you. You can choose to teach online and travel as a digital nomad, work in traditional schools or with online TEFL companies, or even start your own teacherpreneur business!

Meeting the au pair educational requirements does more than help you qualify for the program. It can also give you practical skills that stay with you long after your year abroad ends. When you choose a course that meets visa requirements and builds teaching skills at the same time, you turn one requirement into a long-term professional advantage.

Can au pairs take classes online?

The short answer is yes! You can take accredited online classes to fulfill U.S. au pair visa requirements. For example, the Bridge 120-Hour Master TEFL Certificate, which qualifies you to teach English as a foreign language, meets au pair education requirements and is 100 percent online. Taking an au pair course online gives you the freedom to complete the class on your own time, whether that is during weekends or throughout the week.

Online study makes the process much more manageable for au pairs who need flexibility and structure at the same time. A self-paced course can fit around childcare responsibilities, host family schedules, and weekend plans without losing academic value. For many future au pairs, online classes are not just convenient; they are the most realistic path to completing the required training.

What courses count for au pair requirements?

In order to meet course requirements to secure an au pair visa, you will need to take a class that meets the following requirements:

The course should be worth six hours of academic credit.
The au pair class must be offered by an accredited U.S. post-secondary educational institution.

If you are looking to meet these requirements or want to use your time as an au pair to jumpstart a career in education, you can take the aforementioned Bridge 120-hour Master TEFL Certificate, which qualifies you for most English teaching jobs worldwide. This online course will give you a robust foundation in English language teaching techniques and lesson preparation skills, ensuring that you step into the classroom with confidence.

Bridge courses allow you to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), which are nationally recognized units of participation in continuing education programs. Bridge, and therefore all of Bridge’s TEFL/TESOL courses, is accredited by ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training) and AQUEDUTO (Association for Quality Education & Online Training).

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications, examinations, and assessments in England and regulates vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland. ACE® (American Council on Education) and many university partners have similarly reviewed Bridge courses and recommended them for university credit equivalencies.

Not every course will count, so choosing the right one matters from the start. The best au pair classes meet official academic requirements while also giving you skills you can actually use in real teaching contexts. When a course checks both boxes, it supports your visa process and helps you build a stronger foundation for future work in education.

For young people with a desire to explore the world, working as an au pair offers a fantastic opportunity to travel, learn about a new culture, and build real-world skills in a structured, safe way. It can also give you the chance to support a family, build confidence, and gain experience that carries into future teaching and international work. When you choose accredited au pair classes that meet program requirements, you do not just complete a visa requirement. You invest in training that can strengthen your resume and prepare you for opportunities long after your au pair year ends. Start your journey today!

Learn more about the 120-hour Bridge Master TEFL Certificate course and how it can help you start your au pair adventure.