Instructor Form | TOEFL | Educational Requirement

For a copy of the form to be completed by college instructors for all au pairs and companions, click here.

For more information about the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), click here.

For information about education in your community, click here and follow the links to your state.

The Education Requirement:

1.  I am told that I need to attend a “post-secondary accredited institution.”  What does that mean?

Post-secondary means an institution that offers at least a one-year program of college-level studies.  An accredited institution is an institution officially recognized (or accredited) by a regional or national accrediting commission of schools and colleges.  In order to be accredited the school must meet certain requirements.  It is basically the government’s way of evaluating schools. 

Most au pairs will attend a two-year community, technical, or junior college or a four-year college or university.

 2.  How do I find out if a school I’d like to attend is a post-secondary accredited institution?

If you’re ever unsure whether or not a school you’re interested in is post-secondary and accredited, you should either ask your Community Counselor or contact the Education and Program Services Coordinator, Adriana Tartaglia, at atartaglia@aifs.com or 1-800-928-7247 ext. 5028.

You can also use the following website from the U.S. Department of Education to determine this information: http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/.

To check if a particular institution is accredited, follow these steps:

• Enter the name of the school in the Name of School field and click Show Results
• When the results appear, click on the institution
• Click on Accreditation on the bottom of the page to check the accreditation status

To find a list of accredited U.S. post-secondary institutions in a particular state, follow these steps:

• Choose your state from the list or click on Use Map to select from the map
• Click Show Results
• Select a school and click on Accreditation on the bottom of the page to check accreditation status

Some other useful search options include Zip Code, Institution Type and Extended Learning Opportunities.

*Please note: Sometimes only specific programs within the institution are accredited. If this is the case au pairs may only take courses through these programs.

If the institution is not listed on the site, it cannot be used to satisfy the educational component. However, if you know of a school that you believe is accredited, but does not appear on this site, contact the Education and Program Services Coordinator for assistance.

3.  What kind of classes can I take?

Au Pairs can fulfill the educational component in different ways. The choice you make will depend largely on your budget and schedule.

• Taking academic classes for credit

• Auditing classes (auditing allows students to attend a class with limited in-class participation, ungraded assignments and no final grade). If auditing is available to the Au Pair, the cost may be less than for a credit course. Each college or university decides if it allows auditing.

• Taking non-credit and/or Continuing Education courses that are offered at some colleges and universities. These courses are designed for a purpose other than toward a degree, usually for personal enrichment or career specific skills.

4.  What about travel, volunteer and online courses?

From June 12, 2006 forward, participation in study/travel tours, online courses and volunteer work no longer satisfies the educational requirement of the program.  Au Pair in America will only accept credits earned from educational substitutions that began before August 30, 2006.  

5.  What is the requirement and how can I satisfy it?

The requirement is 6 semester hours of academic credit or the equivalent. (EduCare Companions must complete twice the requirement of standard au pairs and year2 au pairs are expected to take an additional 3 credits for a 6 month extension and 6 credits for a 9 or 12 month extension).   

Generally a 3 credit college course is 45 hours and a 4 CEU course is 40 hours.  Non-credit, including audit courses, are counted by the hours in the classroom, so
           
6 credits = approx. 80 hours in the classroom = approx. 8 CEUs (continuing education units)

You can use any combination of hours, credits or CEUs as long as they add up to the required number of hours.  Your counselor will be able to advise you on what is possible in your area. You can also review your options by reviewing the educational listings for your state.

6.  What role does education play in my decision to extend my au pair term for 6, 9, or 12 months?

In order to extend you must show proof that you have completed the education requirement at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution.  One or more of the following documents can be used to verify that you have completed your education:

• Letter from the school on letterhead
• Completion certificate from the school
• School transcript
• Au Pair in America Education Verification form

All proof of education must state your name, ID number, school attended, course title and number of credits/hours earned.  Completed verification should be given to your Community Counselor who must send it to the Education and Program Services Coordinator Adriana Tartaglia.  Your extension request will not be processed without this proof.

7.  I am still in the process of completing my education/I am registered for a class that hasn’t begun yet.  Can I apply for an extension? 

In order to extend, you must submit proof that you have satisfied the education requirement.  If you are still in the process of completing your education, you must obtain proof from the school stating that the course(s) you are taking will conclude before your first year ends and the number of credits/hours/CEUs that you will earn.  If you are registered for a course that has not yet begun, you must submit proof of registration indicating that the course will conclude before your first year ends and the number of credits/hours/CEUs that you will earn.    

8. Can I send my education proof directly to the Connecticut office? 

No!  You must give your Community Counselor your education proof so that he or she can verify it, make a copy for their records, and then send it in to the CT office.  Please do not send the proof to the CT office yourself or have your host family or school send it.  Proof will only be accepted from Community Counselors.

Other things you should know about the education requirement:

• Tuition: Host families reimburse tuition costs and costs of related materials (books and supplies) up to $500 for the first year. EduCare companions are reimbursed up to $1000 for the first year. If it will cost you more than $500 (or $1000 for EduCare) to meet the requirement, you must pay the additional expense, so plan carefully.
• Selection: Be flexible. Remember that child care responsibilities come first. Class schedules need to be arranged with your host family and around your child care duties. Your favorite class may not be available when you are. There are day, evening and Saturday classes. Schools vary in what they offer, but most offer a wide range of choices.
  
  As long as the course is taken through an accredited post-secondary institution, there are no specific types of courses you can or cannot take. The subject choice is up to you!
• Placement: Many English as a Second Language (ESL) classes have placement exams. Some schools may require the TOEFL or other placement tests at the time of registration for other courses as well.
• Completion of the education requirement: If you do not complete your education requirement your completion bonus will be withheld. Education is an important part of your year in America.
• Transfer of credits: If you are taking a course for academic credit and want to transfer credits home, it would be the decision of the university in your home country if they would accept that credit or not. It is the responsibility of the au pair to contact her home university if she is interested in transferring credit.
• Recognition: If you are taking a course for academic credit you will receive a grade and an official transcript. If you are auditing or taking a non-credit course, it is at the discretion of the instructor.
• Transportation: Your host family is required to provide transportation, including gasoline, parking or public transportation costs (if applicable) to and from the place of instruction.  The cost of transportation is in addition to the $500/$1000 allocated to tuition and related fees.  It is your host family’s responsibility to provide transportation or cover the transportation costs until you complete your educational requirement, even if the $500 education allowance has already been spent.