Research the right route
Compare current eligibility, visa and work-permission boundaries, documents and programme requirements. Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United States provide distinct case studies, not universal or permanent rules.
Available now · Course 19
International Au Pair & Overseas Placement Preparation
International placement preparation for candidates who already have a professional au-pair or childcare foundation.
Free course · Free standard certificate
Foundation first, international specialisation next
Course 18: Professional Au Pair & Childcare Career Preparation develops professional childcare, safeguarding and work readiness. Course 19 builds on that foundation to help you research and prepare for safe, lawful overseas placement. It does not replace foundational childcare training or supervised practical competence.
Course 18 or equivalent competence is recommended. You do not have to complete Course 18 to enrol in Course 19, and it is not a mandatory prerequisite.
What you will prepare to do
Evaluate the proposed placement
Investigate agencies, sponsors and host families. Examine duties, agreements, compensation and competence limits before committing.
Prepare your independent resources
Work through fictional budgets, fees, exchange-rate risks and emergency funds. Investigate insurance and healthcare arrangements, travel and language readiness without treating course examples as personal legal or medical advice.
Navigate life and difficulties abroad
Prepare for cultural adjustment, personal safety, exploitation warning signs, placement problems, rematch or status changes and emergency return. Verify lawful options with the relevant authority or sponsor.
Foundation-prepared au-pair candidates, including school leavers of appropriate programme age, students and young adults, and schools, parents or organisations supporting responsible overseas-placement preparation.
International placement preparation, not a substitute for foundational childcare training or supervised competence. Course 18 Professional Au Pair & Childcare Career Preparation or equivalent competence is recommended, not a compulsory purchase or completion prerequisite. The certificate confirms course completion only. It does not confer accreditation, visa, work or residence permission, government, programme, sponsor or agency approval, background or medical clearance, driving, first-aid or professional childcare qualification. No guarantee of host-family match, placement, safety, income, employment or permanent residence. Personal eligibility and current destination requirements must be verified separately.
International Placement Preparation Portfolio
Build eighteen connected IP1–IP18 activities covering readiness, research, country routes, documents, matching, agreements, budgets, insurance and driving research, language and culture, arrival, independence, safety, disputes, placement changes, emergency return, completion and an integrated readiness decision. Use fictional or safely redacted examples only, never real passports, child details, medical records or bank information. The private, self-directed portfolio is not tutor graded or an additional completion gate.
63,999 teaching words and 48 hours 18 minutes of planned learning include reading, practice and assessments. Individual learning time varies. Optional language study and real application waiting time are excluded.
Assessment and completion
Eighteen 15-question module quizzes, six 30-question integrated Track examinations and one 90-question integrated Final Examination use a 70% pass mark. A completion certificate is available only after the required learning and assessments are completed. It records course completion and is not an accredited qualification or a guarantee of employment or workplace outcomes.
Enrol securely
Prepare responsibly for an overseas au-pair placement
Enrol free. Voluntary contributions are optional, and Olivia minutes are purchased separately. Complete this course and receive your certificate before enrolling in another Business course.
Live AI Learning Assistance
Learn independently. When you need personal help, Olivia is there.
Talk naturally with Olivia for explanations, examples, practice and role-play within an eligible Business lesson or practical task you own.
Focused on your current task
The authorised course, lesson or IP1–IP18 milestone keeps each conversation relevant and private.
Affordable when needed
Choose 15 minutes for R109, 30 for R179 or 60 for R349.
Built around learning
Ask questions and practise without changing progress, assessment or certificate eligibility.