By Gena Pitts
Executive Director, The Nanny Training Institute
Are nannies educated and licensed?
Simply put – No.
There currently are no federal and state laws to require nannies to be educated and licensed.
Some nannies have a degree in early childhood education from colleges and universities, and are trained in courses in child development, nutrition and meal planning, behavior management and positive discipline. As soon as these graduates add CPR, Safety and First Aid to their credentials, they are more than qualified to be a professional nanny.
Education
When it comes to education, there is a big gap between lead teachers with a degree and nannies with on-the-job training and years of experience. Wouldn’t it be great to an experienced nanny who is both educated and trained?
We think so. During the current COVID 19 pandemic, children are being home-schooled at least part-time, depending on where you live, and parents have dual roles of being a working parent and teacher; and need I say, driving parents in-sane.
The demand for properly trained professional nannies has never been greater than it is today.
There is also a big gap in pay, because the regulations and environments where they work. Pre-school teachers obviously work in day-care centers, and nannies work inside the home, but they are both responsible for the same job of caring, feeding, and instructing children.
The ironic thing is that nannies are generally paid more than daycare center workers, because there is a huge demand for properly trained nannies to work inside a parent’s home to care and educate their child or children.
Pay and Job Outlook
The median income for pre-school teachers is $28,570 annually, and require at least an Associates degree for a position at approximately $13 per hour.
According to Childcare Resources, a nanny agency in business since 1989, the median income for nannies working full-time (40 hours per week) is $31,200 annually at $15 per hour and more, depending on the family’s job description.
Isn’t it strange that childcare workers with postsecondary education or an early childhood education credentials generally earn LESS than nannies? Why?
Simply put – it’s supply and demand.
If you are a nanny with more than several years of experience, have great references, a good background screening, and are educated in postsecondary education or certified in formal training, you can ask and get the highest pay rate in the industry, and enjoy perks and benefits working in an in-home environment.
Learn more at www.nannytraininginstitute.com and www.childcareresources.com