How Does Babysitter Licensing Work?

The Background

In today's world most parents are very particular about the people they hire to watch their children, often asking for references, doing informal background checks and preferring licensed babysitters. While there is no one formal babysitter license, there are several different courses available for babysitters that will make them fully qualified for any babysitter position. Most of these babysitter education classes include topics like basic child care, CPR and first aid instruction and offer certificates upon completion to show to prospective employers.

Types of Courses

The most common type of babysitter license coursework includes basic child care tips and information on how to handle different situations that might arise when babysitting. These courses are offered at area Red Cross centers, YMCAs, community centers, hospitals and at various online babysitter licensing programs. These babysitter licensing courses are inexpensive and generally accept potential babysitters as young as 11 years old. Typically these courses range from 6 to 10 hours in length. Upon finishing these basic babysitter licensing programs a certificate is issued to the babysitter proving successful completion of basic child care education.

In addition to basic child care babysitter licensing courses, many parents prefer hiring babysitters that are certified in infant and child CPR and first aid. Local Red Cross chapters offer child and infant CPR courses that last 4 1/4 hours and effectively teach babysitters how to know when to use CPR and how to perform CPR correctly on both infants and children up to 12 years old. First Aid courses are also offered by area Red Cross chapters and help to teach babysitters how to recognize all types of emergency situations while babysitting and how to correctly respond to them. Babysitters will learn how to treat cuts, scrapes, and minor injuries in a Red Cross First Aid course. Upon completion of both the CPR and First Aid courses, babysitters will receive a certificate showing they are educated on and licensed to perform CPR and first aid on infants and children.

A Qualified Babysitter

The basic premise behind babysitter licensing coursework is that by taking all the courses babysitters will be fully educated on basic child care information and able to handle any emergency situation that could arise when babysitting. Most babysitters enjoy taking the courses because they help to make them more confident in their babysitting abilities and more knowledgeable of what is expected of them in their caregiver role.

More Opportunities

While there is no official babysitter license that babysitters can show to prospective employers, the certificates they earn upon completing the various babysitter training courses have the same desired effect. Parents are much more likely to hire babysitters that have taken the time to educate themselves on child care techniques and tips and who are CPR and first aid certified. By hiring a babysitter with these skills, parents feel more at ease leaving their children with the babysitter because they know she should be capable of dealing with emergency situations that might arise. With parents becoming more and more choosy about who they will allow into their homes to care for their children, babysitter licensing courses are an important way for babysitters to separate themselves from the pack and qualify for better paying and more frequent jobs.

Resources

• Babysitter's Certificate Class
• Babysitter's Training