To become a nanny, you don't need a degree: US states don't regulate nanny education, and in the UK you can apply directly, though families and agencies prefer childcare training, a paediatric first aid certificate and an enhanced background check. UK nannies can also choose to join Ofsted's voluntary Childcare Register for £103, which lets the parents who hire them get help with childcare costs.
A nanny looks after children in the family's own home, which is what separates the job from childminding or nursery work. Here's what the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, GOV.UK, Ofsted and the National Careers Service said when I read them on 26 October 2026.
Nanny requirements in the US and the UK
| United States | United Kingdom (England) | |
|---|---|---|
| Education | Not regulated by states for nannies; some employers prefer childcare training | No set qualifications; courses and a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship help |
| First aid | Some states require CPR and first aid for childcare staff | Paediatric first aid certificate for most jobs |
| Background check | Background checks are common for licensed childcare staff | Enhanced background check; must be over 18 |
| Registration | None for nannies | Optional: voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register |
How to become a nanny, step by step
- Get childcare experience. The National Careers Service suggests paid or volunteer work at an after school club or holiday play scheme.
- Take a short course. Options include safeguarding awareness, the children and young people's workforce certificate, and preparing to work in home based childcare.
- Get a paediatric first aid certificate. It's needed for most UK nanny jobs, and CPR and first aid are required for childcare staff in some US states.
- Get your background check. In England, Ofsted registration needs an enhanced check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with barred lists.
- Decide whether to register with Ofsted. It's optional for nannies, but it widens the pool of families who can afford you.
- Agree a written contract. The National Careers Service warns that for live-in nannies, accommodation and meals may form part of your salary, so check what's included.
What a nanny does day to day
The National Careers Service lists the tasks. As a nanny you could:
- feed, bath and dress children and change babies' nappies
- teach basic social skills and hygiene, and help children learn through play
- take children on outings and do nursery and school runs
- prepare healthy meals and snacks and tidy the rooms the children use
- record children's progress for the family
BLS adds that US nannies may drive children to school, appointments or after-school activities, and that full-time nannies may work more than 40 hours a week to cover parents' commuting time. With experience, the National Careers Service says you could move on to childminding, nursery work or teaching assistant roles.
Ofsted registration: the step most new nannies skip
GOV.UK says you don't have to register with Ofsted if you're a nanny, but you can choose to, and that helps the children's parents qualify for help with childcare costs. That's the hidden selling point: a registered nanny is easier for a family to pay. Here's what registration involves, as of October 2026:
| Item | Detail from GOV.UK |
|---|---|
| Annual registration fee | £103, not refundable |
| DBS check | £41 |
| DBS update service (recommended) | £15 a year |
| First aid course | About £60 to £200 |
| Public liability insurance | About £25 to £100 |
| Processing time | Usually up to 10 weeks; the form takes about 15 minutes |
You'll also need childcare training (GOV.UK says to speak to your local council) and a certificate of good character from an embassy if you've lived abroad in the past 5 years.
The rules that keep you a nanny, not a childminder
- You can look after children from 1 or 2 families at any one time, in one of those families' homes.
- You can't work as a nanny from your own home. That's childminding, and it needs different registration.
- You can work for as many families as you like across the week, as long as you never have children from more than 2 families together, Ofsted explains.
- Nannies can only join the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, not the Early Years Register.
- Ofsted inspects 10% of providers on the Childcare Register each year, and registered nannies must keep insurance and first aid training up to date even when they're not working.
Caring for children from three families at once without registering as a childminder is running unregistered childcare, which Ofsted says is an offence. If you're weighing up live-in options, my guide to au pair vs nanny explains how the two roles differ.
Pay and outlook in the US
BLS groups nannies with childcare workers, whose median was $16.82 an hour in May 2025, as of October 2026. BLS notes that nannies usually work in their employers' homes and most often full time for one family. BLS projects a 2% decline in childcare worker jobs from 2025 to 2035, yet about 150,300 openings a year. In the UK, the National Careers Service lists nanny pay as variable.
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My verdict
Nannying is one of the quickest childcare careers to start, and families care far more about your references, first aid and checks than about certificates. If you're in England, I'd register with Ofsted from day one: £103 a year is a small cost for being the nanny a family can pay with childcare support, and it shows you take safeguarding seriously.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need qualifications to be a nanny?
No formal ones. US states don't regulate nanny education, and in the UK you can apply directly, but most jobs want a paediatric first aid certificate and childcare training.
Do nannies have to register with Ofsted?
No. Registration is optional for nannies, but joining the voluntary Childcare Register helps parents qualify for help with childcare costs.
How much does it cost to register as a nanny with Ofsted?
As of October 2026, GOV.UK lists a £103 registration fee, not refundable, plus a £41 DBS check and other costs such as first aid training and insurance.
How many families can a nanny work for?
As many as you like over the week, but only children from 1 or 2 families at any one time, in one of those families' homes.
