How to become a home child care provider
Official title: Home child care providers
Also called: Child minder, Kinship care provider, Governess - child care, Home child care provider, Family child care provider, Child care live-in caregiver, Child caregiver - private home, Child care provider - private home, Au pair, Babysitter, Foster father, Foster mother
Home child care providers care for children on an ongoing or short-term basis. They care for the well-being and physical and social development of children, assist parents with child care and may assist with household duties. They provide care primarily in their own homes or in the children's homes, where they may also reside. They are employed by private households and child-care agencies, or they may be self-employed.
Main tasks
- Home child care providers
- Supervise and care for children in employer's or own residence
- Bathe, dress and feed infants and children
- Prepare formulas and change diapers for infants
- Plan, prepare and serve meals for children and may perform other housekeeping duties
- Oversee children's activities, such as meals and rest periods, as instructed by employer
- Maintain a safe and healthy environment in the home
- Instruct children in personal hygiene
How to become one
Completion of secondary school may be required. Home child care providers, parent's helpers and foster parents may require completion of a training program in child care or a related field. Child care or household management experience may be required. Demonstrated ability to perform work is usually required. First aid certification and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training may be required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $37,050 a year The middle half earn $32,175 to $40,950.
- About 19,900 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 21,700 are projected by 2033. (+9%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a home child care provider?
Completion of secondary school may be required. Home child care providers, parent's helpers and foster parents may require completion of a training program in child care or a related field. Child care or household management experience may be required. Demonstrated ability to perform work is usually required. First aid certification and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training may be required.
How much does a home child care provider earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $37,050 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $32,175 to $40,950.
Is a home child care provider a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 9% by 2033, from about 19,900 to about 21,700 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a home child care provider?
Usually not. Only 21% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03