How to become a Governess
Nobody starts as a Governess. The usual path starts as a Nanny, a role people enter from work ashore, and reaches Governess at about year 5 or later of a yacht career.
The pathFrom no experience to Governess. A typical path, not a rule.
Nanny
Year 0-3. Pay from about US$4,000 a month. A yacht nanny looks after the owner's or guests' children on board, running their routines, safety and activities while the family is at sea.
Private Tutor
Year 3-5. Pay from about US$5,000 a month. A qualified teacher who lives aboard and delivers the owner's children's school curriculum while the family cruises, often for a full school term.
Governess
Year 5+. Pay from about US$5,500 a month. A governess educates and cares for the owner's school-age children aboard, running lessons, routines and supervised activities while the family cruises.
Before you applyWhat a Nanny needs, from the Nanny guide
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
- Paediatric first aid (12-hour)
- Enhanced DBS or equivalent background check
Gets you hired
- Norland, CACHE Level 3 or early years degree
- PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties)
- Pool lifeguard or water safety qualification
- Food Hygiene Level 2
- Driving licence for shore trips
Later, for Governess
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- Paediatric First Aid
- Enhanced background check (DBS or equivalent)
Visas
- Schengen visa if non-EU
- US B1/B2 or C1/D for Caribbean and Florida seasons
What counts instead of yacht experienceOur advice
Captains hire a Nanny for early years childcare, paediatric first aid and water safety awareness. With no yacht job behind you, show the same skills from work ashore. For a Nanny, that means your qualifications and the years you have worked in the profession.
Write each job on your CV as what you did, with numbers: how many guests, how many boats, how many covers. Then list every skill below that you can prove.
- Early years childcare
- Paediatric first aid
- Water safety awareness
- Discretion with UHNW families
- Activity and routine planning
- Working within a crew
- Second language
Your first stepsIn the order we suggest
Get the tickets a Nanny must hold
You need STCW Basic Safety Training, ENG1 medical certificate, Paediatric first aid (12-hour) and Enhanced DBS background check before a yacht can put you to work as a Nanny.
STCW and ENG1: what they are and what they cost →Write a first Nanny CV
Keep it to one page. Put your tickets and your start date at the top, then your qualifications and your work ashore, with dates.
See a Nanny CV example →Create your crew profile
Upload that CV and we build your profile from it. Your name and contact details stay hidden. Captains and recruiters contact you. It is free.
Create your crew profile →Apply and look for daywork
Apply to open jobs and to crew agencies, and take daywork: a few paid days on a yacht is how most first-time crew get a reference.
Nanny guide →Step up to Private Tutor
The usual path puts Private Tutor at year 3 to 5. Pay starts from about US$5,000 a month.
How to become a Private Tutor →
QuestionsMore in the green crew guide
Can I become a Governess with no experience?
Not directly. Governess is senior work. The usual path starts as a Nanny, and reaches Governess at about year 5 or later.
How long does it take to become a Governess?
The usual path puts Governess at about year 5 or later of a yacht career, after Nanny and Private Tutor. It is a typical path, not a rule: time on busy yachts and the tickets you pass move it.
What does a Nanny earn at the start?
From about US$4,000 a month, by our Nanny guide. Charter nannies usually share the crew tip, which can add 10-20% over a busy season. Long-standing family nannies are sometimes paid on the household payroll, with a salary and leave agreed directly with the owner.
Let the yachts come to you
Upload your CV and we build your crew profile from it. Captains and recruiters contact you. Free for crew.