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Childcare Provider — CC
Total cost: $37-$85 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Governing Authority
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — Child Care Regulation (CCR)
Official website →Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
Yes
License Required
24 hours pre-service training required before caregivers have unsupervised access to children
Pre-Service Training
1:4 (infants 0–11 months)
Infant Ratio
Required
Fingerprinting
Annual
Renewal Period
$37-$85 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Initial Fees
Texas offers Family Child Care Home, Child Care Center, Registered Child Care Home. Family home: Up to 6 children; registered: 1-6. Center-based: No maximum with proper staffing. Your facility must meet state health, safety, and zoning standards before applying.
Texas requires staff-to-child ratios of infants 1:4 (infants 0–11 months), toddlers 1:5, preschoolers 1:11. Staff must be at least 18 years. Director qualifications: 21+ years old; CDA or equivalent; or associate degree in ECE; 2 years experience
All staff must pass state criminal, federal criminal, child abuse registry, sex offender registry background checks. Fingerprinting is required. Confirmed — Title 40, Part 19, Chapter 745, Subchapter F governs background checks. Includes state/federal criminal history via fingerprinting, child abuse/neglect registry, and sex offender registry for all staff, controlling persons, and household members in home-based care.
Complete 24 hours pre-service training required before caregivers have unsupervised access to children pre-service training hours. 24 hours of annual in-service training required for child care center staff of annual continuing education required. CPR and First Aid certification required. Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification required prior to or within 90 days of employment; must be maintained current CDA or equivalent for directors; all staff complete 24-hour pre-service training
Submit your completed application to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — Child Care Regulation (CCR). Total initial licensing fees: $37-$85 (family home); center fees vary by capacity. Include all required documentation, training certificates, and background check results.
A pre-licensing inspection of your facility is required before approval. Unannounced inspections may occur after licensing. Pre-licensing inspection; annual unannounced inspections; frequent monitoring based on compliance history; complaint investigations
Renew your license annual. Complete 24 hours (annual) of continuing education. Renewal inspections are required.
Family Home License
$35
Texas family child care home initial license fee
Center License
$100-$300
Texas child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity)
Background Check
$2-$50
Per-person fingerprinting and background check fee
Renewal Fee
$35-$200
Texas license renewal fee range (varies by license type and capacity)
Total varies significantly by license type, capacity, and number of staff requiring background checks
Texas childcare license types and capacity limits
VerifiedLicense Types
Family Home Capacity
Up to 6 children; registered: 1-6
Center-Based Capacity
No maximum with proper staffing
Exemptions from Licensing
Care for 3 or fewer unrelated children is exempt from licensing; care provided only by relatives is exempt; Listed Family Homes (caring for 1–3 unrelated children 4+ hrs/day) may register voluntarily but are not required to be licensed
All states require licensing for childcare centers and most require licensing or registration for family childcare homes above certain capacity thresholds. Exemptions typically apply to relatives, small-scale care arrangements, and certain religious programs. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.
Not sure if you need a childcare license? Check whether your state requires one.
Pre-service, annual training, and certifications
VerifiedPre-Service Training
24 hours pre-service training required before caregivers have unsupervised access to children
Annual Training Hours
24 hours of annual in-service training required for child care center staff
CPR / First Aid
Required
Health & Safety Training
Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification required prior to or within 90 days of employment; must be maintained current
CDA / Education Requirements
CDA or equivalent for directors; all staff complete 24-hour pre-service training
Training requirements vary by state and license type. Pre-service training must typically be completed before a provider begins caring for children. Annual training (continuing education) must be maintained throughout licensure. CPR and First Aid certification (pediatric) is universally required. The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is nationally recognized and accepted in all states.
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Required background checks for childcare providers and staff
VerifiedState Criminal Check
Required
Federal Criminal Check (FBI)
Required
Fingerprinting
Required
Child Abuse Registry
Required
Sex Offender Registry
Required
Details
Confirmed — Title 40, Part 19, Chapter 745, Subchapter F governs background checks. Includes state/federal criminal history via fingerprinting, child abuse/neglect registry, and sex offender registry for all staff, controlling persons, and household members in home-based care.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act requires all states to conduct comprehensive background checks on childcare providers. This includes FBI fingerprint checks, state criminal history checks, national and state sex offender registry checks, and child abuse and neglect registry checks. Background checks must be completed before a provider has unsupervised access to children.
Required staff-to-child ratios by age group
Verified1:4 (infants 0–11 months)
Infant (0-12 mo)
1:5
Toddler (12-24 mo)
1:11
Preschool (3-5 yr)
1:22
School-Age (6+ yr)
Minimum Staff Age
18 years
Director Qualifications
21+ years old; CDA or equivalent; or associate degree in ECE; 2 years experience
Staff-to-child ratios represent the maximum number of children that can be supervised by one qualified adult. Lower ratios (e.g., 1:3) indicate more intensive supervision. Ratios are typically stricter for younger children. These ratios apply to child care centers; family child care homes may have different overall capacity limits.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Family Home License Fee Texas family child care home initial license fee | $35 |
Center License Fee Texas child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity) | $100-$300 |
Background Check Fee Per-person fingerprinting and background check fee | $2-$50 |
Total Initial Fees Total varies significantly by license type, capacity, and number of staff requiring background checks | $37-$85 (family home); center fees vary by capacity |
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Renewal Requirements & Continuing Education
VerifiedAnnual
Renewal Period
24 hours (annual)
Annual CE Hours
Required
Inspection at Renewal
Renewal Fee
$35-$200
Texas license renewal fee range (varies by license type and capacity)
Childcare licenses must be renewed on the schedule set by your state. Renewal typically requires completion of continuing education hours, updated background checks for new staff, maintained CPR/First Aid certifications, and passing a renewal inspection. Failure to renew on time may result in license lapse and inability to operate legally.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission oversees one of the largest childcare systems in the nation through Child Care Regulation. The state requires 24 hours of pre-service training and 24 annual hours — consistent and substantial. Texas Workforce Commission manages the subsidy program.
All childcare providers in Texas must comply with state licensing requirements administered by Texas Health and Human Services Commission — Child Care Regulation.
All states participate in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), a federal block grant that helps low-income families access childcare.
NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accreditation is voluntary and recognized nationally as a mark of high quality.
The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is nationally recognized and accepted in all states for qualified childcare positions.
Texas requires 24 hours pre-service of pre-service training before providers can begin caring for children.
Background checks including child abuse registry checks, sex offender registry checks, and criminal history checks are required for all childcare staff.
Childcare requirements in nearby states
See how Texas compares: Childcare License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
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How does Texas compare to other states for childcare? See the full comparison →
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Childcare Schools in Texas
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Training materials and study guides for childcare licensing and CDA credential preparation.
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Childcare Provider requirements in Texas verified against Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — Child Care Regulation (CCR), March 2026.
Accessed 2025-01-15
Accessed 2026-03-21
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Texas requires 24 hours pre-service training required before caregivers have unsupervised access to children of initial training and maintains staff-to-child ratios of 1:4 (infants 0–11 months) for infants. Fingerprinting and comprehensive background checks are required for all providers. Licensing is managed through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — Child Care Regulation (CCR).
Requirements vary by license type and facility size. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.