Texas Childcare Licensing and Regulations

The State of Texas has licensing and regulation requirements in place to provide protection to children and parents in Texas and to childcare providers. It is important that providers know and understand the rules and regulations before beginning the application process.

Types of Childcare

There are basically two types of childcare businesses in Texas.

1. Home-based care
Listed family homes – Provides at least 4 hours of care per day, 3 or more days per week for 1-3 children unrelated to the caregiver for 9 consecutive weeks.

Registered child care homes – Childcare is provided in the home for 6 children up to 14 years old. Caregiver can include 6 more school-age children. Maximum number of children receiving childcare is 12 including the caregiver’s own children. Caregiver must complete an orientation class, pass a background check, and pass an on-site inspection. Inspections are made every 1 to 2 years or on report of abuse or neglect.

Licensed child care homes – Provider operates a day care for less than 24 hours a day for children up to 14 years old. Only 7 – 12 children can be cared for in the provider’s home. Provider completes orientation, background check, and passes an on-site inspection that must meet minimum standards.

2. Center-based Care or Licensed Child Care Centers – A license is issued after the provider passes a background check, completes orientation, and passes an on-site inspection. The center is inspected every 12 months and/or after a report of not meeting minimum standards, abuse, or neglect. Provider cares for 7 or more children under the age of 14 for less than 24 hours at a facility other than the provider’s home.

How to Become a Childcare Provider

• First decide if you will be running a daycare from your residence or a separate facility. Your decision will determine if you will require registration and/or licensing.

• Find all the information you need to begin the application process at http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Ca...sing/start.asp.

• Get in contact with your local government authorities to comply with zoning laws, food preparation regulations, and fire safety.

• Create a childcare licensing account at the address above.

What Parents Need to Know

All childcare providers are not listed with the State of Texas. Listed family homes provide care for only 1 – 3 children part-time. Registered and licensed childcare homes and childcare facilities are regulated by State government and inspected every 1 to 2 years. You may feel more comfortable with registered and licensed facilities because you know they must meet minimum standards.

Parents may look up any listed, registered, and licensed facility in the State of Texas at this address: www.txchildcaresearch.org. Here you will find out if the provider is licensed, registered, or listed, if there have been any complaints, and how many children the facility can legally care for.

You must decide the number of children you want your child to be with each day, how much TV is watched, what disciplinary actions are taken, and many more questions. There is a list of good questions listed at http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Ca...ng_Options.asp.