If you are interested in becoming licensed home daycare, you will need to meet certain requirements. First, you must be a resident of the United States and have at least one year of experience caring for children. If you do not meet these requirements, you can apply to become a provisional licensee while you complete them.
You will also need to pass a criminal background check and provide proof of any professional training that is required by your state or county. You may also be asked to provide references from people who have known and trusted you for at least two years. Once all of these steps are completed, you will be licensed as a home daycare provider in your area!
How To Become Licensed Home Daycare
Step 1 – Attend a Child Care Home Pre-Application Class
Contact your local Child Care Licensing office to get dates for pre-application classes scheduled in your area.
To attend the pre-application training online, select the Licensed or Registered Child Care Home Pre-Application Training on the Provider Training webpage. Complete the specific training you intend to apply for.
Once you complete all four training modules you will receive a certificate. You will be required to include this certificate with your application.
Step 2 – Become Familiar with Required Materials and Helpful Resources
You will receive an information packet during your pre-application class. The contents of information packets will include supplemental forms to complete the application process, as well as contact information for local Child Care Licensing staff.
Please review the following links to learn more about some of the things you will need to consider when applying to become a child care provider
Licensing Requirements
Licensing regulates child-care offered in center-based and home-based operations. Child care includes the care, supervision, training, or education of an unrelated child or children (13 or younger) for less than 24 hours per day in a place other than the child’s own home.
Licensed Child-Care Home
- Provides care and supervision to seven to 12 children 13 or younger (no more than 12 children can be in care at any time, including children related to the caregiver).
- Provides care at least two hours, but less than 24 hours, per day, for three or more days a week.
- Provides care in the primary caregiver’s home.
- Must meet minimum standards.
- Receives at least one unannounced inspection per year.
Registered Child-Care Home
- Provides care and supervision for up to six unrelated children 13 or younger during school hours, and can also provide care and supervision for six additional school-age children after school hours (no more than 12 children can be in care at any time, including children related to the caregiver).
- Provides care at least four hours a day, three or more days a week, for three or more consecutive weeks; or four hours a day for 40 or more days in a 12-month period.
- Provides care in the primary caregiver’s home.
- Must meet minimum standards.
- Receives at least one unannounced inspection every one to two years.
Listed Family Home
- Provides care and supervision for up to three unrelated children.
- Provides care at least four hours a day, three or more days a week, for three or more consecutive weeks; or four hours a day for 40 or more days in a 12-month period.
- Provides care in the primary caregiver’s home.
- Must meet minimum standards.
- Is not routinely inspected unless a report is received alleging: child abuse or neglect, an immediate risk of danger to the health or safety of a child, or the caregiver is caring for too many children.
Background Checks
Certain persons at child-care operations are required to complete a background check, which may include a Central Registry (child abuse and neglect registry), FBI, and a sex offender registry check. Background checks must be completed before a person provides direct care or has direct access to children in care and on a recurring basis thereafter. If a person has a history of abuse or neglect or has a criminal history, then the person may be prohibited from being at a child-care operation.
Visit the background checks webpage to learn more.
Minimum Standards
Child Care Licensing develops rules for child-care in Texas. Each set of minimum standards is based on a particular chapter of the Texas Administrative Code and the corresponding child-care operation permit type. Minimum standards are designed to reduce risk for children by providing basic requirements to protect the health, safety, and well-being of children in out-of-home care.
Visit the Minimum Standards webpage to learn more.
Application Materials
Your complete application packet includes the application form, application fee, and other supplemental forms and documents. For example, a Plan of Operation, including policies and procedures, is a document that is a key part of the application for some licensed operations. It requires your time and attention. It is your written plan showing how you plan to comply with minimum standards. For example, it needs to include information about who is responsible for ensuring minimum standards are met at all times, the physical facility, activities, child to caregiver ratios, safety, and sanitation.
Application Inspection
After you submit a completed application, Child Care Licensing staff will conduct an inspection to ensure you and your home comply with the applicable law and minimum standards. Licensing staff periodically inspects your home to make sure it continues to meet minimum standards. After you home demonstrates compliance with minimum standards, Licensing staff will issue you an initial or full permit.
Note: Listed Homes are not inspected unless a report is received alleging child abuse or neglect, an immediate risk of danger to the health or safety of a child, or the caregiver is caring for too many children.
Technical Assistance
Child Care Licensing staff will assist you every time you need it. We will support you at your pre-application class, at every inspection, over the phone, and on-line. We encourage you to use the forms and documents created for you. Visit the on-line Technical Assistance Library.
Fees
Licensing is required to charge fees for processing applications, issuing permits, and conducting background checks. Licensing also collects an annual fee that is due each year on the anniversary date of the issuance of your permit. The money from fees is deposited in the state’s general revenue fund.
Compliance History
Information about your home and its compliance history will be available on our public web site at web-site. It is available to anyone.
Zoning, Building Codes and other Legal Requirements
In some areas, you may need to meet zoning, building code, home owner association, and other requirements concerning the location and construction of a child-care operation. These are not licensing requirements, but you may have to meet them before local authorities will perform fire and sanitation inspections.
