Texas Child Care Training Requirements - post

DFPS child care licensing 

Child Care Licensing (CCL) was originally part of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (#DFPS). However, on September 1, 2017, CCL became part of Texas Health and Human Services (HHS). This was done as part of a statewide reorganization of #childcare_licensing services.

All CCL web pages have been moved to the HHS website. The new website address is https://www.hhs.texas.gov/providers/protective-services-providers/child-care-regulation. DFPS child care licensing is no longer the appropriate search term to use in order to obtain childcare licensing regulations and training information. Look below to find all the information you need on requirements to work at a daycare in Texas.

Texas child care licensing

The Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for licensing childcare providers in the state. ChildCareEd training courses are accepted by Texas HHS in accordance with their continuing education requirement for all childcare providers. ChildCareEd is accredited by the International Association for Education and Training (IACET) and has on-staff Registered Trainers with the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS)).

Requirements to work at a daycare in Texas

Requirements to work at a daycare in Texas will vary depending on the position you are in or planning to be in. However, all providers regardless of position or setting must complete 24 hours of Pre-Service training. Eight clock hours of the required 24 must be completed before a caregiver is given responsibility for a group of children. The remaining 16 hours of pre-service training must be completed within 90 days of employment. ChildCareEd offers all Texas childcare course requirements. Click on the course to register.

Preservice Trainings for all Providers:

• 24-Hour Texas Pre-Service or
• 16 Hour Texas Pre-Service or
• 8 Hour Texas Pre-service

24 hours Pre-service training for caregivers must cover the following areas:

• Developmental stages of children
• Age-appropriate activities for children
• Positive guidance and discipline of children
• Fostering children’s self-esteem
• Supervision and safety practices in the care of children
• Positive interaction with children
• Preventing and controlling the spread of communicable diseases, including immunizations

If a caregiver provides care for children younger than 24 months of age, one hour of that caregiver’s pre-service training must cover the following topics:

• Recognizing and preventing shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma
• Understanding and using safe sleep practices and preventing sudden infant death syndrome
• Understanding early childhood brain development

Qualifications for Teachers:

• 24 Hour Texas Teacher Annual

Qualifications for Child Care Home Providers:

• Texas Primary Caregiver Qualification (Primary caregiver qualifications for a Licensed Child Care Home)
• 30 Hour Texas Director Annual

Qualifications for Directors:

• Texas Director Credential
• 30 Hour Texas Director Annual

Additional required trainings:

• Transportation Safety: required to transport children whose chronological or developmental age is younger than nine years old.
• 1-Hour Abuse and Neglect Training: one hour of child abuse and neglect training is required for childcare providers in Texas.

Annual training for all providers must be relevant to the age of the children being cared for and include a minimum of 20% instructor-led training. 

The 24 clock hours of annual training must be relevant to the age of the children for whom the caregiver provides care.

At least six clock hours of the annual training hours must be in one or more of the following topics:

• Child growth and development
• Guidance and discipline
• Age-appropriate curriculum
• Teacher-child interaction

At least one clock hour of the annual training hours must focus on the prevention, recognition, and reporting of child maltreatment, including:

• Factors indicating a child is at risk for abuse or neglect
• Warning signs indicating a child may be a victim of abuse or neglect
• Procedures for reporting child abuse or neglect
• Community organizations that have training programs available to employees, children, and parents

If a caregiver provides care for children younger than 24 months of age, one clock hour of the annual training hours must cover the following topics:

• Recognizing and preventing shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma
• Understanding and using safe sleep practices and preventing sudden infant death syndrome (#SIDS)
• Understanding early childhood brain development

Annual training hours must also include training on the following topics:

• Emergency preparedness
• Preventing and controlling the spread of communicable diseases, including immunizations
• Administering medication, if applicable
• Preventing and responding to emergencies due to food or an allergic reaction
• Understanding building and physical premises safety, including identification and protection from hazards that can cause bodily injury such as electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic
• Handling, storing, and disposing of hazardous materials

The remaining annual training hours must be in one or more of the following topics:

• Care of children with special needs
• Child health
• Safety
• Risk management
• Identification and care of ill children
• Cultural diversity for children and families
• Professional development (for example, effective communication with families and time and stress management) 
• Topics relevant to the particular age group the caregiver is assigned (for example, caregivers assigned to an infant or toddler group should receive training on biting and toilet training
• Planning developmentally appropriate learning activities
• Observation and assessment
• Attachment and responsive caregiving
• Minimum standards and how they apply to the caregiver