Childcare Courses in Texas - TX

ChildCareEd courses are accepted by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for preservice, annual training, director requirements, and professional development hours.

ChildCareEd courses comply with HHSC Child Care Regulation (CCR) training standards for:

• Licensed Child Care Centers
• Licensed Child-Care Homes
• Registered Child-Care Homes
• School-Age Programs
• Directors, Primary Caregivers, and Caregivers

ChildCareEd is also an IACET-Accredited Provider, ensuring your CEUs and training hours meet national quality standards.

Texas-Approved Course Categories

Preservice Training

Required for new Texas child care employees and home caregivers:

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

Training for Licensed & Registered Child-Care Homes

• Texas Primary Caregiver Qualification
• Transportation Safety (2 hours)
• 1-Hour Abuse & Neglect Training

Texas Director Credential & Director Training Requirements

✔ Officially Recognized Texas Director Credential

ChildCareEd proudly offers the Texas Director Credential, which has been formally recognized by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

HHSC reviewed ChildCareEd’s Director Credential program and determined that it “substantially complies with criteria specified in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 26, Part 1, Chapter 745, Subchapter P.”

Additionally, the Texas Director Credential sponsored by ChildCareEd meets the criteria outlined in 26 TAC §§745.9101–745.9161, which govern approved Day Care Administrator Credential Programs in Texas.

What this means for Texas Directors

Texas child care centers that must employ a credentialed director can confidently choose the ChildCareEd Texas Director Credential knowing it:

• Meets HHSC-recognized administrator credential criteria
• Satisfies Texas Minimum Standards for Director qualifications
• Supports advancement in leadership roles across licensed Texas child care facilities

✔ Additional HHSC-Mandated Director Training:

• Transportation Safety (2 hours)
• 1-Hour Abuse & Neglect Training

Directors with:

• Five or fewer years of experience must complete at least 6 hours annually in management/leadership/supervision.
• More than five years of experience must complete 3 hours annually.

Our director courses fully support these yearly HHSC training requirements.

Annual Required Training

Texas caregivers and directors must complete annual training relevant to:

• The ages of children in their care
• Classroom management and developmentally appropriate practices
• Safety, health, cultural diversity, and inclusion
• Observation, assessment, and responsive caregiving

ChildCareEd offers over 200+ online self-paced courses covering every topic required by HHSC.

CDA Credential Training Accepted in Texas

The CDA Credential can be used in Texas as a substitute for preservice training. See a full list of ChildCareEd's CDA trainings below:

• Birth to Five CDA Credential with Portfolio Review
• CDA Infant/Toddler Credential with Portfolio Review
• CDA Preschool Credential with Portfolio Review
• CDA Family Child Care Credential with Portfolio Review
• CDA Home Visitor Credential Birth to 5
• CDA Infant/Toddler Renewal
• CDA Preschool Renewal
• CDA Family Child Care Renewal

Child Care Licensing Contact Information

Please contact your local child care licensing office to confirm all requirements, as standards are subject to change:  

Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Child Care Regulation (CCR)
Phone Number: 512-424-6500
Email: CCRQuestions@hhs.texas.gov
Child Care Licensing Website