Become a 24-Hour Residential Child Care Provider

The process to obtain a permit is designed to ensure the protection of children through a cooperative relationship between the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the potential applicant. Before you start the application process, become familiar with general requirements, rules, and resources.

If you are interested in starting a 24-Hour Residential Child Care operation, here is what you need to do to get started.

  Step 1 - Attend a 24-Hour Residential Pre-Application Class

• Sign up for a 24-Hour Residential Pre-Application Class to learn more about the application process and what it takes to become a 24-Hour Residential Child Care provider.

  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 vary by location and often include things such as the application, supplemental forms, and contact information for local Child Care Licensing staff.

• To learn more about some of the things you will need to consider when applying to become a child care provider, please review the following links.

• Licensing Law and Rules [close]

  • Licensing Requirements
  Licensing regulates child-care operations under two main categories: child day care and residential child care. Child day care includes the care, supervision, training, or education of an unrelated child or children 13 years old or younger for less than 24 hours per day in a place other than the child’s own home. Residential child care includes the care, custody, supervision, assessment, training, education, or treatment of an unrelated child or children up to the age of 18 years for 24 hours a day that occurs in a place other than the child’s own home. Learn More
  
  • Illegal Operations
  An operation that provides child care that is subject to regulation, but does not have a permit and is not in the process of applying for one is an illegal operation. Don't Be In The Dark About Child Care. Learn More AND Find § 42.076. CRIMINAL PENALTIES in the following publication
  
  • Background, Criminal History, Central Registry, and FBI Checks
  Certain persons at child-care operations are required to complete a background check, which may include a DPS, Central Registry, and FBI check. Background checks must be completed prior to allowing a person to provide direct care or have direct access to children in care and every 24 months thereafter. If a person has a history of abuse or neglect or has a criminal history, then the person may be prohibited from being present at a child-care operation. Learn More
  
  • Listed Homes
  People who must list are those who are compensated to provide regular child care in their own homes for 1-3 unrelated children. There are no Minimum Standard Rules for Listed Homes and the application process is simple. Note that they are not inspected unless a report is received alleging child care is offered subject to registration and reports of abuse or neglect are investigated.
  
  • 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. The Minimum Standards are designed to mitigate risk for children in out-of-home care settings by providing basic requirements to protect the health, safety, and well-being of children in care. Learn More
  
  • Liability Insurance
  Insurance coverage is an important protection for your business. Some operation permit types are not required to obtain proof of coverage before Licensing issues a permit. Learn More

• Application Process and Administrative Procedures [close]

  • Application Materials
  Your application form and fee are part of the application process. Your complete application packet includes other forms and documents. For example, a Plan of Operation/ Policies and Procedures is a key document part of the application materials for some licensed operations. It requires your time and attention. It is your written plan showing how you plan to comply with minimum standard rules. The plan needs to include information on, for example, person/s responsible for ensuring that the Minimum Standard Rules are in compliance at all times, the physical facility, activities and child/ caregiver ratio, safety, and sanitation.
  
  • Technical Assistance
  Licensing staff will assist you every time you need it. Support will come in a variety of forms: at your initial orientation, at every inspection, over the phone, and on-line. We encourage the use of forms and documents created for you. Visit the on-line Technical Assistance Library. Learn More
  
  • Licensing Offices
  Local Child Care Licensing offices provide information to prospective permit applicants, offer training and orientation services, and assist providers with questions about regulation. If you need assistance, contact your local office. Learn More
  
  • Fees
  Licensing is required to charge fees for permits and for conducting background checks. The money from fees is deposited in the state’s general revenue fund. Fees may be charged as follows: non refundable application fee for initial license, Initial license fee, annual fee, which is due before a license is issued and on the anniversary date of the license, and fees for criminal history and central registry background checks, for example. Learn More
  
  • Application Inspection
  Before issuing an initial or non-expiring permit, Licensing staff will conduct an inspection to ensure you and your operation comply with the applicable law and minimum standard rules. Licensing staff periodically inspects your operation to make sure it continues to meet minimum standards. Remember, Listed Homes are not inspected unless a report is received alleging child care is offered that is subject to registration and reports of abuse or neglect are investigated.
  
  • Compliance History
  Information about your operation and its compliance history will be available on our public web site at www.txchildcaresearch.org. Families and placing agents wanting information about child-care operations in their areas will be able to access this information.

• Other Requirements [close]
  • 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 the child-care operation. These are not licensing requirements, but you may have to meet them before local authorities will perform fire and sanitation inspections.
  
  • Vocabulary and Definitions
  It is important you become familiar with frequently used definition of terms. These terms will help you read Minimum Standards, create your policies and procedures and/or plan of operation, and understand regulation. Learn More
  
  • More Information
  The 'Frequently Asked Questions' page will help you find general topics and specific information on many topics. It helps providers and applicants review policies and learn about recent changes too.
  
  • Contact your local
  Child Care Licensing office.
  
  
• For additional information about the child care licensing application process, see the Applicant's Guide to Listed, Registered and Licensed Child Care .
• We also invite you to click around on the Child Care Licensing website to find other relevant information and resources, such as the TA Library, Emergency Preparedness information, and links to child safety public awareness campaigns.

  Step 3 - Create an Account

• Complete Online Registration to create your provider account.