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A Parent’s Guide to Day Care

What kind of child care is available?

Welcome to Texas Child Care Search. There are many different child-care choices available and the quality of individual programs can vary widely. It is your responsibility to choose the right child-care operation and place your child where they will learn and thrive. In Texas, child care can be broken down into the following types of operations:

Home-based care

Listed family homes
Registered Child Care Homes
Licensed Child Care Homes

Center-based care

Licensed Child Care Centers

Listed Family Homes

People who must list with the division are those who are compensated to provide regular child care (at least four hours per day, three or more days a week, for more than nine consecutive weeks) in their own homes for 1-3 unrelated children. After receipt of an application and licensing background check clearances, a certificate is issued. The listed family home caregiver must be at least 18 years old. However, there are no minimum standards, orientation or training requirements for listed homes. 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.

Registered Child Care Homes

Registered Child Care Homes provide care in the caregiver's home for up to six children under age 14; they may also take in up to six more school-age children. The number of children allowed in a home is determined by the ages of the children. No more than 12 children can be in care at any time, including children of the caregiver. The application process requires that a registered child care home provider complete an orientation class and receive clearances on background checks. A registration certificate is issued after licensing staff completes an on-site inspection to ensure minimum standards are met. Registered homes are inspected every 1-2 years and if a report is received related to child abuse/neglect or standards deficiencies.

Licensed Facilities

All types of licensed facilities have published standards they are required to follow and are routinely monitored and inspected. The application process requires that the licensed operation provider receive orientation and background checks are conducted. A license is issued after licensing staff completes on-site inspection(s) to ensure minimum standards are met. Licensed facilities are inspected at least once every 12 months and to investigates reports alleging violations of standards or child abuse/neglect. Licensed Facilities include day care and 24 hour residential care:

Day Care

• Licensed Child Care Homes provide care for less than 24 hours per day for 7-12 children under 14 years old in the permit holder’s own home.

• Licensed Child-Care Centers provide care for seven or more children under 14 years old for less than 24 hours per day at a location other than the permit holder's home.

24 hour Residential Care

• Foster Family Homes provide 24-hour care for 6 or fewer children under 18 years old.

• Foster Group Homes provide 24-hour care for 7 to 12 children under 18 years old.

• Child Care Institutions provide 24-hour care for 13 or more children under 18 years old and include standards for emergency shelter, basic, residential treatment, halfway house, maternity homes, and therapeutic camp care, as well as care for the mentally fragile.

• Child Placing Agencies are persons or organizations other than a child's natural parent or guardian who plan for placement of a child or place a child in a child care operation, foster home or adoptive home. The Division regulates child care administrators working in residential facilities.

More...About Child Care Licensing Offers more information about the licensing program and about the frequency of inspections.

More...About your local licensing office Parents can call their local licensing office.