Texas Daycare Training Requirements: Hours, CPR, and Health Clearances

The 24-Hour Pre-Service Training Requirement

Before you can count toward the child-to-caregiver ratio in a registered or licensed child-care home, Texas requires 24 clock hours of pre-service training under 26 TAC Chapter 747. The catch that trips up most new providers: these 24 hours are split into two windows with a hard deadline on each.

The first 8 hours must be completed before you're ever counted in ratio. The 24 hours cover required topics including child development, health and safety, and abuse prevention. The remaining 16 hours must be completed within your first 90 days of operation or employment. Missing that 90-day deadline can create a training compliance deficiency.

Training can be completed through HHSC-approved providers. ChildCareEd offers an online pre-service bundle, and Texas AgriLife Extension runs in-person child care training through county offices. Use the TECPDS (Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System) registry to find and record training that counts, and keep completion records available for inspection.

Annual Training Hours After You're Licensed

The pre-service hours are just the entry fee. Once you're operating, the state requires ongoing annual training to keep your permit current.

Registered child-care home providers need 24 clock hours of training per year. Licensed child-care home providers — because of the higher capacity and director-level responsibilities — need 30 clock hours annually. These hours must cover the topic areas required by current Chapter 747 standards, and your records should show that coverage.

Inspectors check training logs during unannounced visits, so document the required topic coverage.

CPR and First Aid Certification

At least one caregiver certified in pediatric first aid with rescue breathing and pediatric CPR must be on-site at all times children are in care. Not adult CPR — pediatric-specific, covering infants and children.

The certification must be current, meaning it hasn't lapsed. Most American Heart Association and Red Cross pediatric certifications are valid for two years, so you'll need to recertify before expiration. Keep the physical card or certificate on file at the home — inspectors verify it during monitoring visits.

If you're the sole caregiver in a registered home watching up to 6 children, this means you personally need the certification. There's no scenario where children are present and nobody on-site holds a current pediatric CPR card.

Tuberculosis Clearance

Every adult who works in or lives in a regulated child-care home needs the required TB screening documentation on file. This applies to you as the primary caregiver, any employees or assistants, regular volunteers, and all household members.

HHSC requires TB test results or screening documentation as applicable; follow the current HHSC and health-provider process for the screening result and any follow-up.

Keep the documentation current and accessible for review, and follow current HHSC requirements for renewal or follow-up.

Immunization Requirements for Enrolled Children

While training and health clearances apply to you as the provider, immunization rules apply to every child in your care. Children enrolled in regulated child care must have documented immunization status or a valid exemption affidavit on file.

You're required to collect and maintain each child's immunization record or valid exemption affidavit at enrollment. Do not rely on verbal confirmation.

During inspections, licensing analysts check that immunization records are current for every enrolled child. A missing or incomplete record is a citable deficiency, even if the child's parent told you verbally that they're up to date.

Getting Your Training Timeline Right

The most practical way to sequence all of this: start with the HHSC pre-application orientation class, then knock out CPR and first aid certification while completing your first 8 pre-service training hours. Schedule TB screenings for yourself and all household members during the same window. By the time you submit your application and start background checks, your training foundation is in place.

The Texas Home Daycare Licensing Guide walks through this entire training sequence alongside background checks, zoning verification, and inspection preparation — so you complete each requirement in the right order instead of discovering missed steps during your pre-licensing visit.

See more Texas guides →