Listed homes (1-3 kids) do not require a degree. Registered/Licensed homes require a High School Diploma or GED at minimum.

A Listed Family Home allows you to care for up to 3 unrelated children at a time (plus your own children). It requires an annual listing fee of $20, no routine inspections, and is the simplest license option. You must be at least 18 years old, provide care for at least 4 hours per day, and obtain liability insurance.

A Registered Child Care Home allows you to care for 4-6 unrelated children, plus up to 6 school-age children after school hours. You must be 21+ with a high school diploma or GED, complete 30 hours of annual training, and pass one unannounced inspection per year. Startup costs range from $1,200-$2,500.

A Licensed Child Care Home allows you to care for 7-12 children. Requirements are similar to Registered homes but with higher capacity and additional director training. You must be 21+ with a high school diploma or GED, complete 30 hours of annual training, and meet strict space requirements (30 sq ft per child). Startup costs range from $2,500-$5,000+.

Listed Family Homes can be approved in 2-4 weeks. Registered and Licensed homes typically take 4-10 weeks depending on training completion, background check processing, and inspection scheduling. Pre-application training must be completed within 1 year of applying.

Yes, all Texas home daycare licenses (Listed, Registered, and Licensed) require liability insurance unless you obtain a waiver. Insurance costs range from $200-$1,000 per year depending on your license type and coverage limits.

Yes, you can run a home daycare from an apartment if you meet space requirements and obtain landlord approval. Registered and Licensed homes require at least 30 sq ft of useable activity space per child and access to a safe outdoor play area.

Listed Family Homes have no formal training requirement (though recommended). Registered and Licensed homes require pre-application training, 30 clock hours of annual training, and pediatric first aid/CPR certification. Training must be from HHSC-approved providers.

In Texas, you can care for children from only ONE other family (in addition to your own) without a license. If you care for children from TWO or more unrelated families on a regular basis, you must obtain at least a Listed Family Home license.