Licensed Child Care Administrator or Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator

To be eligible for a Full Child Care Administrator’s License OR Full Child-Placing Agency Administrator’s License, you must:

  1. Complete and submit application Form 3015.
  2. Submit a total of three professional references from individuals:
    1. Two from persons who can attest to your work experience and competence as a child care administrator, or child-placing agency administrator if you are applying for a child-placing agency administrator license; and
    2. One from an employer or supervisor who can verify the following:
      1. Your management or supervisory experience was completed within the last 10 years;
      2. Your experience was completed at a residential child care setting, if you are applying for a child care administrator's license, or a licensed child-placing agency if you are applying for a child-placing agency administrator's license;
      3. You had sole or shared responsibility for implementing an operation’s program or programs; and
      4. You supervised at least one staff member at a child care setting or child-placing agency with responsibilities as listed in 26 Texas Administrative Code §745.8919(a)(4) or (b).
        Submit the forms that are included in the application packet for use by the persons serving as your references. Only references with original or verified signatures and completed on Form 3016 will be accepted.
  3. Submit evidence of at least one year of management/supervisory experience in a residential child care setting, or a licensed child-placing agency if you are applying for a child-placing agency administrator license.
    Note: Experience at a child-placing agency does not meet this requirement if you are applying for a Child Care Administrator’s License. Experience at a general residential operation does not meet this requirement if you are applying for a Child-Placing Agency Administrator’s License. Experience as a foster parent or caregiver in a foster home does not meet this requirement for either license.
  4. Submit evidence of one of the following education and experience qualifications:
    1. Master's or doctoral degree.
    2. Bachelor's degree and at least two years of full-time child care or related work experience.
      You must submit an original, official transcript or original letter of verification from the appropriate educational institution to verify your education. All applicable work experience must be documented on the application form.
  5. Pass background check conducted by the Commission and submit the required criminal history affidavit.
  6. Pass an examination.

Examination

The exam is multiple choice and includes questions covering the following topics:

  • Current minimum standards
  • Resource development and fiscal management
  • Professional ethics in administration
  • Personnel management
  • Child development
  • Child psychology (basics regarding abused and neglected children in residential care)
  • Program development
  • Client rights
  • Professional legal liabilities
  • Cultural competencies

The only study guide available for the exam is the current minimum standards.

Provisional Licensed Child Care Administrator

Provisional Child Care Administrator’s License is only available for Licensed Child Care Administrators for General Residential Operations.

To be eligible for a Provisional Child Care Administrator’s License you must:

  1. Complete and submit application Form 3015.
  2. Submit a total of three professional references from individuals:
    1. Two from persons who can attest to your work experience and competence as a child care administrator or a program that primarily works with children.
    2. One from an employer or supervisor who can verify the following:
      1. Your management or supervisory experience was completed within the last 10 years;
      2. Your experience was completed at a residential child care setting, or a program that primarily works with children;
      3. You had sole or shared responsibility for implementing the program or programs; and
      4. You supervised at least one employee in a child care setting, or a program that works primarily with children and completed responsibilities as listed in 26 Texas Administrative Code §745.8919(a)(4).
        Submit the forms that are included in the application packet for use by the persons serving as your references. Only references with original or verified signatures and completed on Form 3016 will be accepted.
  3. Submit evidence of at least six months of management/supervisory experience in a residential child care setting, or a program that works primarily with children.
    Note: Experience at a child-placing agency does not meet this requirement if you are applying for a Provisional Child Care Administrator’s License. Experience as a foster parent or caregiver in a foster home does not meet this requirement for any license.
  4. Submit evidence of one of the following education and experience qualifications:
    1. Master's or doctoral degree.
    2. Bachelor's degree and at least two years of full-time child care or related work experience.
      You must submit an original, official transcript or original letter of verification from the appropriate educational institution to verify your education. All applicable work experience must be documented on the application form. Please note a job description does not substitute for a complete and documented application form.
  5. Pass a background check conducted by the Commission and submit the required criminal history affidavit.
  6. Pass an examination.

When can I request to change from a Provisional Licensed Child Care Administrator License to a full license?

Requests can be made utilizing Form 3014 when you satisfied all of the work and management experience for a Full Licensed Child Care Administrator License. An updated employer reference must be submitted to substantiate the required management experience for a full license.

Additional Application Information to Consider:

If we receive an incomplete application for you, and it remains pending for 12 months from the date we first received any part of your application, then your application will expire. If your application expires, then you may not apply again for one year from the date your application expired.

Applying for Both Licenses

If you intend to apply for both licenses, you will be required to submit a separate application form and pay the appropriate fees for each license, you must meet the minimum qualifications for each license, and you must pass each of the separate exams.

All required documents must be received before the application can be processed and approved or denied.

Considerations for an Applicant Who Is a Military Member, Military Spouse, or Military Veteran

As provided in 26 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 745, Subchapter N, Division 5:

  • The Associate Commissioner for CCR or a designee may:
    • credit a military member, military spouse, or military veteran for verified military service, training, education, or clinical or professional experience that meets a requirement for a license; and
    • substitute any demonstrated competency a military member, military spouse, or military veteran has that the Associate Commissioner or designee determines to meet the qualifications;
  • CCR will waive an applicant's examination and application fees paid to the state for an administrator's license for a military member, military spouse, or military veteran:
    • whose military service, training, education, or clinical or professional experience generally meets all the requirements for the license; or
    • who presently holds a license in another jurisdiction with requirements that are "substantially equivalent" to those in Texas;
  • CCR will provide a military member, military spouse, or military veteran an expedited licensing application and renewal process for an administrator's license;
  • CCR will provide a military member, military spouse, or military veteran an alternative licensing application process for an administrator's license, including in some circumstances allowing a military member or military spouse with a license in another state to act as administrator without a Texas license;
  • CCR will waive late renewal fees for a military member, including those living in Texas, who fails to renew a license in a timely manner because the individual was serving as a military member; and
  • Military members have two additional years of time to complete the renewal requirements for an administrator's license.

Forms