Licensed Child-Care or Licensed Child Placing Administrator

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

  1. 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 signatures and completed on Form 3016 will be accepted.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Pass background check conducted by the Commission and submit the required criminal history affidavit.
  5. 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, available online at Minimum Standards – Texas Health and Human Services.

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 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