How to become a registered child care home in Texas: RCCH checklist

Listed vs registered vs licensed homes

• Listed Family Home — up to 3 unrelated children; applicant 18+; Chapter 742 standards; not routinely inspected.
• Registered Child-Care Home (RCCH) — up to 6 unrelated children (13 or younger) during school hours plus up to 6 more school-age children after school, never more than 12 total including related children; Chapter 747 standards; at least one unannounced inspection every one to two years.
• Licensed Child-Care Home — 7 to 12 children; primary caregiver must meet director-style qualifications; at least one unannounced inspection a year.

Registration applies when you care for children at least four hours a day, three or more days a week, for three or more consecutive weeks — or four hours a day for 40 or more days in 12 months — in your own home.

RCCH primary caregiver requirements

Under §747.1003 (as summarized from the December 2025 Chapter 747 text), the primary caregiver must:

• Be at least 21 and have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Hold a certificate from the Licensing pre-application course, completed within one year before applying
• Pass background checks (Chapter 745, Subchapter F)
• Hold current pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR certification before registration
• Have a TB exam record if DSHS or the local health authority requires one
• Have training in recognizing and reporting child maltreatment, and in preventing shaken baby syndrome / abusive head trauma, among other topics listed in the rule

Steps to become registered

1. Pick your permit type (above) and check whether you might be exempt.
2. Attend a child care home orientation (the pre-application class) and collect the information packet.
3. Check local rules. Zoning, building codes and HOA rules are not CCR requirements, but you may need to meet them before local fire and sanitation inspections.
4. Get liability insurance or prepare a parent notice. HHSC says applicants must obtain proof of coverage before a permit is issued; §747.209–.211 address the $300,000 coverage and the written parent notice if you do not carry it. Confirm current insurance rules with CCR.
5. Create an online CCR account and submit the eApplication.
6. Pay fees only when invoiced. CCR assigns an operation number and invoices application and background check fees; an annual fee follows. We have not verified current fee amounts — confirm them with CCR.
7. Complete background checks for required people in the home.
8. Pass the application inspection. CCR inspects your home and issues the permit once you comply with minimum standards.

Paperwork checklist: child & family files

• Written operational policies (§747.501) signed by parents, and notice when policies change
• Admission information for each child, signed by the parent (§747.605–.609)
• Emergency medical care and transport authorization
• Immunization records by admission, or documented exemption / provisional status (§747.613–.623)
• Health statement for children not in school, within one week of admission (§747.611)
• Food allergy emergency plan when applicable
• Transportation, field trip and water activity permissions when used
• Infant safe sleep policy acknowledgment; Sleep Exception Form for any alternate sleep position or swaddling
• Proof of liability insurance, or the signed no-insurance parent notice

Paperwork checklist: daily logs

• Daily attendance — keep the previous three months (§747.635)
• Medication authorization and administration log, or a written policy that you do not give medication
• Incident / illness reports (HHSC Form 7239 or equivalent), parent signature within 48 hours

Paperwork checklist: safety & emergency

• Emergency preparedness plan and evacuation diagram (§747.5001–.5009)
• Drill log: fire drills monthly; shelter-in-place and lock-down drills at least four times a year each (§747.5005)
• First aid supplies

Paperwork checklist: caregiver credentials

• Pre-application course certificate, diploma / GED and pediatric first aid / CPR certificates
• Background check results and employment affidavits (Forms 2985 / 2912) for assistants and substitutes
• Orientation records for each caregiver (within seven days of employment)
• Annual training records: 30 clock hours for the primary caregiver; 15 clock hours for RCCH substitutes and assistants counted in ratio on more than ten occasions (§747.1303)

Frequently asked questions

How many children can a Texas registered child care home have?

Up to six unrelated children aged 13 or younger during school hours, plus up to six additional school-age children after school. No more than 12 children may be in care at any time, including children related to the caregiver.

Do I need a license or a registration?

A registered child care home is a registration, not a license. Homes caring for 7 to 12 children need a Licensed Child-Care Home permit, and homes with up to 3 unrelated children can be a Listed Family Home.

What training does an RCCH primary caregiver need?

Chapter 747 requires the Licensing pre-application course within one year before applying, current pediatric first aid and CPR, and child maltreatment and shaken baby training. After that, the primary caregiver needs 30 clock hours of annual training.

Do I need liability insurance?

HHSC says applicants must obtain proof of coverage before a permit is issued. Chapter 747 (§747.209–.211) also covers the written parent notice for homes without coverage. Confirm the current rule with CCR.

How much are HHSC registration fees?

CCR charges application, permit, background check and annual fees, and invoices you after you apply. We have not verified the current amounts, so confirm them with CCR.