Child care licensing standards minimally require that directors have 72 clock hours of training in child development and 30 clock hours in management, and 3 years of experience in licensed child care.
A day care administrator credential is a credential recognized by child care licensing as one way to meet director qualifications to become a child care director. Texas Health and Human Services does not support or endorse day care administrator credential programs or their sponsors. Programs recognized by licensing comply with TAC, Title 26, Part 1, Chapter 745, Subchapter P. Several educational institutions in Texas offer Texas Director’s Credential and links to them are provided on the Texas Health and Human Services page. National Institute of Child Care Management also offers Texas Director Credential.
Elementary school principals must have a master’s degree and pre-K certification is available. However, principal licensure does not require pre-K content or practical experience in the principal preparation requirements.
All Child Care Services (CCS) regulated providers are now required to participate in Texas Rising Star QRIS program. New CCS providers and current CCS providers who are not Texas Rising Star certified must meet the minimum quality standards to receive Entry Level Designation as part of the certification process. It offers three levels of quality certification. Minimally, at the initial level of the certification, directors must have attended the TRS director’s orientation, created a director account within the Texas Workforce registry and completed the two Guidelines training courses. School-based pre-K programs require principal licensure. Directors of a community-based state pre-K programs must be nationally accredited or be a TRS program with a minimum of three-star certification.
