Licensed vs. registered vs. listed child care in Texas
Updated August 30, 2026 · Sourced from official Texas HHSC records
Texas issues child care permits by operation type. A licensed center serves seven
or more children outside a home; a licensed child care home serves up to 12 in the
caregiver's home; both are inspected at least yearly. A registered child care home
also operates in the home but is inspected at least every two years. A listed family
home is a small home operation (no more than three unrelated children) inspected only
during an investigation.
The four common day-care permit types differ mainly by where care is given, how many children can be served, and how often the state inspects. Here they are side by side, with each row drawn from the state's own definitions and rules:
| Listed family home | Registered child care home | Licensed child care home | Licensed center | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where care is given | Caregiver's own home | Caregiver's own home | Caregiver's own home | A location other than the home |
| Caregiver minimum age | 18 | 21 | 21 | Center staffing standards apply |
| Children served | No more than 3 unrelated; 12 total | No more than 6 unrelated in the school day; 12 at a time | No more than 12 total | Seven or more |
| Routine state inspections | Only during an investigation | At least every 2 years | At least once a year | At least once a year |
| Must report serious incidents | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Capacity and setting from CCR Handbook 2110; inspection frequency and self-reporting from the CCR FAQ. The verbatim definitions and citations are below.
Listed family home
“In a listed family home, the primary caregiver: is at least 18 years old; and provides care: in the caregiver's own home; for compensation per the CCRH Definitions of Terms; to children whose ages may range from birth through 13 years; at least four hours a day and for: three or more days a week, for three or more consecutive weeks; or 40 or more days in a 12-month period; and to no more than three children who are unrelated to the caregiver; and to no more than 12 children total, including children who are related to the caregiver.”
Registered child care home
“In a registered child care home, the primary caregiver: is at least 21 years old; and provides care: in the caregiver's own home; to children whose ages may range from birth through 13 years; at least four hours a day and for: three or more days a week, for three or more consecutive weeks; or 40 or more days in a 12-month period; and to no more than six children who are unrelated to the caregiver during the school day; and to no more than six additional school-age children after school hours. The primary caregiver in a registered child care home may not care for more than 12 children at the same time, including children related to the caregiver.”
Licensed child care home
“In a licensed child care home, the primary caregiver: is at least 21 years old; and provides care: at least two hours, but less than 24 hours per day, for three or more days a week; in the caregiver's own home; to children whose ages may range from birth through 13 years; and to no more than 12 children total, including the children related to the caregiver.”
Licensed child care center
“The operation provides care: for seven or more children; to children younger than 14; for fewer than 24 hours of care per day; and in a location other than the permit holder's home.”
How the inspection cycle differs
The permit type also sets how often the state inspects, which is why a home-based operation can have a shorter inspection history than a center without anything being wrong:
“CCR conducts unannounced inspections at licensed operations at least once per year and conducts unannounced inspections at registered child care homes at least once every two years. Inspections might be more frequent based on an operation's ability to comply with statutes, administrative rules and minimum standards.”
“CCR only conducts inspections at listed family homes as part of an investigation.”
For how those inspections show up on a record, see how often Texas daycares are inspected and how to look up a daycare's inspection record.