TX · Texas Rising Star
Texas — CDA & ECE Workforce Credentials
Texas accepts CDA across HHSC-licensed centers and TWC's Texas Rising Star programs; TEA public-school pre-K requires bachelor's + state teacher cert.
Data current as of April 2026.
CDA acceptance & requirements
- Lead teacher requirements (Texas HHSC Child Care Licensing): Lead teachers in licensed centers are required to meet education or training thresholds. CDA is accepted as a qualifying credential.
- Lead teacher requirements (Texas Rising Star certified programs): Lead teachers must have either: (a) 150 clock hours of CD/ECE training in the last 5 years plus 2 years full-time / 4 years part-time experience; (b) a Bachelor's or Associate's degree in CD/ECE-related field, or a non-related degree + state teaching credential; or (c) be working toward a CDA, MACTE-approved Montessori, or CCP credential; or (d) have 10 years full-time experience in a TRS-certified program or nationally accredited center.
- Assistant teacher requirements: Minimum age 18, HS diploma/GED, plus orientation training and 24 hours/year of in-service.
- Director requirements: Education + administrative coursework + experience; HHSC defines minimums by center size.
- QRIS: Texas Rising Star (TRS) — three-level QRIS (Two-Star, Three-Star, Four-Star) administered by Texas Workforce Commission for child care programs participating in the Child Care Services subsidy program. Workforce credentials are core scoring criteria.
- T.E.A.C.H. & apprenticeship: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Texas has been administered through partner organizations (varies by region — TWC and HHSC partner with regional providers). ECE Registered Apprenticeships through Texas community college system. Texas Workforce Registry (WFR) tracks credentials and training.
State-specific ECE workforce credentials
- Texas Workforce Registry (WFR) — Issuing agency: Texas Workforce Commission / HHSC. Online system tracking education, employment, and training; central tracking infrastructure for TRS-certified programs.
- Texas does not issue a stand-alone state ECE teacher credential beyond the WFR placement and state teacher certification.
- Texas Education Agency (TEA) — Early Childhood (PK-3 / Core Subjects EC-6) certifications — for public-school pre-K teachers; bachelor's + state-approved EPP. CDA does not satisfy this.
Notable state context
Texas's workforce policy is fragmented by program funding source: licensed child care goes through HHSC; TRS-certified subsidy programs go through TWC; public-school pre-K is overseen by TEA. The CDA is recognized across HHSC and TRS but not for TEA pre-K.