Child Care Licensing
Texas Health and Human Services permits and monitors all child-care operations and child-placing agencies for compliance with state licensing standards, rules and laws.
Department of State Health Services, Division for Regulatory Services
The Division for Regulatory Services provides public health oversight of individuals and entities that provide consumer and health goods and services to the public. These include:
- Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care System
- Food and Drug Safety
- Radiation Control
- Environmental Health
- Health Care Professionals
- Health Care Facilities
For additional information, see Health Care Facilities Regulation.
Employability Checks
Long-term care facilities and agencies must check an applicant’s criminal history, Nurse Aide Registry status and Employee Misconduct Registry.
The purpose of criminal background checks is to ensure that HHS verifies and interprets information for those participating in long-term care programs. Questions can be directed to 512-438-2585.
- Employee Misconduct Registry – Contains the names of unlicensed personnel who have committed acts of abuse, neglect, exploitation, misappropriation or misconduct against residents and consumers to ensure they are denied employment in HHS-regulated facilities and by HHS-regulated agencies.
- Nurse Aide Registry – All nurse aides and nurse aide candidates are required to register in the credential management system.
- Employability Status Check Search – This search returns results from both the Nurse Aide Registry and Employee Misconduct Registry. It is used when checking on the employability of nurse aides.
- Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Record Service – This system administers programs that include those used in pre-employment searches on people who work with people who are elderly or who have disabilities.
Long-term Care Credentialing
- Nurse Aide Registry – All nurse aides and nurse aide candidates are required to register in the credential management system. This includes registration through the Nurse Aide Testing Credential Management System and the Employability Status Check Search.
- Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program – HHS reviews and approves or disapproves nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs and nurse aide competency evaluation programs.
- Nursing Facility Administrator Licensing and Enforcement – HHS licenses nursing facility administrators and enforces professional standards. Licensing functions are completed through the NFA Licensing System.
- Medication Aide Program – HHS conducts issues and renews permits as well as imposing and monitoring sanctions on medication aides.
Long-term Care Licensing
The following long-term care providers must be licensed to operate in Texas:
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Day Activity and Health Services Facilities
- Home and community support services agencies, which includes home health agencies and hospice
- Nursing facilities and skilled nursing facilities
- Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers
- Publicly and privately operated Home and Community-based Services waiver providers
- Publicly and privately operated intermediate care facilities (ICFs/IID), including ICFs/IID operating as state supported living centers
- Publicly and privately operated Texas Home Living (TxHmL) waiver providers
Medicaid
Medicaid Provider Enrollment – All providers that want to participate in state health-care programs must enroll in Texas Medicaid.