A colleague asked me,” Why should someone wanting to be a childcare director in Texas choose Texas Director?”  It is a good question.  One I had 20 or so answers to, but it all comes down to one thing: We will be there for you.

Becoming a Childcare Administrator in Texas isn't easy. You need the right credentials, guidance, and confidence to step into a leadership role. Traditional training often means time away from your center, expensive travel, and generic content that doesn’t reflect your daily challenges. In some cases, it means learning from folks who haven’t been in your shoes, or are so far removed from the classroom, that they might as well be speaking a foreign language.

Our Story: Built by Directors, for Directors

Carrie and I started providing training and other services to Directors and teachers in 1998.  That means it is possible that one of our new directors was enrolled as a child at a center that we helped in that first year.  It blows my mind.  We listened to our peers and found ways to help them get the information and services they needed.  We created trainings based on what other Directors said they needed.

Every one of our instructors has been a director of multiple programs and can help you avoid many challenges.  This class isn’t just about meeting the licensing criteria, but also about making sure you are confident and know that you can manage your program.  To ensure that you have that confidence, we give you access to ongoing support and coaching. 

Director Credentialing

One thing centers need is a way to get new Directors qualified to lead a program.  There were a couple of training groups that offered classes for new Directors over the course of a week, in a hotel in one of the 5 large cities in Texas, once or twice a year.  So if you lived in Lubbock, you had to take a week off from your center, drive to Dallas, and stay in a hotel for that week.  That was not what we wanted as Directors, so we created a 2-weekend class, which worked better for the folks we talked to.

After doing those for a few years, we started exploring online learning and took Texas Director to the internet.  We were the first ones to offer online Director Credentialing.  We have 100% online classes and in-person classes.  Directors told us they needed different options, so we provided them.

Folks are telling us they need their new Directors to be qualified within the month. With our online and personalized courses, we have that handled.  They are designed to be able to be completed within a week if you push hard or a month at a steady pace.  Our Weekender course which combines online videos and in-person classwork is also designed to be finished in a month, but is only offered 6 times a year, currently.

The Solution: Flexible, Fast, and Focused on You
Today, Texas Director offers:

• 100% Online & Hybrid Director Credentialing: Complete in a week or a month—your pace, your place.
  
  

• In-Person Instructor-led Courses: A dynamic mix of online prep and two action-packed days. (Offered six times a year)
  
  

• Personalized Support: Need to qualify within 30 days? We’ve got you. Need help transferring credentials? We do that too.

Over the years, other credentialing courses have come and gone.  What do you do when the company that gave you your certificate goes out of business?  For many folks, the answer has been to transfer their credentials to Texas Director.  We allow folks to test in and join our membership if their company has disappeared or they aren’t happy with the service and training they received elsewhere.  We will be here for you.

In 2023, there were 38 organizations that offered director Credentialing services.  In 2025, eleven of those agencies are no longer offering Director Credenitialing services and five new ones have stepped into the arena.  But Texas Director is still here.  We have been supporting directors longer than any other organization in Texas.

Real Stories, Real Success

Directors come to us when their original credential provider shuts down. We help them test in and move forward. When hurricanes devastated the coast, our Directors reached out—and we responded. When lawsuits loomed, relocations occurred, or second locations opened, we were there. Always.

College: Is It the Best Fit for Aspiring Texas Child Care Administrators?

Pursuing a college degree is an admirable choice. In fact, both Carrie and I hold multiple degrees—we deeply value higher education. However, when it comes to becoming a licensed director in Texas quickly and effectively, college may not always be the most efficient route.

Why? Let’s break it down:

• Time Commitment: To qualify through the college route, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) requires coursework in both child development and business management. Even part-time, you’re likely facing a minimum of one year to complete the required six courses…while juggling work and personal responsibilities.
  

• Content Relevance: Most early childhood education programs place a strong emphasis on classroom strategies. Great for teachers—but not so great when you're transitioning to center-wide leadership. Courses on marketing, financial planning, human resources, compliance, and operational leadership are often lacking or scattered across departments.
  

• Delayed Readiness: Many future Directors find themselves with degrees in hand, yet still feeling unprepared for the realities of center management. Texas Director bridges that gap—our curriculum is laser-focused on the daily challenges and strategic skills you’ll need to succeed from day one.
  

• Limited Support: Once you’ve completed a college class, the support typically ends. At Texas Director, our relationship continues long after certification. We provide ongoing mentorship, resources, and real-time support when issues arise—from staffing to licensing hurdles.

Licensing issues Directors licenses to those who have related college experience or degrees. But I have a question for you:

Do you really want to be running a center without knowing the basics of child development, classroom management, being a boss, taxes, legal issues, and marketing?. 

So, while college can be part of your long-term growth plan, it may not be your fastest, most practical solution if your goal is to become a certified Texas Director within a matter of weeks or months, not years.

We support education in all its forms. But if you're ready to lead now, Texas Director offers the focused, flexible, and fast-track path to your Child Care Administrator Credential—and we’ll still be here when you’re ready for that next degree.

CDA

Another pathway to becoming a licensed Child Care Administrator in Texas is through a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, paired with two college-level business courses. The CDA is an excellent certification that proves your competence in the classroom. We offer a CDA preparation course for teachers.  To earn it, you need significant hands-on experience, coursework or training hours, and a formal classroom evaluation. It’s a credential we deeply respect—and one we encourage for teaching staff.

But here’s the challenge: The CDA was designed for classroom educators, not center leaders. If you're aiming to move from teaching to directing, it comes with a built-in limitation—it must be renewed regularly, and you must be actively working in a classroom to do so. Once your CDA lapses, so does your eligibility as a licensed Director in Texas.

That’s a big risk.

Is it in your center’s best interest to have its Director splitting time between leading the team and covering classroom shifts just to maintain a credential? For some, the CDA is a great first step. But if you’re ready to lead full-time, confidently, and with long-term sustainability, Texas Director provides a more direct, strategic route to your Texas Child Care Administrator Credential—with none of the fine print.

We’ll Be There for You—Every Step of the Way

At Texas Director, we do more than train—we build relationships.

From your first day as a Director to your tenth year expanding into multiple centers, we’re here for every challenge and every victory. We’ve created hundreds of handbooks, training tools, and custom resources because our community of Directors asked for them. We don’t just respond to regulations—we respond to real-life situations.

When hurricanes disrupted our coast, Directors called—and we helped them navigate licensing and recovery. When a center lost its lease, we guided them to secure a new location fast. When a Director faced a legal threat, we were in her corner. When someone opened their second, then third center—we helped her grow with confidence. When high staff turnover was hurting morale, we strategized together.

This is more than a course. It’s a commitment.
When you choose Texas Director, you’re not just checking a licensing box—you’re joining a legacy of leadership, resilience, and growth in Texas child care.

Ready to take the next step toward becoming a licensed child care director in Texas?
Let’s make it happen—together.