Pre-service and continuing education rules for licensed foster, resource and kinship caregivers, compiled from state administrative code and agency policy.
Verified as of 5 September 2026 Next review due 1 December 2026
Texas
Sources conflict — verify
Pre-service
No single total exists in rule. At least one foster parent completes 4 hours general caregiver training plus 6 hours emergency behaviour intervention before a child is placed, plus untimed pre-verification training, plus safe sleep for homes taking children under two, plus pediatric first aid and CPR before verification. Other caregivers, including a second foster parent, within 90 days after. For homes DFPS verifies itself, DFPS uses NTDC, described as 19 hours.
Ongoing continuing education
THE CURRENT RULE CONTAINS NO ANNUAL HOUR REQUIREMENT for foster parents — only needs-based additional training where an annual evaluation finds non-compliance, plus at least 1 hour a year per caregiver where the home serves a child receiving treatment services.
Renewal term
No fixed term; annual evaluation, supervisory visits at least every three months.
Kinship difference
Separate subchapter — same 4 hours general and 6 hours emergency behaviour intervention, but due within 60 days AFTER verification rather than before placement.
Conflict notes
CONFLICT, the sharpest here: the entire training subchapter was repealed and replaced effective 10 August 2026, and the DFPS foster parent training page still publishes the repealed figures of 10 hours a year per parent (20 per home) for child-care services and 25 (50 per home) for treatment services.