Texas Food Handlers License & Certificate

A Texas Food Handlers License is a certificate required for individuals who handle food in Texas. This includes positions such as cooks, servers, and kitchen staff. The license ensures that food handlers are knowledgeable about basic food safety practices, which reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses. 

To obtain the license, individuals must complete a state-approved food handler training course, such as the one we offer, which covers topics like hygiene, sanitation, and proper food handling techniques.

The Texas Administrative Code Rule §228.33 states that within 60 days of employment, all food employees must complete an accredited training course.

The TXDSHS clarifies that food employees refer to anyone who works with unpackaged food, food equipment or utensils, or food-contact surfaces.

Some examples of food service establishments that have food employees include:

• Casual and fine-dining restaurants
• Fast food restaurants
• Coffee shops
• Bakeries
• Convenience stores
• Food trucks
• Sandwich shops

After successful completion of the food handler training course, you will receive your Texas food handlers card. This course is a great learning experience to obtain basic food safety education.

Once you have your card, give your employer a copy so they can keep it on hand. State laws express that your employer must have your certificate of completion available on-premise at all times in either an electronic format or hard copy.

To earn a food handler’s card in Texas, you must:

1. Enroll in a state-approved food handler training course like ours.
2. Study the curriculum and learn food safety principles and guidelines.
3. Pass the final exam to prove mastery of the subject matter.
4. Provide a copy of your certificate of completion to your employer.
5. Repeat the training every 2 years for as long as you wish to be a food employee.
    

In Texas, minors are allowed to serve food, but only in businesses not licensed for on-premises alcohol consumption. At the age of 14 and 15, teenagers are allowed to work in non-hazardous occupations like food service as they don’t work during school hours or more than eight hours a day. Teenagers of 16 and 17 have no such restrictions on the days or hours they can work.

To serve food for a business with an on-premises liquor license in Texas, you must be 18 or older. At this point, you can legally serve or sell alcoholic beverages.

You can take your course online or in person regarding food handler training in Texas. But it’s important to note that any course you take must be accredited.

This means that the training program has been approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TXDSHS) or the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), such as the Learn2Serve food handler course.

Enroll in our TABC Certification & food handler training to get your Texas alcohol and good handler training at once!

The course is two hours long. 

The Texas Food Handler Course is designed to be straightforward and easy to understand, even for individuals with no prior food safety knowledge. The course covers essential topics such as handwashing, preventing cross-contamination, and maintaining proper temperatures for food storage. 

It's structured in a way that simplifies food safety regulations, making it accessible to all learners. On average, the course can be completed in about two hours, and most people pass the final exam on their first try. 
 

Your food handler license is valid for two years. Once the two years are up, your license will expire, and you’ll need to complete the online course again.

Our courses range in price from $7.50 to $16.99 depending on what certifications you are looking for.

First, if you plan on working as a food employee, the state requires you to complete an online training course. Additionally, you need to know how to prevent foodborne illnesses.

In 2017, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a total of 27 foodborne disease outbreaks in TX. This is up from the 23 reported in 2016 and down from the 34 reported in 2015.

This course will help you understand what can lead to contamination of food, the proper flow of food in a kitchen, and how to clean food and food-contact surfaces. By requiring employers to have all employees obtain a food handling certificate, establishments can demonstrate that food workers are following food safety principles and are aware of the proper environment for food preparation.

A good training program teaches you best practices for food safety that will ensure you keep yourself and your customers safe from foodborne illnesses.

As we stated above, there are several establishments you can work at with your food handlers license. And within each establishment, there are numerous jobs. The food and beverage industry in Texas is growing extremely fast.

According to the Texas Restaurant Association, in 2019, there were 1,344,200 restaurant and food service jobs, which translates to 10% of total employment. More importantly, that number is projected to grow by 15.2% by 2029.

If you’re looking to get a job in the food and beverage industry in Texas, here are some excellent options, along with how much money you can expect to make based on wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Another thing to note is that you’ll need your card to get any of these jobs. And if you already have it before you apply, you’ll be way ahead of the competition!

Texas Secretary of State: Here, you’ll find the published versions of rules and regulations, including the Texas Administrative Code.

Texas Department of State Health Services: This department focuses on public health and publishes information on food safety, permits, and licensing.

*The food handlers card is a wallet card download that can be printed and used as proof of completion and should not be confused with a food handler card issued by the health department.